Navigating the complexities of remote work, we’ve gathered insights from five experts, including organizational psychologists and CEOs, on the biggest challenges and best practices for maintaining team cohesion and productivity. From setting boundaries to prevent burnout to ensuring strict work hours and dedicated workspaces, discover the essential strategies for a successful work-from-home environment.
- Set Boundaries to Prevent Burnout
- Diversify Communication Methods
- Regular Virtual Team-Building Sessions
- Weekly Virtual Coffee Breaks for Team Unity
- Strict Work Hours and Dedicated Workspaces
Set Boundaries to Prevent Burnout
The biggest challenges of working from home are overworking and burnout due to the lack of boundaries between work and personal life, and the lack of connection with colleagues, which hinders team bonding. To address these issues, companies can enhance work-life balance by setting specific work hours and ensuring employees adhere to them.
Additionally, organizing more team-building activities outside of the regular work schedule can foster better relationships among team members. Implementing online platforms that facilitate team organization and connection can also help maintain cohesion and productivity in a remote work setting.
Zoe Fragou, Organizational Psychologist, Zoe Fragou
Diversify Communication Methods
My biggest challenge when working from home is that, if I’m not careful, I get stuck in my head. I’m so comfortable interacting in writing all day that when I finally have to have a conversation, sometimes I have difficulty getting my words out!
Having said that, I think that one underestimated way for companies to maintain both team cohesion and productivity in a remote work setting is to encourage a diversity of ways for team members to communicate with each other. Some people (like myself!) can feel connected to others through swift online interactions in writing, hearing an audio recording, or even providing them feedback. Asynchronous communication is seen as a great way of making remote work sustainable and productive, but its importance in team cohesion is often underrated.
Pilar Orti, Director, Virtual not Distant
Regular Virtual Team-Building Sessions
As the founder of a legal process outsourcing company, navigating the challenges of working from home has highlighted the importance of maintaining team cohesion and productivity in a remote setting. One significant hurdle is the potential for communication gaps and a sense of isolation among team members.
To address this, we’ve prioritized regular virtual meetings that go beyond work updates, creating opportunities for casual interactions and team-building exercises.
These sessions not only foster a strong sense of camaraderie but also enhance collaboration and mutual support. Additionally, leveraging project management tools ensures clarity in tasks and timelines, keeping everyone aligned and productive despite the physical distance.
This proactive approach not only sustains operational efficiency but also cultivates a positive remote work culture where every team member feels valued and connected.
Aseem Jha, Founder, Legal Consulting Pro
Weekly Virtual Coffee Breaks for Team Unity
One of the biggest challenges of working from home is maintaining clear communication and team cohesion. Without the spontaneous interactions of an office setting, misunderstandings can arise, and team bonds can weaken. To address this, I recommend implementing regular virtual team-building activities. For example, at our company, we host weekly virtual coffee breaks and monthly team challenges. These activities foster a sense of community, improve morale, and keep everyone connected, which in turn enhances productivity and collaboration.
Darryl Stevens, CEO, Digitech Web Design
Strict Work Hours and Dedicated Workspaces
One of the biggest challenges of working from home is maintaining a clear boundary between work and personal life. Early in the transition to remote work, I found myself often working late into the night, blurring the lines between my professional and personal time. To address this, I began scheduling strict work hours and setting up a dedicated workspace at home, which significantly improved my productivity and work-life balance. Another challenge is ensuring effective communication among team members. Without the natural interactions of an office, misunderstandings and delays can easily occur.
At RecurPost, we’ve adopted specific practices to overcome these challenges. For example, we use a combination of asynchronous communication tools like Slack and synchronous video meetings to keep everyone in the loop without overwhelming them. We’ve also instituted “no-meeting” days to give employees uninterrupted time for deep work. To foster team cohesion, we hold monthly virtual “coffee chats” where team members can discuss non-work-related topics, helping to build stronger personal connections and a more cohesive team dynamic.
Dinesh Agarwal, Founder, CEO, RecurPost