Developing a company culture that managers and employees will emulate is a smart way to do business.

According to one study, nine in 10 employees prefer working remotely to some degree.

If you have a remote company, how can you build a culture that works? Read on for some tips about how to expand and develop a company culture to help your workforce thrive.

Realize the Benefits of Remote Work

By providing people with remote work, you’re giving them a wide range of helpful benefits. Most people are happier working remotely due to the flexibility it provides.

Opportunities to work from home can reduce unexpected absences, improve employee happiness, and save you money. It also increases productivity while saving overhead costs.

For many, remote work actually helps to build and improve upon collaboration. It also helps you to expand your pool of talented people, since you’re not limited by geography.

When you realize the many benefits of having a remote company, you can build upon these perks. Focusing on the positives is the first step toward creating a solid company culture.

Define Your Remote Company Values

The best way to achieve business growth is to know your remote company values. Setting some values in stone serves as a foundation for healthy company culture.

Think about the main goals of your business and what you want to achieve. Use these goals as a starting point to create a set of guidelines you can build on.

Once you have your goals and values set, it’s an opportunity to share them with your team. Create a list of them in a handbook or add the most important one as a tag to your brand in a concise way.

Defining how your values fit in with the company’s goals is the best way to expand company culture. As your team learns and understands these values, it helps them grow and prosper.

Creating values also gives people a clear understanding of your purpose. It’s the best way to set yourself and your team up for success.

Be Honest and Communicate

As a leader, it’s your job to be as open and honest as possible. Keeping the lines of communication open prevents employees from feeling like they can’t express concerns.

Write down the highlights of what defines you as a company. Give this information to every new team member, so they’re clear about where you stand.

Remote workers can refer back to this document whenever they need to. It also gives you the chance to put this information in writing so everyone is on the same page.

Even if you can’t meet with workers face to face, you can still communicate openly. Make sure everyone knows that you’re available whenever they have questions or need to discuss issues with you.

By having an open-door policy, you’re giving your remote workers peace of mind. Let them know you’re available on chat, via email, or even by telephone call.

What to Include in Your Culture Guidelines

Being clear about your company culture is a great way to develop effective growth strategies. Here are some things to include in your written guidelines:

  • Expectations about employee availability and production goals
  • Policies relating to time off or time away from work
  • How remote workers should handle work-related concerns
  • What to expect of your team daily and how they should respond if they need to be reached
  • How performance and evaluations are measured
  • Schedules for team meetings and how they’ll be held
  • How to handle issues with other employees or management

Develop a Solid Remote Business Plan

Companies that operate exclusively on a remote basis need to come up with a concrete plan. Think about how you’ll tie all of the work your team does together. Your business plan should be easy to understand and well-defined.

Software including team-based programs makes it easy for everyone to keep up with tasks. Chat and video-based software is another key component for successful remote work.

The key is to make sure that all of these things tie together. Collaborative software that updates in real-time allows you and others to check on progress.

It’s also important to make sure that every individual understands their role. Define this role, set guidelines, and make sure that all of your expectations are set in advance.

When remote workers know what’s expected of them upfront, they’ll be much more productive. Overall, you want your people to feel connected not just to you, but to one another.

How a Healthy Remote Culture Helps You

By understanding the benefits of remote work, setting your values, and remaining open, you create a healthy company culture. When employees feel happy with their work, everyone benefits.

Encourage your employees to check in with one another. Let them know that it’s ok to chat with each other from time to time. The more people connect with each other, the happier they’ll be.

When people have a good life-work balance and feel fulfilled, everyone benefits. Fostering a positive company culture is the best way to help your business grow.

Start Your Remote Business Journey Today

Keep these tips in mind to create a positive remote company culture. With the right guidelines and software, you can build upon a team that’s effective, productive, and happy.

RMS is here to help you create a productive and happy workforce. Be sure to contact us to schedule your free 15-minute appointment with a remote work specialist today.

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How to Get Microsoft 365 Set Up Right

 

Prepare your business to go remote and discover: 

     
  • How to easily understand user permissions 
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  • The importance of developing and maintaining an organizational chart
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  • Different types of user “access” and why you may choose one over another

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