By Micaela Marchesini
Regulatory Submissions Specialist
It can be easy to forget that before 2020 working remotely was far from the norm. COVID-19, of course, upended the status quo, forcing millions of people to suddenly figure out how to do their jobs from home. While many have since returned to the office, around 22 million full-timers continue to work remotely—and that number is increasing.
This rapid shift to remote work has brought with it a unique set of challenges when it comes to employee engagement. Without the watercooler or conference room, remote workers all too often feel separated from their colleagues and disengaged from their team.
To succeed, it’s crucial that companies address these challenges to employee engagement head-on. Fortunately, there are proven strategies that can transform obstacles into opportunities and enable any organization to build a more vibrant, connected team.
Bridging the Communication Gap
In the virtual space, we may not be able to exactly recreate the experience of working together in person, but we can come close.
Reimagine Virtual Team Meetings
Your regular team meetings can be a great place to foster engagement, but they may need a refresh. Instead of viewing meetings as obligatory (the term “Zoom fatigue” exists for a reason), find novel ways to encourage team members to become active participants in the discussion and come away feeling valued for what they bring to the table.
- Refresh your icebreaker. Avoid the pitfall of a tired icebreaker. If you’re stumped for ideas, consider running a quick round of trivia to jump-start discussion. Or try spurring participation by asking every team member to share 1 fun fact about themselves. Whatever you do, be sure your icebreaker is engaging, fast, and fun. And remember, a quick Google or AI search can always help you find new ways to keep things fresh.
- Share leadership. Promote ownership and engagement by giving every team member an opportunity, at some point, to lead part or all of the meeting. Doing so will also help your team members develop new leadership skills and build stronger relationships with their colleagues.
- Invite feedback. After a live meeting, participants have an opportunity to informally review the meeting and ask questions. That’s not the case when everyone logs off a virtual meeting—and often has to immediately jump to the next Zoom call. Though it’s always a good practice to invite feedback before the close of a meeting, it’s more important than ever for virtual meetings. Be conscious of your agenda and leave at least 5 minutes to summarize content, answer questions, and discuss next steps.
Energize Team Channels
Your team channels provide opportunities to boost collaboration, but they may need some spark. It’s likely some members don’t regularly contribute or perhaps the activity has dimmed or stopped altogether. Here’s how to breathe new life into this engagement opportunity:
- Introduce theme days. Designated days like “Motivation Monday,” “Wellness Wednesday,” or “Fun Friday” can help your team boost engagement and encourage regular participation.
- Host photo challenges. Start a monthly or bimonthly photo challenge related to working from home. Themes could include pets, hobbies, home decor, etc.
- Schedule virtual coffee breaks. Set aside time for 15-minute “coffee chats” where team members can connect informally, just as they might in the office.
Striking the Perfect Work-Life Balance
Remote work has blurred the lines between professional and personal life, which can sometimes lead to burnout. Finding work-life balance is the key to a successful remote workplace.
Embrace a Flexible Structure
While working remotely allows for greater flexibility, it’s essential to maintain some structure. To do so, consider the following:
- Establish core working hours. Clearly define when everyone should be available to meet, but also allow for flexibility outside of these times.
- Include no-meeting days. Implement 1 day each week—or blocks of time each day—when there will be no internal meetings. This gives everyone designated time to focus on work or personal needs.
- Encourage breaks. Create a virtual break room, such as a dedicated video chat room, where people can drop in for quick social interactions. Promoting regular breaks is an effective tool to help prevent burnout.
The Path Forward
Keep in mind that engaging employees who are working remotely will be an ongoing process that requires creativity, commitment, and constant adaptation. Though difficult at times, it is well worth the effort. By finding successful strategies that encourage your workforce to get more involved professionally and personally, you’ll boost morale and productivity, ensuring every employee feels like they’re part of the team, no matter where they are.
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With more than 10 years of experience, Micaela Marchesini excels in collaboration and teamwork. As part of the Regulatory Submissions team, she ensures compliance, delivers precise and timely submissions, follows complex processes, coordinates with cross-functional teams, and stays updated on multi-brand guidelines. She is highly proficient in using Veeva Vault PromoMats for navigating electronic review processes.
