Building a Sustainable Virtual Workplace

A Sustainable Virtual Workplace

We’ve settled into remote living by now, but for many, this was supposed to be a temporary fix. Maybe you’re noticing the cracks form in your tools and processes now that you’re remote for good.

This might manifest in your team members burning out, or your culture breaking down.

To reinforce your remote structure, you can build these 4 rituals into your team’s routine.

🙋 Run weekly mood checks

According to Built In, "57% of workers are more loyal, productive, and take less time off when employers support their mental well-being”.

Make mood checks a weekly ritual! On Mondays, use the traffic light method to ask everyone how they’re feeling: red (stressed/ overwhelmed), yellow (hanging in there), or green (optimistic).

This will show you who needs additional support.

💬 Mix up formal and informal

Are you making space for water cooler chats along with formal avenues for team alignment? Slack integrations and casual channels are great for bonding.

But communication goes beyond daily messages.

💡 Try this!

Take a look at your formal documents and ask yourself:

• Are they reflective of our values? • How can we make them more visible?

You might consider posting a culture guide for potential candidates or drafting a team mission statement. Get everyone involved - it’s a great way to boost your team’s pride and commitment!

🐦 Know your birds

It’s easy to stick to regular habits when it comes to working times. But that might not be the best way to keep the team productive.

One tactic is to have multiple “shifts” such as the early birds and the night owls. Both would have an overlap of core working hours, but individual team members can choose what best fits their lifestyle and needs.

🎉 Make appreciation a ritual

Check-out each Friday with an appreciation ritual. Get your team together on a call and share shout-outs. For example: “I appreciated Lydia’s nimbleness with changing tasks. She jumped on new projects and helped us close some big priorities!”

Celebrating small victories ends the week on a high note and reminds your team that the small stuff counts!

🧸 Get cozy

Settling into change takes active effort. But once you’ve got the rituals down, remote life will feel like home. 😉