To say that company culture took a beating when the pandemic enveloped the world is an understatement. The global lockdown has changed the nature of work and corporate interactions forever. Employees have discovered that they can complete their tasks without stepping foot in the office, not to mention without braving Metro Manila traffic.
Importance of Company Culture
Company culture is the heart of an organization. It’s a combination of business values, mission, and goals, and its development isn’t a walk in the park because it requires effort from every person that’s part of the business. Generally, workplace culture doesn’t change rapidly, but everyone was thrust into working remotely amid strict lockdowns, so most people had to develop ways to maintain it.
The advancement of technology has further created a divide in reinforcing company culture amid the remote work setup. Workers don’t realize that face-to-face interaction still matters because it devises rapport and trust between colleagues and the organization. However, remote work is not without its disadvantages and challenges. Many Filipinos struggle with the remote culture because of a lack of workspace, distractions at home, and unstable internet connections. Luckily, the hybrid work culture has started to emerge.
Best Practices on How to Reinforce Company Culture
The emergence of the hybrid workforce model allows companies to future-proof their businesses. It’s also shaping to be part of the new normal structure. Whether your organization is practicing fully remote operations or slowly transitioning into a hybrid workforce model, here are a few ways to reinforce and maintain company culture in a remote setting:
Improve Communication
Communication is always an obstacle in a remote working environment. The lack of it makes it easier for projects to fall apart and colleagues to not be on the same page. Establishing communication norms, such as chat practices, email etiquette, and response time frames, is perfect for bolstering company culture.
Establishing transparency within your team also promotes better communication. Sending newsletters to inform everyone what is happening in the company to bring the organization together. Sending surveys for feedback will allow workers to voice their sentiments on work.
Cultivate Engagement
Company engagement in a remote setting is a challenge but not entirely possible. Pre-pandemic, get-togethers on Fridays used to be a no-brainer, and team lunches were casual. Up the ante with engagements and create a unique company tradition for employees to feel a sense of involvement.
Revamping pre-pandemic office activities to a virtual setting reminds employees that they are valued in the company and that you want to keep their motivation lifted despite unfavorable circumstances. Online trivia nights are a good ice breaker to encourage participation. Start with activities that are in the arena of fun and team building.
Foster Collaboration
Research conducted by Microsoft showed that collaboration is better navigated in a remote work environment when:
- Virtual meetings last 30 minutes or less
- Quick check-ins, one-on-one, and social team meetings are consistently conducted
- Instant messaging is maximized
Leaders should assess what company values they want to change and retain post-pandemic. Conducting quarterly surveys is a great way to address this with a people-first approach. The safety and wellness of your employees should be paramount. As the entire world is on the way to recovery, companies should be ready to embrace a new type of working environment.
Trust Your Employees
Employees who feel treated with respect and trust are likely to step up to the game. Over-monitoring and micro-managing your subordinates just because you don’t see them physically working will dampen their productivity and motivation. A team must know what tasks need to be completed without bosses tracking their juniors’ every move. Utilize technology to ensure you are always on the same page on projects. Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Cisco Jabber are among tools you can use to interact effectively.
Acknowledge that employees work in different conditions with the remote work setup, such as having just given birth or taking care of toddlers and managing their kids’ online classes. Providing regular recognition to employees to value their hard work fosters collaboration and boosts team morale.
Create Work-Life Balance
Virtual work offers flexibility, but it also poses the tendency to overwork and the struggle to separate work from your personal life. Every employee yearns for a work-life balance, and most companies can grant this. Paying attention to employees’ concerns about their working situation, growth, and development is an excellent way to let them know that you listen to them. You are open to adjustments on how they can deliver their job more efficiently. After all, happy workers are productive workers.
In promoting a work-life balance and a thriving company culture, companies should also promote the positive mental health of remote workers, especially those working in graveyard shifts and those having a tough time functioning without daily co-worker interaction.
Workplace culture will develop whether you like it or not. With the shift to a viable workforce model, active conversations about workplace culture must always be present between leadership, managers, and employees.
Economic recovery has gradually allowed many firms and businesses to shift to a hybrid workforce, and coworking spaces in the Philippines like M Spaces have been a great supplement to that transition. Visit our website and check our rates and services to find the ideal coworking space for you and your team.
