How can you build relationships with colleagues in different locations?

I lead a team located in Florida, and the staff there work a hybrid schedule. We have daily huddles and all staff are required to have their cameras on unless they’re onsite. Leadership has virtual office hours daily to be available to those who are remote and need time with the manager or supervisor. They utilize WebEx chat to communicate throughout the day. At least quarterly, we have all staff come onsite for a potluck, holiday celebration or meeting with myself and my co-Director, and that is always a very festive get-together. Finally, some teams do have social gatherings outside of work, which provides the opportunity to connect on a more personal level. The key is constant interaction, connection and availability.

It's really important to be inclusive of colleagues who work remotely. Remote staff miss out more on the spontaneous chat that happens throughout an office day which can make them feel disconnected. Whenever we have celebrations in the office we always ensure we invite remote staff to join in and if you can, it's definitely worth making time for face to face interactions regularly. Going out to visit remote staff closer to their home is a really nice way to show how much you value their input and also demonstrate that you're interested in them.

I've managed a remote team before and the daily huddle does help the team connect. Using the chat in teams is a casual way to share the dialogue and important data. Making the mtgs interactive to make sure all are engaging (remote or otherwise) is helpful. Also - an occasional e-card cup of coffee or reward is a fun surprise.

Leverage all platforms, identify colleagues’s preferences depending on the situation. Remember to have FUN like virtual escape room games, remember to praise people for simple things like being a good listener, helping complete tasks.

Showing up authentically to work, doing what you say you will, listening and respecting all perspectives with an open mind, and setting clear goals and demonstrating accountability. I think these components create the most effective teams despite geography and locations or method of communication used.

I believe in the 3 C’s: connection, constructive, and culture. Connection based on common ground, goals, interests, ideas, both professional and personal. Constructive time management to focus on how and when we can do our best work together. And, a culture of transparency to build trust in the team concept.

It is so important to consider the culture, language, beliefs and background of the colleagues/employees one works with. These are some very basic things is which is the part of one’s own “system”. Taking these into considerations can help the team grow and encourage surfacing some great ideas. Moreover, it brings confidence , willingness and active participation to work. Which is generally a great way for the growth of the employee and the company.

Effective teamwork: If team members have good working relationships, it will positively impact their work. Good relationships involve respect, communication and honesty, which can all be beneficial when working as a team.

A little dash of authenticity goes a long way! A genuine smile and a “I’m glad to see you!” goes just as far in person as it does across cyberspace.

Engagement with colleagues at different locations needs to be respectful for their knowledge, experience, culture different and tim zones different needs to be considered while engaging them. It also requires inclusiveness so people from different segments and backgrounds are meaningful engaging in collaboration.

In my experience you can build relationships with colleagues in different locations by taking time getting to know each individual. This can be done within the initial on-boarding process by giving all colleagues a chance to get to know each member on the team. This can be done virtually to allow for different locations/time zones. It also provides the opportunity to have an informal conversation about personal topics and also gain an understanding about various roles within the team.

What I do in my work I always check on them offer help and assistance and make myself available This will ensure family/friendly environment at work

Be mindful in your approach of asking questions when exploring and as you discover the beliefs, values, and ways of life of other’s that differ from your own. Ensure your intent and purpose for inquiry stems from a place of genuine interest and a desire to better understand various concepts of diversity. Be present and open-minded as you learn what makes us all so unique yet, at the same time, so similar.

Support fellow team members. One of the best ways to forge good relationships with fellow workers is to support them. If you are in a senior position, for instance, try to mentor and educate junior staff as best you can. Always be complimentary toward your coworkers and focus on their achievements as opposed to their failures. By doing so, you will help to establish a culture of mutual support and goodwill in the workplace and will gain the respect and support of your coworkers.

In addition, we can build relationships with colleagues by regularly scheduling meetings, set aside minutes for casual conversations during the meeting like an ice breaker. Being honest , open, fair and trustworthy in all activities is also an effective way to build relationships.

One thing I have found helpful is to have positivity partners on the team. Everyone is paired up(no set manner). This is someone who weekly does a check in, encourages each other, send affirmations (if that works for them) etc. It can be changed annually.

Experience sharing is a critical part in development towards a common goal. This maybe through bench marking, sharing of best practices and solving problems which maybe similar in nature.

A virtual happy hour is a great idea. Play games like Cahoot or other virtual games, scavenger hunt, even drinking games can also be a fun way to connect & socialize.

Nothing beats interactive social engagement such as going to meet someone and having dinner with them, or group travels to team dinners. If you are not properly engaged with your colleagues then how can you ever expect your customer interaction to be engaged?

Large companies may employ a platform like Viva Engage to promote cross-site communication. If this or other platforms are not available, consider speaking with the IT department on a Teams package or Sharepoint package, offered by Microsoft. Engage the team with a quarterly internet Meet-Up to discuss personal and company goals. Promote change by displaying social posts on these platforms.

Teamwork. accountability. & open communication opens many doors for workplace productivity. I piloted telework in the public sector for 5 years. Instant messaging is imperative and needs to be reliable such as Slack, Teams, or what we used Skype. I found from my experience, workflow structure of management was crucial. Collaboration and boosting of employee morale was lacking and led to disengagement and low productivity.

Especially for remote / hybrid workers, this cannot be overstated! In the past, especially during the pandemic, I have tried all of the following: 1. Morning briefings for work chat 2. Mid morning ‘coffee breaks’ in person in the office and with a Teams chat for those away from the office 3. Themed social events (within working hours). These events can also be run by members of your team, which gets their buy in. 4. Time out of the office - especially when colleagues have had a tough time, 15 minutes out of the office, a cup of coffee and a chat, can be invaluable. 5. Recognition - not everyone loves a big shout out, but recognising people in a way that they enjoy is key. Where appropriate share that success too.

Building and nurturing relationships with colleagues across different locations requires a dedicated approach. It involves celebrating team achievements, birthdays, work anniversaries, and special events to foster camaraderie and connection among colleagues. By acknowledging and joining in these celebrations from various locations, a sense of unity within the team can be strengthened. Additionally, demonstrating empathy and providing support to colleagues in different locations by understanding their unique challenges and offering encouragement helps in creating a collaborative and inclusive work environment.

Avoid gossip. If you want to nurture positive relationships at work, it's best to avoid gossip. If you hear gossip about another coworker, don't take part, or try to change the subject. If you have an issue with a fellow worker, first try to have a polite and honest conversation with that person. If this does not yield positive results, you can call a meeting with a superior and the colleague in question, so you can address the issue in a transparent and professional manner.

All of the above requires a jointly agreed way of collaboration. Especially in distributed and asynchronous working teams (e.g. due to different time zones, different work packages or tasks), it is of essence to use a collaboration tool fit for this purpose. Everyone needs access to the information, to folders and files, to a e.g. Kanban Board or any other report to track status & progress.

I believe a strong way for remote staff to remain connected with their team is for more meetings to be conducted with cameras on. I know that this can be annoying and that life circumstances may not always allow that but there is more of a connection made when we can see human emotion. It’s hard to decipher what someone is trying to communicate through a typed message. Being on camera also helps for the audience to be more attentive and responsive during meetings.

Look for ways to create and build a connection. Finding different ways to connect technologically is really easy in this digital world. But making time and space to actually show interest in being relational takes intent, effort and vulnerability. For this to happen there needs to be a culture of safety within the team- so setting a team culture is integral to building relationships and connections within teams that occupy different geographical locations.