You’ve been working remotely for months. How do you keep your team motivated and engaged?

1 Communicate frequently and clearly

Communication is key for any team, but even more so for remote teams. You need to communicate regularly and clearly with your team members, using different channels and formats, such as video calls, emails, chats, and project management tools. You also need to set clear expectations, goals, and feedback for your team, and make sure they understand their roles and responsibilities. Communication can help you build trust, alignment, and collaboration among your team members, as well as prevent misunderstandings and conflicts.

2 Recognize and reward your team

Recognition and reward are important drivers of motivation and engagement for any employee, but especially for remote workers who may feel isolated or undervalued. You need to acknowledge and appreciate your team's efforts, achievements, and contributions, and provide them with incentives and opportunities for growth. You can use different methods to recognize and reward your team, such as public praise, personal messages, bonuses, gift cards, or training courses. Recognition and reward can help you boost your team's morale, performance, and loyalty.

3 Encourage social interaction and fun

Social interaction and fun are essential for creating a positive and cohesive team culture, but they can be easily overlooked or neglected in a remote setting. You need to encourage your team to interact and bond with each other, not only on work-related matters, but also on personal and informal topics. You can create opportunities for social interaction and fun, such as virtual coffee breaks, happy hours, games, quizzes, or celebrations. Social interaction and fun can help you reduce stress, improve well-being, and foster camaraderie among your team members.

4 Support your team's well-being and work-life balance

Working remotely can have an impact on your team's well-being and work-life balance, as they may face challenges such as loneliness, distractions, burnout, or blurred boundaries. You need to support your team's well-being and work-life balance, by providing them with resources, guidance, and flexibility. You can offer your team access to wellness programs, online counseling, or health insurance. You can also allow your team to adjust their schedules, take breaks, or set limits according to their needs and preferences. Supporting your team's well-being and work-life balance can help you enhance your team's health, happiness, and productivity.

5 Involve your team in decision making and problem solving

Involving your team in decision making and problem solving can help you increase your team's motivation and engagement, as well as improve your team's performance and innovation. You need to solicit your team's input, ideas, and feedback on various aspects of your work, such as goals, strategies, processes, or challenges. You can use different techniques to involve your team in decision making and problem solving, such as brainstorming, voting, surveys, or case studies. Involving your team in decision making and problem solving can help you empower your team, leverage their diversity, and foster their ownership and commitment.

6 Provide learning and development opportunities

Learning and development opportunities are vital for your team's motivation and engagement, as well as for your team's competence and competitiveness. You need to provide your team with learning and development opportunities, such as online courses, webinars, podcasts, or mentoring. You also need to encourage your team to pursue their own learning and development goals, and support them with resources, time, and recognition. Providing learning and development opportunities can help you enhance your team's skills, knowledge, and confidence, as well as attract and retain your team's talent.