How to inspire creativity and drive culture while working remotely.

It’s been about six months since I’ve been in the office. Some days it feels like it’s been six years. I miss hallway conversations and the constant buzz of the office. There are some days when working remotely is a breeze: technology is on my side, my boys make their own lunch, and I have a break or two between meetings to get some air. To tell you the truth, those days don’t happen often, my diary is usually jam-packed. Even though I’m connected and connecting with people all day, there are some days where I feel incredibly disconnected.

Inspiring your teams to be creative and innovative, while trying to stay connected digitally is tough, but it is more important than ever. Maintaining a positive and supportive company culture while teams are remote takes some adjusting. Change has to start at the top.

How to inspire teams to drive creativity while working remotely:

Support. Creativity will only thrive when they feel supported, not only professionally – but also personally. We are in a time of evolution, transformation with a strong desire for change. Support your teams by reminding them it’s okay to unplug and take time off. Be flexible. Support and trust your teams. I find when I empower my teams to step away from the business, they return rejuvenated and ready to come to the table with innovative ideas to serve the customer.

Connect. Connect with your teams, connect with your customers. Regular check-ins provide more of an opportunity to ensure teams are aligning their work to the purpose. As a leader over-communication is key to connecting with your team. With so much going on, there will be a lot of conversations about the why behind decisions. Cascading information to your team will ease tensions. (read more about how to lead in a crisis here)

As a company, we are always looking for ways to help our customers live better. For example, Walmart Drive-in was an idea that came from a brainstorming session with teams across our organization. We recognized the challenges our customers and their families have faced over the last few months and we wanted to create an experience where they could come together safely to create new memories. Without connecting with the teams on a regular basis, and reiterating our purpose and goals, I’m not sure the team would have had such a great idea to serve our customers.

We recognized the challenges our customers and their families have faced over the last few months and we wanted to create an experience where they could come together safely to create new memories.

Recognition. Employee recognition contributes to a great workplace culture. Creating a dialogue and sense of accomplishment where people feel valued will help build a culture of appreciation. Being recognized increases productivity and creativity.

Recently we launched a recognition program to highlight individuals and cross-functional teams who go above and beyond to meet customer needs called Project One. We recognize the individuals in front of hundreds of associates during our Bi-weekly Customer Organization meeting.

It’s a fun yet important way to highlight the amazing work happening across the organization.

Have fun & keep it real. Create moments of scheduled spontaneity. Our team has done everything from weekly group stretches, trivia Fridays to Zoom background challenges. The purpose is to keep the team’s spirits high, be visible, and to simply take a break. At the beginning of every week, I share a #selfievideo where I share the top three things on my mind personally and professionally. In these videos, I have shared that I’ve been banished to the basement since virtual school started. I’ve also shared what’s to come with regard to business and how to achieve our goals. We try and have fun with the everyday tasks of work.

During these unprecedented times as an organization, as a team, as a leader, or as an individual, we’ve been faced with real challenges, but challenges are necessary for growth. As leaders, if we begin to promote transparency and always recognize hard work, we have the ability to unlock an entirely new level of inspiration for our teams. At the end of the day – we have one common goal – serve our customers with the best products and services. When you create a culture of providing support and communicate authentically; a transformation in your teams’ mindset occurs and creativity truly flourishes.