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Host barbecues. Publish worker appreciation letters through a printer. Volunteer with colleagues at a local food bank. Building a company culture could be a fairly straightforward exercise for a lot of these activities — If Your company maintains typical office hours. But those self same strategies will not be effective or feel forced in a post-pandemic world when many firms are now embracing distant and hybrid work environments.
As CEO INS Globalour firm has helped countless firms embrace flexible work without sacrificing company culture or losing their sense of “workplace family.” Fostering a cohesive unity in a hybrid workforce requires latest, thoughtful strategies and a shift in perspective on company culture.
1. Define your core values and mission
Everyone deserves a sense of belonging and purpose, no matter their work environment. The more connected and empowered each team member feels to understand and live out that mission, the more committed your teams can be to your culture. Try mixing it up to have friendly competitions on how to best describe or articulate your organization’s mission and values. Consider hosting a “Creativity Challenge” where employees can use AI-generated statements to best define the company’s mission and form a virtual voting committee.
Let employees create stories, newsletters, blogs, and even AI-generated images to illustrate what your organization stands for. They will enjoy developing their creativity while also contributing to the company culture. Much like family traditions unite relatives, defining core values and a mission statement serves as a unifying force for our team at INS Global.
2. Use technology to communicate often
Just as regular phone calls and video chats keep us close to members of the family who live far-off, using tools like Slack and Zoom may also help employees maintain real-time communication and camaraderie even when they’re not together in person. Virtual meetings are an easy way to keep everyone connected and informed.
3. Supporting inclusion and diversity
At INS Global, we support firms that are actively in search of diverse talent, which incorporates creating an environment where every voice is heard and valued. For hybrid teams, provide as much autonomy as possible by allowing each team to select the day/time they meet face-to-face in the office. Ensure that decision-making processes include all team members, no matter their location, and be sure that virtual team members join meetings with their cameras on, even if they are not physically present.
4. Encourage worker engagement
Company engagement activities are like family traditions—they strengthen bonds and create memorable experiences. Virtual team-building exercises and traditions may also help foster shared experiences and strengthen relationships. For example, start a “Music Mondays” tradition where employees post songs with a different theme each week to create company playlists. Or host online company trivia team events.
5. Implement flexible policies
Nothing builds a strong company culture like completely satisfied and loyal employees. Get back to basics of finding ways to boost productivity and worker morale by recognizing and aligning with what your employees value most. In a post-pandemic world, flexible, customized work arrangements proceed to dominate worker satisfaction.
6. Support for distributed teams
When “company culture” is reduced to its roots, the word trust is a must. Demonstrating that you simply trust your employees to work in a hybrid arrangement and consistently support their teams is a strong show of trust from your organization. Consider outsourcing some of those onerous HR tasks to ensure consistency and accuracy of HR services are provided across multiple worksites. INS Global Registering Employer These services streamline HR processes and offer comprehensive support and advantages worldwide to be sure that all team members work seamlessly and are fully supported in carrying out their duties, no matter their location.
7. Appreciate and reward achievements
Just as every family has a tradition of recognizing and rewarding exertions, your workplace family should strive to create similar opportunities for recognition. Be much more intentional and frequent in celebrating achievements, recognizing milestones and successes. Virtual award ceremonies and personalized recognition programs reinforce your recognition for outstanding contributions and encourage continued excellence. Make sure hybrid and distant employees have the same opportunities for profession growth and recognition as on-site employees.
In short, just as strong family bonds are nurtured through shared values, traditions, and regular communication, building a strong company culture in a hybrid work environment requires similarly thoughtful strategies. By prioritizing inclusivity, engagement, and flexibility, you can also create a workplace where all team members feel connected and valued.
Let’s build a culture where we feel at home, regardless of where work takes us.