In case you missed it, remote and hybrid-based work are here to stay. McKinsey Global Institute reported that as of the fall of 2022, workers are on average, going to an office space to work just three and a half days each week.
Most workers (56%) have hybrid work arrangements that allow them to work part of the time remotely or from home and part of the time in an office. Approximately 10% of the workers surveyed by McKinsey also indicated that they are more likely to quit their jobs if they were required to work in an office every day.
While remote and hybrid work arrangements offer considerable benefits, both options do come with some challenges.
One of the challenges business leaders are now facing is how to create a strong company culture when your team isn’t in the same physical space every work day.
Read on to learn more about company culture, how to cultivate a strong company culture in a remote or hybrid work environment, and why coworking centers are an ideal fit for remote or hybrid teams.
Why Company Culture Matters
According to Forbes strategists, culture is an organization’s “single most powerful advantage.” Company cultures that are centered around accountability, communication, and care can help teams get through difficult patches and push businesses forward.
A strong company culture ultimately can serve as a competitive advantage. When your company culture is strong, you’re better able to retain top talent and attract top-notch candidates.
Robust company culture also increases engagement, productivity, and employee well-being and safety. Companies with strong internal cultures also tend to provide better customer service.
According to Gallup, a strong organizational culture can help you grow your workforce, net profit, and customer retention rates, too.
It’s fairly simple: when your culture is strong, your values and goals are transparent to your employees so that you can work together toward shared goals.
Three Ways To Strengthen Company Culture in a Remote or Hybrid Work Environment
As outlined above, the benefits of a strong company culture are significant, yet cultivating that culture requires a strategic approach when you’re using a remote or hybrid work model with your team.
Here are three ways to strategically foster a strong company culture in a remote or hybrid work environment:
-
Create a Culture of Connectedness
One way to build company culture in a remote or hybrid work environment is to create a culture of connectedness. Connectedness is defined as employees identifying with, caring about, and belonging within your company culture.
Gartner’s HR roadmap suggests that leaders audit work processes against company values to ensure there aren’t any conflicts between the two. If your internal processes and professed company values aren’t aligned, connectedness is diminished for employees.
Cultural connectedness also can be strengthened by creating and identifying “moments that matter,” – or moments when employees can feel seen by others in the organization.
These moments that matter could be as simple as recognizing a top performing employee of the month, giving a shout-out to a team member on Slack for a job well done on a project or sending employees gift cards or company swag to celebrate work anniversaries.
Another way to create a culture of connectedness is to use a coworking center for a workspace with your hybrid teams. Coworking centers such as those offered by Carr Workplaces boast multiple options for your team, including private offices, coworking spaces, and team spaces.
If some of your team members need quiet space to work in, our private offices are ideal, as they are built for focused and confidential work. For those team members who work best surrounded by some level of stimulation or socialization, opt for a Dedicated Desk or team space.
When your team works from a coworking space, they can choose from a variety of workspace options and choose the type that works best for them. This level of customization for your employees isn’t possible with a traditional office space rental.
-
Think Creatively About Gathering Your Team for In-Person Events
Forbes Councils Member Maria Orozova advises, “Instead of requiring a certain number of days in the office, think creatively about ways to bring people together in person—such as workshops, social events, or annual reviews with clients.”
Also consider scheduling annual in-person culture-related events for team members who work out of state, far from the rest of your team, or even in the same geographic area. You may be surprised by how excited remote team members get about spending a day or two with their colleagues and managers.
Consider using a flexible coworking space like one of Carr Workplaces’ nationwide locations for your quarterly in-person team meetings, development days, or employee reviews. Meeting and conference rooms can be rented by the day or hour at all Carr Workplaces locations and include on-site support from our team.
If and when you want to hold a larger gathering such as a company-wide retreat or other type of event, you also can leverage the event space available at each Carr Workplaces location. Carr Workplaces coworking centers include beautiful, high-end event spaces equipped with everything you need to be sure your event goes off without a hitch.
-
Create Opportunities for Your Team To Socialize
If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that remote and hybrid work can lead to greater feelings of isolation. However, there are steps you can take as a company leader to combat isolation and create an energy that’s similar to working in person.
Working in a traditional office environment isn’t solely centered on work. When you work in a traditional office on a full-time basis, casual conversations with colleagues and socializing are frequent and often a key component of team members feeling connected to coworkers and company culture.
Carr Workplaces’ coworking centers include community cafés, lounges, and other shared areas where your team members can socialize with each other and get to know other professionals working at the location.
These opportunities for impromptu conversations plus our on-site networking events can provide the socialization your team needs to do their best work.
For teams that are fully remote, companies such as Zapier and GitLab are using group chats or Slack channels to encourage team members to chat about non-work activities.
“It’s not just a virtual world,” says GitLab’s Chief People Officer Wendy Barnes. “We do bring people together … but you have to be unique and intentional.”
You also may want to create virtual group activities for your team members that help them get to know each other. These can include watercooler Slack chats, virtual coffee breaks or happy hours, or monthly book clubs or movie nights.
To learn more about Carr Workplaces’ nationwide remote and hybrid workplace options, call us at (866) 982-5803.
Read the previous blog in our thought leadership blog series, “The Strategic Benefits Of Coworking: 5 Compelling Reasons Businesses Should Embrace Coworking Spaces.”
