When flexible working is the norm, we are confident that there will be a fair amount of people who do not work in an actual office.
While the majority of people have been kept out of the office for the best part of a year due to the Coronavirus pandemic, there will be some businesses who merely do not have an office space of their own for some reason or another.
As this may be the case for some people, we can recognise the difficulties that some companies may face when wanting to feel like a team, no matter the circumstances. While that is the case, it is estimated that 57% of office works would like some sort of flexible working when the pandemic has subsided, with a further 18% wanting to work from home entirely.
That being said, if you are a business owner who has found yourself searching for ways to feel like a team when you don’t have your own office, you are in the right place! Detailed below is an easy-to-read list of precisely that.
Establishing a Connection and Having Adequate Communication with Employees
It is a bit of a given, following the last year working from home. However, ensuring that you have communication channels with employees can encourage an office environment without actually being in one.
Whether you opt to have some employees on a video call while conducting some work or choose to rent an office space as and when needed – COVID-19 allowing – you can rest assured that you are getting the same experience as other office workers. On the back of this point, you must nurture any relationships and rapport with your colleagues and employees, which leads us to the next point.
Team Building
This can seem like the cliché and often cringe scenes that we see in sitcoms like The Office, but it is something that is as old as time itself. Ensuring that the teams within your business work like a well-oiled machine is of utmost importance for getting a job done efficiently and to a high standard.
While this can seem like something that is rather difficult to do virtually, it is an aspect of the business world that has developed in line with the unprecedented times we have experienced as of late.
Companies like Team Tactics can provide virtual, socially distanced, and, when times allow, in-person team building activities to suit any team size and budget. To find out a little more about the activities from Team Tactics and how you can use them to make your office team feel like one, head to their website.
Regularly Recognize Employees Efforts
Another suggestion which is a bit of a given, but something that can make a world of difference when wanting to make your office feel like a team while apart. It can be hard to emphasize how much you value your employees while working remotely, but it is something that you should make a conscious effort to do as an employee.
Whether you choose to shout them out at the end of the week in an office-wide email or message, or even decide to send a little gift or card to their home to thank them.
The choice is entirely yours. By regularly encouraging your employees and praising them for hard work, especially at a somewhat challenging time such as the present, you contribute to their productivity levels.
Summing It Up
We hope that this short list has been of some use to you and that you are feeling inspired on what ways you are going to make your team feel like an office moving forward.
One thing we can be sure of is that whatever you decide to do, is sure to make a difference to the wider relationships both amongst your employees, but also with them as well.
