One of the criticisms around remote work is that it’s really difficult to keep employees engaged. And that becomes even more complicated when you’re thinking about how to keep a global team engaged. But what if it actually isn’t that hard, it just requires a rethink of how you’re operating?
Running a remote team—especially a global one—is very different from keeping an office-based team engaged. Your team members each experience the working day very differently. What’s more, there aren’t the same opportunities for casual encounters that you get when someone goes to grab coffee. Instead, you have to create opportunities for those encounters.
It’s important to do so, too. Lost productivity cost the global economy $428 billion last year. The overall employee engagement level is just 21%.
For different types of working, engagement currently sits at:
- 19% for employees who work on-site and can’t work remotely
- 23% for employees who work on-site and can work remotely
- 23% for hybrid employees
- 31% for remote employees
If you’re forcing your employees to work solely from your offices, not only do you risk missing out on great talent, but you’re also sacrificing employee engagement and productivity.
So here are some tips for how to keep a global team engaged:
Introduce people
When I first joined a previous role, my manager organized introductory meetings with anyone I might need to work with. Low-stakes, no-pressure discussions. Just so that they knew I’d started, who I was, what I could do, and so we could come up with ways to work together.
At first, I wasn’t sure about this concept. There were a lot of people to meet.
But having those initial meetings meant that it became easier for me to talk to colleagues if I needed something. And in an age where many coworkers won’t meet in person for months if not years (or even ever!), making introductions early can be a game changer for how to keep a global team engaged.
Make meetings a thing but not A Thing
If you have an async culture, then suddenly start organizing meetings, employees may worry that they’re in trouble.
Instead, meetings should be a regular occurrence so that employees feel comfortable and don’t start panicking.
Having standing meetings also ensures that they can come in prepared, rather than like deer in headlights.
When employees don’t have in-person interactions to rely on for context, these sorts of touch points can help. Keeping everyone informed and on an even keel is key when looking at how to keep a global team engaged.
Have regular check-ins
If they wanted to get some steps in, they could do this over the phone and go for a walk at the same time. This is great for creativity and a nice screen break, too.
Managers need regular catchups scheduled with their employees. Ideally, this should be a recurring meeting.
These regular meetings keep everyone on schedule. They also mean employees can ask for help if they get stuck. It creates a two-way conversation in real time, which can feel more personal than a quick message.
This human-to-human connection can go a long way when thinking about how to keep a global team engaged.
Remember: technology is your friend
You’ve already got plenty of tools for organizing your (likely async) workflows. Why aren’t you using the same or similar technology to encourage connection?
For instance, you could:
- Host a virtual quiz on Zoom
- Post a poll on Teams
- Get employees to share their LinkedIn profiles so that everyone is connected beyond the work ecosystem
- Share Spotify playlists
- Have a topic of the week on Slack or Workrowd
All of these are little things that don’t take much effort, but create a greater sense of connection and belonging between colleagues.
They may seem insignificant, but can actually make a big difference when it comes to how to keep a global team engaged.
(Virtual) watercooler chat
Many businesses have a virtual watercooler, but how many businesses post in there regularly?
This space is the perfect place for employees to showcase what they’re interested in and find people who also like the same music, movies, etc.
It can also introduce them to new interests, which is another way for employees to get to know one another. It’s an easy, and low pressure way to bridge geographic divides. And a great tool in your arsenal of how to keep a global team engaged.
Don’t forget breaks
It’s really easy, when working remotely, for employees to forget to take a structured break because they’re so busy. Their notifications keep going off, they want to do just one more thing, etc.
But without a structured break, they don’t get the same amount of time to recharge. This can lead to errors and increase employee stress.
So, encourage employees to go take a break, especially if it’s a nice day where they can take a lunchtime walk.
If they work outdoors in a place where hot or cold temperatures impact their health and safety, this is even more important. The weather can dramatically reduce their energy levels and potentially make things dangerous for their colleagues.
So remember that building in breathers isn’t just important for workplace wellness. It’s also essential for how to keep a global team engaged.
Respect cultural differences
There’s a recent viral post from a council in the UK. The council posted wishing people a happy Eid before a happy Lent, and someone replied with a critical comment regarding the order of the posts.
In a very matter-of-fact way, the council’s social media manager replied stating that Eid started first. That’s why they posted it first.
By creating posts to celebrate different cultures, it shows that your business respects and understands the different holidays your employees and customers celebrate. It makes them feel included and seen in a very subtle way.
And calling out the people who criticize this shows your business is educated and not just paying lip service. This helps prevent future comments, and could just go viral on social media (so great for brand building).
Little things like this are easy to overlook, but can actually make a difference when considering how to keep a global team engaged.
Understand cultural context
The joke is that the UK and the US are two countries divided by the same language. As well as using different spellings and grammar rules, we also think differently.
For example, the US is a low-context culture. People say what they mean and they’re pretty upfront.
France, meanwhile, is a high-context culture, so there’s a lot of subtext reading required to understand what someone means. (Emily in Paris does not reflect this.)
The UK sits somewhere in the middle, and it wouldn’t surprise me if it becomes more low-context as we’re exposed to more US media and content because of the internet.
Being mindful of these things allows you to adapt your communication style based on whom you’re talking to. If in doubt, the simplest thing is to write in plain language for a low-context culture. That way, it’s less likely that people will misinterpret your meaning.
Cultural competence is an essential component on the list of how to keep a global team engaged.
Organize periodic meetups
Meetups don’t work for every business, but for some, meeting up once a year helps people develop the relationships they need to grow in their careers. It can also help with problem solving and innovation, and even lead to promotions.
Not to mention seriously helping your case when it comes to how to keep a global team engaged.
Set up employee groups
One of the best ways to support your global workforce, connect them with their colleagues, and help them grow in their careers, is with employee groups.
When your employee groups are organized with a tool that’s easy for employees to use, and run by people who want to do it, everyone is more likely to take part and be engaged. And that’s especially important when it comes to how to keep a global team engaged, as your team members won’t be seeing each other as frequently.
Workrowd can help you get more from your employee groups. From feedback surveys to data analysis, it’s got everything you need to re-engage your workforce.
Conclusion
When thinking about how to keep a global team engaged, it isn’t as complicated as it seems. Really, it’s about understanding different cultures, using the right technology, and creating moments for employees to connect so that they don’t feel isolated from their coworkers.
If you’d like help connecting your employees with colleagues, why not use Workrowd to organize your employee events, programs, and groups? That way, everyone has easy access to every part of your employee experience that’s available to them, and you always know what it is and isn’t working. Get in touch today to find out more.
