Your team’s success depends upon open communication and building trust, but how you do that in a remote environment can be tricky.

“As more companies embrace the idea that remote work could become semi-permanent, one thing is clear: The way we work is officially changing,” writes Krista Soriano for The Muse.

As organizations were forced into working from home last year, and the reality that this flexibility could continue on – staying connected with your team is an important part of working together and meeting your goals, she adds.

Here are ways you can stay connected, engaged, and productive:

1. Be social. Just like you would be in the office, virtually “stop by” your colleagues by keeping one-on-one interactions going every day.

“Whatever communication tool you use, whether it’s Slack or an internal messaging platform, keep chat channels active. Drop in shout-outs to team members, celebrate birthdays, and share uplifting news.”

2. Health comes first. It’s important to acknowledge challenges and problems that come from working remotely, even after all of these months. Creating a safe space for your team to vent, complain and talk freely is a key part of making your team feel heard and safe.

“Discover and acknowledge the unique ways people on your team learn and work,” she writes. “Respect employees’ work-life balance. If you’re shooting over a late-night email, consider adding “no need to reply right now!” to the subject line.”

3. Address issues as they come up. It can be challenging to make progress on projects and assess accountability when not all together and able to face-to-face with one another, Soriano writes. Paying attention to the results of your work and paying attention to what your team and colleagues are saying can shed light on unseen issues. Don’t wait until formal meetings to address these, be open to communication from your team and check in and offer support when needed.
4. Have fun. While understanding that there’s work to do, it’s important to be lighthearted and friendly in your interactions. Creating this space and keeping it fun can help people stay engaged, writes Soriano.

“It might seem hard to replace IRL happy hours, but in the virtual world, it’s the little things that keep the culture alive—like rolling into Zoom meetings with a clever new background,” she adds.