During the past year and a half, remote workspaces have become part of the norm. As a result, it’s more challenging to build and maintain relationships among your coworkers without the ability to meet and engage in person. However, it’s still crucial to maintaining these relationships since 77% of workers consider strong relationships with their coworkers essential to job satisfaction.^[1] Below are some simple tips you can follow to help maintain professional relationships with your colleagues while working remotely.

Tip #1: Be Available

The ability to work remotely has given employees more control over how they plan their day. From how they balance their family life with work, whether that’s taking some time during the day to help with home-schooling or taking a walk in the fresh air. However, it’s important to remain available for your colleagues to reach you when needed. If you are going to take time out of your day to focus on family matters or self-care, be sure to block out this time on your calendar or let your coworkers know you are stepping away from your workstation, so they are aware of when you’re not available and can work around it.^[2] This way your coworkers won’t feel like they can never reach you when they need to.

Tip # 2: Don’t Jump Right into Business

One in-office perk remote working lacks is casual office conversations and in-person interactions. It’s much easier to partake in lighthearted conversations with your coworkers when you’re in the same office, it’s much harder to do remotely. One thing you can do is to set aside a few minutes at the beginning of every virtual meeting for a quick, informal catch-up with everyone present. This is a great way to check-in with your coworkers and avoid meetings feeling too formal, while also showing that you are making an effort to build and maintain relationships with the team. Feeling overwhelmed with too many attendees in an online meeting? Try starting with a fun ice-breaker question for everyone to answer is another way to bring the feeling of being together in the office.^[1]

Tip # 3: Schedule Quick One-on-One Meetings

Setting up a casual, 15-minute check-in with colleagues on your team will also help maintain your relationship with your coworkers. This is a time where you can talk about anything, not just work-related items, and connect with your teammates. Taking an interest in their lives outside of work will make your coworkers feel cared for and heard.^[3]

Tip # 4: Share Your Skills

Working remotely offers the opportunity to cross-train with your colleagues. Since you don’t need to get everyone in the office on the same day, at the same time, it’s easier to schedule quick trainings to teach your coworkers a new skill, or just show them what you do on the team. This is a great way to teach and learn something new, while also taking an interest in understanding what your coworkers are doing.^[2]

If your business is looking for more ways to build and foster stronger professional relationships, a human resource professional can help. At VensureHR, our HR specialists can provide you with the tools, resources, and support you need to manage effective professional relationships for your business. Contact VensureHR to learn more.

^[1] HR Magazine- Good Workplace Relationships Have Largest Impact on Job Satisfaction

^[2] ThomasNet- How to Build and Maintain Colleague Relationships While Working Remotely

^[3] Anyplace- How to Strengthen Relationships While Working Remotely