}

Remote Managers: 5 Tips to Stay Connected to Your Team

More people are working remotely than ever these days. In fact, Learning Tree's employees have recently gone fully remote temporarily to manage current public health concerns. As a remote manager, it can be difficult feel connected to your team when not meeting face to face. As Learning Tree's Human Resources Director, I recently worked with Learning Tree's management team to provide a checklist of 5 tips for every newly-remote manager to do every day to keep themselves and their team member engaged virtually.

foot view of person wearing socks while sitting on a couch with laptop next to drink tray

#1: Connect with each team member daily via Teams (camera required)


We are requiring all Learning Tree employees to turn on their webcams during meetings so that everyone can see each other face to face. We've found this really improves engagement and keeps discussions going better than just a regular phone call. It's important to keep that one-on-one interaction going as well.

#2: Connect with entire team twice a week via Teams (camera required)


Teams should also check in twice per week as a group to ensure updates that normally happen face-to-face are still happening, and that everyone is engaged and involved.

#3: Send daily activities to the team


We suggest our managers recommend daily or weekly activities (either individual or as a group). Suggestions have included:

    • Exercise
    • Share a new recipe
    • Drink 1 glass of water each hour
    • Listen to your favorite band
    • Take a walk
    • Read a book/poem

#4: Encourage group interaction by sharing photos of what they are doing to stay healthy, their new colleagues (pets), a selfie outdoors, or a home project.


It's important to keep the social aspects of office life going strong when working remotely. Be sure to share pictures, stories and other personal insights so that everyone remembers there's a human at the other end of the computer connection. Just remember to keep it HR Friendly!

#5: Reach out to a co-worker and have a quick "Coffee Chat" or "Happy Hour"!


One new thing we're encouraging all employees to do is to have virtual coffee chats!

    • A coffee chat or virtual happy hour is when you reach out to a co-worker and discuss non-work related stuff. These types of connections are becoming very beneficial and really lift spirits.
    • Invite different people to the chats from different departments
    • Turn on your webcam!

I hope these tips help you stay connected to your team and your organization while working from home.