Fostering Productivity and Engagement | ProductiveandFree

Remote and hybrid working models are now more common than ever. In fact, by 2025, 1 in 5 adults in the United States are expected to work remotely. Though the remote working model has made working a more flexible experience, it has also created a bit of distance between team members. When in-office work was the norm, daily connection between team members was expected. It was also easier for supervisors to monitor productivity and notice when certain employees were struggling or falling behind. As remote work continues gaining traction, it is more important than ever to develop strategies that virtually promote productivity while encouraging engagement and connection within your team. Let’s review the benefits of remote work and some great methods for increasing productivity and fostering connections between team members.

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How Remote Work Has Benefitted Employees

Remote work has fundamentally changed the working lifestyle for money people within the US and across the globe. For many individuals, the commute was one of the most frustrating parts of the workday. Though the average commute for Americans is just under 27 minutes, those who take public transportation to work can expect this to nearly triple. For example, workers who depend on a commuter rail average about a 72-minute commute, while subway and light rail commute times fall just under 50 minutes. Remote working slashes these costs drastically, allowing team members to reserve this money for their ills, savings, and leisure activities instead.

Remote team members also experience an increased work-life balance. When people are able to work from home, there’s no reason to skip breakfast to make the train or be confronted with a growing stack of laundry each evening that is just waiting to be attended to. Employees have more time to attend to these self-care duties at home, all without interrupting their daily work duties.

Both remote and work models are also incredibly beneficial for disabled workers as well. Factors like unreliable transportation, immune compromisation, and individualized accessibility options create a challenging working environment for disabled folks who are expected to commute to the workplace every day. These obstacles can cause them to either leave their position or reduce their working hours, which can fundamentally alter their health and lifestyle. Some tools and technologies used in remote work can make their lives easier. For example, transcription can help employees with hearing problems.

Strategies for Increasing Employee Productivity

Since remote work doesn’t leave room for much employee visibility, many business owners and supervisors worry that this working model will decrease overall productivity. Some companies have resorted to using software that tracks computer activity throughout the day; others prefer weekly individual check-ins for a more personalized approach. However, remote employees can feel a bit anxious about their own productivity under the thumb of micro-management.

To promote productivity in a way that doesn’t inspire dread or nervousness in employees, one of the best options for employers is to, first and foremost, ensure employees have essential resources for remote work. These tools include a computer and work cell phone with speedy, reliable internet access. It can also be helpful to provide employees who are newly transitioning to remote work with a stipend for home-office-related supplies, such as a desktop monitor or printer.

Employees also tend to be more productive when they feel like their voices are heard by upper management. Creating an effective feedback system where team members are encouraged to share their ideas and concerns lets everybody involved know they are valued members of the company and their thoughts matter. Surveys are a great way to collect feedback from employees, and it is even better if employees have the option of submitting this survey anonymously. This will prevent them from feeling nervous about stepping on any toes or creating workplace conflict.

Another option is to offer one-on-one meetings between employees and an appointed feedback liaison. Often, it can be quite nerve-racking to confront your direct supervisor about any issues you’re having at work. Appointing a peer to lead these meetings can help employees feel more comfortable sharing what’s on their minds. From here, it is essential that this feedback is quickly reviewed and the necessary steps are visibly taken. Release a monthly workplace newsletter that acknowledges the feedback and details ways it will be implemented across the company. Doing so can lead to employees feeling happier about their job and their roles and motivate them to continue working hard.

Employee Training as a Productivity Tool

When employees don’t feel adequately prepared for their positions or feel as if some new requirements have not been taught properly, this can definitely lead to a decrease in productivity. Corporate training increases employee confidence and allows them to attend to their jobs efficiently. Regular training about workplace expectations, new programs and processes, and refreshing required skills is hugely beneficial for remote workers. Since it is also much more costly to replace an employee than to retrain them, businesses as a whole can find a great deal more success by providing corporate training and development programs.

It can be constructive to appoint one particular team member to lead weekly or monthly training for employees. If you are currently an employee who possesses a master’s degree or a certain skillset that can benefit the company as a whole, don’t be afraid to reach out to your supervisor and offer your services! These trainings can cover a variety of topics, such as introducing new software, providing cultural awareness and tolerance training, and providing organizational tips for team members. The more, the merrier — everyone benefits from training sessions.

Team Building Ideas for Improving Connection Between Remote Employees

Team building exercises are a great way to boost morale in the workplace and help team members get more familiar with each other outside of work-related communications. When employees feel connected with each other, they tend to feel motivated to perform well in the workplace.

Since remote working means less face time with other team members, finding ways to create a sense of camaraderie and connection takes a bit of creativity. When planning these activities, acknowledge that everyone on your team has varying workloads and responsibilities, so participation isn’t always guaranteed on a particular day. Offering multiple opportunities for engagement across several days is a great way to be inclusive and will likely garner more enthusiastic participation overall.

Below are a few examples of remote activities you can host for your team to foster connection and engagement.

Virtual Mixology Class

Hosting an event where team members can make a series of cocktails and mocktails together is a fun and interactive way to engage outside of work-related duties. During these events, a mixologist will guide the team through making different types of drinks, pausing to give reviews and feedback while sharing stories about their favorite bars, beverages, and restaurants. Many employees tend to grab drinks or dinner together after work, and remote work doesn’t leave much opportunity for this. This class can be an excellent replacement for a common post-work activity.

Virtual Scavenger Hunts

This super simple activity is a great way to get team members to share more about themselves and their home environments. Start a hunt by offering a list of items around the house that employees should look for and share at the end of the week. Employees can also snap quick photos and attach them to a digital checklist, which can be viewed across a discussion board or forum.

These items can include things like a “light source” (a lamp, flashlight, nightlight), “something to drink out of” (a mug, wine glass, or plastic cup,” and a “furry friend” (a stuffed animal or a pet). Employees will learn about each other’s personal lives and get a good laugh out of all the eclectic items people choose to fit the categories.

Remote Art Class

There’s not much creativity involved in filling out spreadsheets or sending emails to clients all day. Give your employees something fun and creative to do together by hosting a remote art class! Offer a prompt, like a landscape or an object, and ask your team to draw, paint, or sculpt something accordingly.

This leisurely activity leaves plenty of room for conversation. It also allows team members to share their progress, laugh about their mistakes, and see which employee is the secret Picasso of the group! Consider making it a tradition – doing so will get employees engaged and talking about art class for weeks.

Fitness Challenges

If you tend to struggle to get your team all in one place, a fitness challenge can be a fantastic team-building option. Set a fitness-related goal for your group, such as achieving 10,000 steps or attending a weekly workout class. Be sure to make the challenge accessible to all and work with team members to figure out what fitness goal they’d be most interested in as a collective. Then, create a timeline for achieving the goal and offer incentives for meeting these marks, such as gift cards. Team members will be apt to encourage each other to meet their goals and provide support for those who happen to fall behind or need workout advice.

Fantasy Football

Sports lovers always seek reasons to talk more about their favorite teams and players. Fantasy football is a good way to tie personal interests and skill-building into the workplace. You can host an initial draft, where team members can share their picks and strategies, engage in light banter, and develop long-lasting mutual interests that bring together individuals from different departments and positions within your company.

Things to Avoid When Trying to Increase Productivity and Engagement

Though the ideas above have likely generated a good deal of inspiration for your remote workplace, there are a few things to avoid when trying to amplify team bonding and productivity at work. First, do not frame all engagement opportunities as mandatory events, especially if they take place outside of or extend beyond workplace hours. They should, for the most part, be entirely optional, especially if a plethora of activities are offered throughout the year. Employees will be more likely to fruitfully and wholeheartedly engage in these activities if there is little to no pressure involved.

Regarding productivity, it is crucial to not threaten employees with returning to the office full-time or imposing another type of consequence if productivity levels are not immediately up to your standards after implementing new strategies. Trust that your team wants to work well and is doing everything possible to produce the best work possible.

Overall, introducing strategies that aim to create a more comfortable, fulfilling remote working environment for your team is the best way to get the productivity and engagement results you seek. It’s evident that remote work is here to stay. By maximizing the potential this innovative workstyle offers, your company can reach new heights for productivity and employee well-being.

Katie Brenneman

Katie is a passionate writer specializing in time management, marketing, and education-related content. When she isn't writing, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or hiking with her dog, Charlie. To connect with Katie, you can follow her on Twitter.