It was a Monday morning. My coffee was hot, my laptop was open, and my Slack notifications were going wild. Another week of remote work. Working remotely has its perks: no commute, flexible hours, and a dress code that rarely includes pants. But let’s be honest, it can also be isolating. Without a deliberate effort to build a strong team culture, remote work quickly turns into a transactional experience: tasks assigned, tasks completed, repeat.
So how do you make a remote team feel like a team rather than a collection of individuals scattered across time zones? Let’s talk about it.
Tools That Bring People Together
You can’t build culture on Slack alone, but the right tools make a huge difference. Here’s what I’ve found effective:
- Slack (or Discord, or Mattermost): The digital watercooler. Create channels beyond work (#random, #memes, #pets) to encourage casual interactions.
- Zoom (or Google Meet, or Teams): For meetings, yes. But also for virtual coffee chats, pair programming, or just hanging out.
- Miro (or Mural, or FigJam): Great for collaborative brainstorming and keeping meetings engaging.
- Notion (or Confluence, or Coda): A shared knowledge base ensures everyone stays aligned.
- Donut (Slack app): Randomly pairs people for virtual coffee chats. Helps cross-team bonding.
- Tandem (or Around): Creates a more spontaneous “open office” experience for those who miss casual desk chats.
- Loom (or Vidyard): Enables quick video updates instead of long Slack messages, adding a personal touch.
- Gather.Town (or Remo): Virtual office spaces that make remote work feel more interactive.
The goal is to make communication feel natural, not forced. When you integrate these tools well, they complement each other rather than overwhelm the team.
Processes That Build Connection
Just having the tools isn’t enough, you need rituals that reinforce a sense of belonging. Here’s what has worked for my teams:
- Daily Standups (Async or Live): A quick check-in to keep everyone on the same page.
- Virtual Team Lunches: Eating together, even over Zoom, builds camaraderie.
- Show and Tell Fridays: Team members showcase cool side projects, hobbies, or things they learned that week.
- Office Hours: Open calls where anyone can drop in, mimicking the casual nature of in-office conversations.
- End-of-Week Wins: A dedicated Slack thread to celebrate achievements, big or small.
- 1:1 Coffee Chats: Scheduled but casual chats with teammates to build stronger personal connections.
- Mentorship Pairing: Assigning a buddy system to support new hires and encourage learning.
Activities That Make Remote Work Fun
Culture isn’t just about work - it’s also about play. Here are a few ways to add some fun into the mix:
- Online Game Nights: Trivia, Jackbox, Skribbl.io, or even a casual Minecraft server.
- Photo Challenges: “Share a photo of your desk,” “What’s outside your window?” Small things that spark engagement.
- Book Clubs or Movie Clubs: Encourages deeper discussions beyond work topics.
- Remote Hackathons: A great way to collaborate on fun, low-pressure projects.
- “Get to Know Me” Sessions: Monthly deep dives where team members share their backgrounds, interests, or career stories.
- Themed Dress-Up Calls: A little fun goes a long way. Think “crazy hat day” or “retro office” themes.
- Trivia Tournaments: Hosted over Slack or Zoom, these bring teams together competitively.
- Fitness Challenges: Encouraging movement and healthy habits with step-count competitions.
Dealing with Time Zones and Burnout
One of the biggest challenges in remote work is managing different time zones and preventing burnout. Here’s what I’ve found helpful:
- Document Everything: Async-first culture means people can catch up at their convenience.
- Respect Time Zones: Use tools like World Time Buddy to schedule meetings at fair times for everyone.
- Encourage Breaks: No one should feel chained to their desk. Set an example by stepping away yourself.
- No-Meeting Days: Designate a day where deep work takes priority over video calls.
- Flexible Work Hours: Trust people to manage their time as long as goals are met.
The Bottom Line
Remote work doesn’t mean working alone. Culture isn’t an office, it’s how people interact, collaborate, and connect. Fostering a strong sense of community requires intention. The right tools help, but it’s the rituals and activities that create a real team bond. If you’re leading a remote team, think beyond meetings and deadlines. Create spaces for casual interactions, encourage spontaneous conversations, and most importantly - make it fun. Because no one wants to work in a remote ghost town. And remember, strong team culture isn’t built overnight, it’s the little things, done consistently, that make the biggest impact.