Recent changes in the remote work environment may be causing something of a whiplash effect for companies transitioning to remote work. Several high-profile employers have moved to limit remote work, or do away with it altogether. The reason? There’s no “water-cooler effect”—in other words, people are less innovative when they don’t work in close proximity.
There’s a renewed belief among some employers that creative fires stay lit when people are in close physical proximity and can brainstorm in person and bounce ideas off one another. Those employers are committed to the idea that innovation is now the number one business driver, and that the “water-cooler effect” drives innovation and keeps organizations competitive. Some big companies are limiting telecommuting for just that reason: to get team members back together in brick-and-mortar locations.
But do people really need to be in the same office to be innovative? Not necessarily. The reality is, innovation can happen no matter where your team members are, as long as managers stay mindful and work to keep the team connected.
Here are some ways to create the water-cooler effect for your remote team:
Establish communication that encourages interaction.
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Thanks to workplace communication platforms that use technology to drive collaboration, many remote workers report feeling more engaged than ever with their colleagues and in completing shared tasks and reaching organizational goals. This is great news that offers a direct counterpoint to the notion that people have to be elbow-to-elbow to collaborate effectively.
Convey how staying motivated and meeting deadlines go hand-in-hand.
To be sure, meeting deadlines is a critical component of an organization’s success. However, a rallying cry of “deadlines, deadlines, deadlines” can sap the spirit of even the most dedicated remote employees. The goal is to keep inspiration at the forefront, along with ways to help workers avoid feeling disengaged and stay on task to meet goals and deadlines.
Check in early and often.
Effective managers understand that touching base with remote workers is more than just a rote task. Virtual meetings are essential to helping your team feel connected to you and to each other. As much as possible, minimize the big group get-togethers where team members have to compete to weigh in. Capitalize on one-on-one meetings or small group virtual meet-ups where people can get to know you and each other more intimately.
Keep communication continual.
As far as communication goes, avoid stops and starts. You want team members to understand you’re truly accessible when they need to reach out, and not just occasionally. To help remote workers feel in-the-loop, set a great example by staying connected and available as much as possible.
Make it fun.
From a virtual standpoint, you’re at an advantage when it comes to the water-cooler effect. How so? You can minimize the gossiping and time-wasting that sometimes occurs around real-life water coolers. Instead, keep virtual meetings task-focused, and at the same time engineer a fun factor into interactions that helps eliminate the “dread factor” that such meetings can sometimes engender.
Reward innovation no matter where your employees work.
A real risk with your remote workers is that team members feel isolated and alone, and worse yet, that their good work goes unrecognized. Set up a formalized company program that shows appreciation and rewards workers for collaboration, engagement with the company’s mission, and interaction with fellow team members who are working toward the same goals.
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