Brian de Haaff* says organisations can create healthy cultures — even when their team members are distributed across the country and around the globe.
When people think of a remote workplace, the first thought is often one of distance and disconnection.
This is simply not true.
It is possible to form deep connections and culture at a 100 per cent distributed organisation.
It starts with gratitude.
A recent study found that being regularly thanked at work can lead to better sleep, fewer headaches, and healthier eating.
The benefits of this to the individual are obvious, but it is also clear to see how it impacts the organisation.
Fewer sick days and people who are able to bring their best to each day.
I have seen this at Aha! — where I am the co-founder and Chief Executive.
Our company has always been fully distributed and we have a culture of gratitude.
Contrary to what you might think, these two attributes do go hand-in-hand.
Though admittedly, it does require an extra amount of work to make happen, especially as our company has rapidly grown to nearly 100 teammates.
We make this a large priority because gratitude helps us pause and recognise how important small acts of kindness are, even when we are not physically in the same building.
It also inspires the team to stay committed, giving more effort and care.
Here is how to foster a culture of gratitude on your remote team.
Build team spirit:
The more that co-workers connect with each other, the more appreciative they will be of the organisation as a whole.
Researchers at Binghamton University found that fostering a work environment where people feel included and valued leads to higher satisfaction and trust among employees.
All teammates at Aha! can opt into a program that randomly pairs them with someone in the company for a quick get-to-know-you video chat once a month.
Create space for thanks:
You need to give the team a place to share their thanks.
Our team practices something we call ‘hatitude’. It happens in person when our entire company meets twice a year.
The idea is that teammates take turns donning a goofy hat while everyone showers them with gratitude (thus the name “hatitude”).
We also do this every day by sharing gratitude in our company’s group messaging tool.
This works because the messages are heartfelt and specific like: “Jennifer never hesitates when I ask for help.
“Today she immediately said ‘yes’ to jump in at the last minute and cover a client call.”
Celebrate big achievements:
Celebrate the team regularly and often — especially when it accomplishes something great.
One way to do this is to reserve time at the end of video meetings to acknowledge great work.
This can be done by asking people to get on camera and comment on a major goal or project they have just completed.
You could also invite everyone to a virtual party.
Have people hop on a video call to give rounds of applause and maybe even a toast.
When newcomers join the team, be sure to make a celebration out of that too.
Give back generously:
It is possible for a remote team to give back to society.
We established a program called Aha! Cares.
Teammates can nominate a non-profit in their community to receive a financial donation from the company.
Additionally, we offer an annual paid volunteer day and our whole team volunteers together when we meet up in person.
This is something our teammates often cite as one of their favourite memories of the year.
Creating a culture of gratitude is more important now than it has ever been before.
The world needs more kindness and more people who are willing to lift others up.
You can be that person to lift your team up.
You simply need to commit each day to making gratitude a priority.
*Brian de Haaff is the Chief Executive of cloud-based software company Aha! He can be contacted on Twitter@bdehaaff.
This article first appeared on the Aha! company website.
