How to Bond With Your Team as a Remote Worker - The Muse

How to Bond With Your Team as a Remote Worker - The MuseHow to Bond With Your Team as a Remote WorkerDear Remote Worker,I love working remotely. But, Ive found that it can be challenging to bond with my boss and my team members when we dont have the luxury of things like lunches and happy hours.How can I forge a solid, somewhat personal relationship with my manager and team when we only ever connect over the internet about work-related matters?Signed,Connecting From AfarDear Connecting From Afar,Im so glad you asked this question, because I know firsthand that its something so many remote workers struggle with. You want to develop strong working relationships, but it can be challenging to do that from a distance.Ill let you in on a little secret I actually work remotely for The Muse, while the rest of my team sits next to each otzu sich in the same office. Despite the fact that Im the one who isnt there, Ive never felt like an outsider.Of course, much of that is owed to my awesome em ployer. But, I like to think that Ive had a little to do with the success of this arrangement as well. Here are a few tips Ive put into practice to feel like a core part of the team- regardless of the fact that Im hundreds of miles away. 1. Dont Neglect the Power of Video ChatEmail and instant messaging are convenient, but they dont empower you to make a more personal connection. Thats why Im a big fan of using video chats whenever possible. From our weekly pitch meetings to one-off brainstorming sessions, being able to interact with my team face-to-face makes me feel like Im actually in the room with them. Its the next best thing to actually being there. 2. Get a Little PersonalParticularly when youre remote, its easy to fall into the trap of all work and no play. Because so much of your communication with your colleagues is written, it feels odd to include personal anecdotes or casual small talk.But, that doesnt mean you can never get a little more personal (while always keeping i t appropriate, of course). Whether you want to ask if anybody has recommendations for your upcoming vacation or mention the latest show youre binge-watching, those seemingly inconsequential personal details can go a long way in solidifying your bond. Weve even instituted some different traditions- from sharing photos to ending each meeting on a lighthearted note- that help us connect over things that dont involve our to-do lists. 3. Schedule Some One-on-One TimeOne-on-one time is something that would naturally happen if you were in the same office as your co-workers. Maybe youd grab coffee with a colleague one day and then have lunch with a different one the next.When you work remotely, its less likely that youll be able to have that time with just one team member at a time- unless you make it happen yourself.For example, I have regular one-on-one video chats scheduled with a few different colleagues. And, when we had a new employee join our team, I reached out to her to set up some time when the two of us could chat directly. That little bit of effort goes a long way in helping you get to know each of your team members- and vice versa. Ive been fortunate enough to get together with my co-workers in-person a couple of times, and I love the opportunity to interact with them outside of a computer screen. However, thats not feasible for everyone. Fortunately, I know from experience that these tactics will help you feel like an equal part of the team- even though youre not in the office.