Building a strong remote work culture is a necessity for businesses today. In fact, it is top of mind for many organizations as they respond to business changes resulting from the global pandemic caused by COVID-19.

Though some may downplay the need to establish a robust remote team culture, experts believe that many businesses will choose to retain a significant part of their remote work structure in the coming years.

If your employees are working from home, for the long term or temporarily, you need to take steps to build a strong remote team culture that leads to happier, more engaged employees.

You can’t magically make people happy. Leaders can set a direction and tone for how to collaborate and work with the team, but you can’t force your team to respond in a similar fashion. Culture does that for you.

 10 things to do to create a professional working environment:

1. Be respectful, polite and honest with your team members and other students.
2. Use professional language at all times.
3. Be punctual to your meetings and let the others know in advance if you cannot attend the meeting.
4. Test out your computer microphone, speakers, and camera before important meetings to make sure they work.
5. Use your video camera whenever possible.
6. Set aside a separate space in your home for work.
7. Have a clear background behind you – make sure that your background is not cluttered or disorganized.
8. Communicate with your team members when you are having an issue so they are aware and can plan accordingly. They may also be able to provide support.
9. Dress smart-casual.
10. Be dedicated to doing good work and communicating well with others.

Make Working Remotely Work for You

Working remotely can be a great way to save time and money, but it can also be difficult to stay productive. Compared to working in the office, there is a lot of additional thought that goes into making the experience work.

However, by following these tips, you can create a remote work office set-up that is perfect for you.

On the other hand, just because you’re a remote worker, doesn’t mean you’re not entitled to holidays. Don’t forget to leave a professional out-of-office email while you’re away.