Building an Amazing Virtual Work Culture
Written By Tony Brown, Sales Leader at BEC CFO & CPA
Creating a vibrant virtual work culture isn't just a nice-to-have; it's essential for keeping our team and clients engaged and motivated. Here’s how we do it at our firm:
Core Values
Regular Review: We keep our core values & mission statement front & center. Regular reviews ensure that our goals remain aligned with these principles, guiding our decisions and actions.
Recognition: We celebrate those who exemplify our values with a Monthly Core Value Winner & a Yearly Core Value Winner. These recognitions foster a sense of pride & belonging among team members.
Hiring and Firing: These decisions are made with our core values in mind, ensuring cultural fit.
Meetings & Check-ins
Monday Morning Meeting: We kick off the week with a team meeting where everyone is on video & we discuss last week’s wins & the week ahead. This practice promotes better engagement and helps maintain a sense of connection.
Watercooler Sessions: Every Friday, we dedicate an hour to a relaxed, informal meeting where team members chat about anything other than work. This mimics the casual conversations that would happen in a physical office & promotes team bonding.
Regular Weekly Meetings: These meetings keep everyone aligned on projects & goals, ensuring clear communication and collaboration.
Daily Slack Huddle: Each morning, team members share something they are grateful for via Slack. This practice starts the day on a positive note.
Friday Slack Huddle: At the end of the week, each team member responds to a week in review prompt on Slack. This is a great way to reflect on the past week & prepare for the week ahead.
Celebrate with the Team
Achievements: We make it a point to celebrate all types of wins. Whether it’s meeting or exceeding goals, business milestones, client successes, team achievements, or personal victories, every accomplishment is acknowledged.
Rewards: To keep the motivation high, we offer random bonuses, gifts, and gift cards. These tokens of appreciation show our team that their hard work is valued.
Important Dates: Celebrate anniversaries, work anniversaries, graduations, birthdays, & any other important dates, making each member feel special and appreciated.
Competitions
Friendly Competitions: To foster a spirit of camaraderie & fun, we organize work-related competitions, office pools, virtual team games, & support our favorite sports teams. Although I am the office champ along with the Kansas City Chiefs, these activities not only boost morale but also encourage healthy competition and team spirit.
By integrating these practices, we create a virtual work culture that everyone can buy into, keeping our team and clients happy and engaged. Try these strategies in your virtual team and see the difference!