How Culture Coaches Are Disrupting the Remote Work Industry
Since the beginning of time, togetherness and shared moments have been at the forefront of the human experience. From ancient tribes huddled around campfires to modern societies interconnected by digital networks, the essence remains unchanged: human beings thrive through bonds, relationships, and mutual understanding. Rooted in our nature is the longing for connection—we are wired for companionship.
Despite being more connected than ever in the digital age, many of us find ourselves grappling with an unsettling sense of isolation. Surface-level interactions often leave us yearning for the deep and meaningful connections that seem frustratingly out of reach. True connection, the kind that nurtures our souls and uplifts our spirits, requires depth—an understanding that extends beyond the curated personas we project.
At Clevertech, we understand this and think about it often.
Our solution? Culture coaches.
Growth mindset + Challenging projects
What is a culture coach?
So many things. An advocate. A close confidant. A teacher. Someone who is in your corner
Today, let's focus on remote software developers and how the coach connects you to something bigger than yourself in a way that aids in activating your purpose and discovering your fulfillment.
Why is this important?
A new 2023 Gallup survey says that remote workers feel less connected to their company's overall mission compared to in-office and hybrid workers. Managers are concerned remote work worsens culture, team cohesion, and mentoring so to fight the feeling of disconnect, companies are trying different tactics to foster connection like more vertical check-ins and team activities. However, amidst the discourse of disconnection in the Gallup survey and WSJ article, a different narrative emerges from the remote staff at Clevertech (CT).
“Hey, Natalie! you’ve been a great coach and have helped me grow, but mostly you made me feel part of CT, otherwise, I would just have felt like one more contractor from any big company with little engagement.”
“Since we work a lot inside the client we have less contact with people in our beloved CT, my culture coach makes me feel more included and also acts as a bridge between me and CT.”
“My coach helped me to understand how my work and contribution are perceived and valued. He helped me stay in touch with broader Clevertech company culture (a lot of the time we are isolated in small project teams).”
To us, connecting is intentional and at the forefront of our minds - not some afterthought. We don’t just fight to avoid disconnect, we actively make space to connect because we know how important it is to belong and be seen.
So, what IS a culture coach?
Someone who connects you - to yourself, to your teammates, to your company and its community. Someone who helps you
Unearth fresh perspectives by exploring different vantage points of the same idea or problem
Chart a course through challenges or opportunities that lie ahead of your project or your growth
Uncover underlying anxiety and fears that are holding you back from success
Stay accountable in a world brimming with distractions and competing priorities
Illuminate pathways and provide tools you didn’t know were available to you
Don’t just believe me, hear it from our developers:
“My coach has been awesome, especially when it comes to reminding me of my past victories. There was this one time when I was really worried about how our client was feeling about our team's performance. I felt like we were dropping the ball. That's when my coach stepped in. She reminded me of a similar situation from the past where we'd gone above and beyond to deliver great results and make the client happy. That flashback really put things into perspective. It showed me we've been in tough spots before and not only survived but thrived. These reminders from her don't just boost my confidence, but they also help me remember that we've got the skills and determination to pull through. It's super helpful and always gets me back on track."
“A while back, our team was working hard and delivering tickets for our client. However, our client was struggling to present our progress to his executives and it showed up in our meetings as frustration at us. When I chatted with my coach about this, she helped me explore the client’s perspective to try and identify what could be going on. It seemed that even though we were delivering on time, there wasn’t an easy way to quickly communicate the team’s achievements and milestones. Talking to my coach helped me realize I could reduce a pain point for my client by producing an end-of-week report before my client’s executive meeting so that he could be prepared for that meeting. I’m sure the client would eventually ask for such a report, but it was nice to talk to my coach, identify this pain point, and proactively work to solve the problem.”
A coach is like a skilled weaver, threading together the different strands of your ambitions, aspirations, challenges, and actions, connecting the dots, and sharing with you what they’ve noticed works for you just like you do for the client. In the fast-moving and competitive landscape of technology, every advantage we can get matters. Finding small (and significant) ways of getting an edge is something we work hard to do with our coaches.
References:
Ellis, L. (2023). The Disconnect Between Remote Workers and Their Companies is Getting Bigger. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/the-growing-disconnect-between-remote-workers-and-their-companies-f7519676?mod=Searchresults_pos2&page=1
Harter, J. (2023) Are Remote Workers and Their Organizations Drifting Apart? Gallup. Retrieved from https://www.gallup.com/workplace/509759/remote-workers-organizations-drifting-apart.aspx