Remote Teamwork Done Better

It takes effort and intention, but creating a thriving remote culture is worth it

With so many companies returning to in person environments, and some criticism about how remote work just “isn’t working.” It’s helpful to ask the question: Does remote work not work, or did companies adapt to remote work as an afterthought, without understanding the key components to making it a smashing success?

At Clevertech, we are RemoteNatives and not only navigate remote work effortlessly, but we also empower our clients to do the same. Allow me to share our proven secret with you.

It's All About Identity and Relationships 

Anyone who tells you remote work is as easy as sending people home with a company laptop, clearly has no idea what it takes to thrive in a remote environment. Behind the scenes, we have a dedicated crew of specialists who make it all come together. Think of them as the wizards of Clevertech, weaving spaces and platforms that foster interaction and teamwork. These aren't your typical tech wizards; they're the People Ops team, including culture coaches who work hand-in-hand with our developers to implement the strategies outlined below.

Four Pillars for Thick Relationships in a Remote Culture

Regular Check-ins: The work our developers do, rises and falls in connection to their personal lives. The habits they establish, the stability they feel in their families, their physical and emotional health.

When we check in regularly with our devs we are making sure we are aware of what is going on in their lives, supporting where we can, and letting them know that they are valued as an entire person. We can get ahead of potential issues if someone is going to need to take some time for a health or family related issue, and we can set reasonable expectations ahead of time. 

This allows us to keep our client’s needs in the forefront, while also prioritizing the health and wellbeing of our developers. Knowledge is power and gives us a win/win.

Timely feedback: It happens from time to time that a project gets a bit muddy. Objectives change, teams restructure, systems need to improve as the scope changes. In order for a team to be agile enough to adapt to the competitive nature of many of the industries we work in, we HAVE to engage with timely feedback. Noticing where adjustments need to be made and making them in real time, is a crucial part of delivering results.

One of our teams needed just such an adjustment, and within a week, our coaches had checked in with all 50 developers on the project, listened to their perspective, gave adjusting feedback and debriefed the PM so that they could effectively pivot and continue to thrive.

Giving feedback is a skill that we work hard to develop. We strive to motivate growth through a mixture of positive reinforcement and constructive feedback. We use clear language that leaves no room for ambiguity. This type of communication has become a cultural norm and creates teams that can say the hard things with compassion. 

Two-way dialogue: When we hold check-ins or 1:1 coaching sessions, we always leave room to RECEIVE  feedback as well. We invite and ask for it. We value everyone in the company to share their viewpoints, concerns and even criticism. If we want to have a culture that leans into growth - we have to be open to listening and learning ourselves.

Expectations and Tracking: It’s important to set distinct expectations around: the type of communication we want, results we expect to be delivered and a timeline for when any improvements should be displayed. Giving vague feedback without explaining what “improvement” would actually look like, is good for no one. 

Things work when we do

Remote work that operates at a high level and provides autonomy IS possible. We do it day in and day out. It takes work, skill and strategy. It is not something that happens as an afterthought, but must be built into the very structure of the company.

There’s no enchanting shortcut to achieving seamless communication and collaboration among remote teams, but we believe it’s worth it.

If you are a remote worker, what keeps you tied into the culture of your company? What do you WISH you had in terms of resources and support? How can you show up as a leader in your remote work space?

When we all pull together, we can do amazing things.

Want to join a fully remote tech company working on exciting projects across various industries?

Remote Rituals to Build Identity

When we know our objectives and values, we can create rituals that ensure they are more than just wishes and dreams but become a tangible reality.

Here are a few remote rituals we have built into our culture at Clevertech.

Clever Night Out

In a traditional office environment there are typically some dinners and lunches the company will cater or take employees out to. When translating office culture over to a remote environment we like to ask: What does this accomplish and can we do the same in a different context?

Many times these dinners and lunches create a more relaxed environment to get to know each other, as well as allowing the company to show its appreciation for the effort and investment of its employees.

At Clevertech we invite everyone to take the people who mean the most to them out for a meal to celebrate their support and community.

Swag + Badges

In order to create a culture that recognizes accomplishments and team efforts we have a badge system. Everyone at CT can give virtual badges to celebrate the work of others. These badges can be redeemed for swag in our swag shop.

Our periodic swag drops are always a frenzy of excitement and the items never disappoint.

Slack engagement

Some people love it - some hate it - but Slack is a focal point of our remote hub. We’ve taken care to construct spaces that make sense. Keeping messages to essential topics, and engaging with announcements, coaching, collaboration efforts, trivia and even wellness challenges.

With a little intention and creativity, we use Slack in a way that connects and informs with real value.

Training Cohorts

Often in remote workspaces, there are a lot of silos. Even with several hundred employees, it’s possible to only interact with a handful of people and feel a bit isolated. At Clevertech we have several training programs that allow employees to connect with others within the company, learn together, form relationships and grow from fresh perspectives and personalities.

Which of these remote rituals would you be most excited to enjoy or implement?

There isn’t one silver bullet for a healthy remote culture, but by employing a variety of strategic tools we can create a work environment with both connection and autonomy.