Just because a team works remotely doesn’t necessarily mean they’re motivated. In fact, they often require more communication and encouragement so they don’t worry about missing out or feeling forgotten. Whether your remote team works across town, across the country, or across the globe, you can’t easily call them in for a physical meeting. To beat these problems, take the following steps.

Set a “Global Hour” for a Weekly Call

If possible, find an hour that works for everyone, or almost everyone, on your remote team. This might mean having a call at noon so employees in both Europe and California can be in on the call. In some cases, a few of your employees may need to work late or get up early to make it, but the cost is worth the benefits. Use this weekly call to review project updates, listen to employee concerns, and review company news. This way, everyone has a platform and knows there’s an opportunity to be heard.

Engage with Your Employees Individually

Image via Flickr by Duncan Rawlinson – Duncan.co – @thelastminute

It’s easy for remote employees to lose motivation when their co-workers and friends in the office are having birthday parties and catching drinks after work, especially if your remote team works from home. To prevent the loneliness of remote work, reach out to each of your team members a few times every week and ask how they’re doing. Use this one-on-one touch base to review problems with deadlines, issues with clients or co-workers, and even personal discussions. This creates a “water cooler” moment to connect with them. Who knows — you may find out something they’re going through that’s been hurting their performance or a hidden skill set that can help with a project. Here is some great advice from Tej Kohli about nurturing the next generation of employees.

Create Opportunities for Everyone to Communicate

To prevent employees from feeling like they’re left out, set up digital chat apps and video conferencing where everyone calls in remotely. This makes your team feel like they’re on a level playing ground with their peers, instead of having one person call into a conference room full of co-workers. Plus, video chatting on a large screen like the nearly 10-inch iPad Pro can feel almost like you’re having an in-person meeting with your group, as it’s easier to read their facial expressions and body language.

Use Project Management Software

Along with open chat lines, project management software can allow team members working remotely to connect with their office counterparts and stay up to date on deliverables and potential issues. Too often, project updates are made in a quick meeting in the hall, and remote employees hear about them a few days later. With a digital platform to track the progress, everyone can see what is getting done and join the party when you make your deadlines.

Hire Self-Motivated Employees

If you’re just starting to construct a remote team, consider looking for individuals who don’t need outside motivation. Not everyone is cut out for remote work, and you may find certain people get distracted or feel frustrated when they’re not in the office. Even the most qualified employees can underperform if they’re easily sidetracked and need structure. During the hiring process, ask why they want to work remotely and if they’ve done it before. You will have more success with employees who are accustomed to working remotely than with those just giving it a try.

Create a Digital Happy Hour

If your remote employees don’t feel like they’re part of a team, create an opportunity for them to socialize on a personal level with their co-workers. Create a web conference during lunch where no one is allowed to talk about work, or create a chat event during the Super Bowl or Olympics where everyone on the staff has an opportunity to “watch” the event together. Even if your employees are across the globe, they can still talk about the impressive track and field events.

These are just a few ways to create a culture that motivates your team. Keep in mind that every employee and every team is different. You may find yourself needing to motivate some people more, while others are productive all the time. The key to a successful remote team is flexibility.

By Kar

Dr. Kar works in the interface of digital transformation and data science. Professionally a professor in one of the top B-Schools of Asia and an alumni of XLRI, he has extensive experience in teaching, training, consultancy and research in reputed institutes. He is a regular contributor of Business Fundas and a frequent author in research platforms. He is widely cited as a researcher. Note: The articles authored in this blog are his personal views and does not reflect that of his affiliations.