As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, companies of all sizes worldwide have been pushed into a remote working way of life. Statistics tell us that 16% of companies now exclusively hire remote workers, and the chances are that number will increase long after the pandemic is over. 

This boost in remote workers has come with many benefits for both companies and employees such as; no commute time, a boost in family time and an increase in some aspects of productivity. 

Of course, working from home doesn’t come without its downsides, one of which is a block in creativity and innovation. That lack of person to person teamwork, spontaneous idea sessions and shared experiences have caused somewhat of a creativity blockage for some businesses.

If you identify a lack of innovation in your remote team, don’t worry, things can improve plenty. To help you get that creativity train back on track, take a look at these handy tips:

Get That Tech Right

One of the first problems with remote teams communicating well is technology. If the internet isn’t good, the messenger system is bad, or there are other technical issues, you could be falling at the first hurdle. 

Use the best cloud storage, file sharing, online management and messenger systems possible to encourage great communication, and do try to find the budget to boost your employees internet capabilities if they are struggling. 

Put Someone In Charge

If there is a natural candidate to put in charge of your remote team communication and innovation, give them the title. Having one person to check teams can access online tools, to book meetings and to nurture the online community, is a really great way to streamline your teamwork efforts. 

Where Have You Succeeded Before?

If there are areas in which you have succeeded with online creativity and innovation together, build on those. If there aren’t any, figure out what worked in person and try to replicate that online. There will be pockets of really positive work, you just have to identify them and grow from them. 

Let Your Employees Know Their Ideas Are Valued

Sometimes innovation is slowed because employees don’t realise how much you value their ideas. If you can boost their confidence and offer multiple avenues where they can share ideas, the chances are, you’ll start to get a positive response. 

Connect

It is important to connect together without the pressure of work, to create a great community feel. Encourage remote coffee meetups, hangouts and chat areas online to get that ‘watercooler’ vibe occurring without any particular schedule or work demand. 

Ensure Remote Worker Inclusivity

Studies suggest that many remote employees can feel left out of the bigger picture at work. This can put a dampener on creativity and leave your remote workers feeling uninspired. Try to ensure all remote employees feel included in the whole business, especially if you do have employees attending the office. All-hands calls can work well to do this, as well as acknowledging remote employees every day without specific reason, and checking in regularly to see where your remote workers are with their work motivation and goals. 

“There’s a way to do it better - find it.” - 

Thomas A. Edison

Remote team innovation can be challenging, but it is entirely possible with a few tweaks and changes. With the right approach you can start to nurture a really positive culture of creativity with your worldwide workers. Eventually you’ll get a boost in teamwork, motivation and plenty of those all important magical ideas and thoughts from which incredible things grow.