As companies around the world shift to remote work, it is important to take the time to create and enforce remote team norms. Establishing remote team norms helps ensure that teams are productive, efficient, and have a strong sense of cohesion. It also helps to foster a safe and respectful work environment.

What are Remote Team Norms?

Remote team norms are guidelines for behaviors, communication, and collaboration among remote team members. They are designed to ensure everyone on the team is comfortable, respectful, and productive. Remote team norms should be created collaboratively by the team and be tailored to the team's individual needs.

How to Establish Remote Team Norms

Establishing remote team norms is more than just creating a list of rules; it is about establishing an environment that makes everyone feel safe, respected, and productive. Here are some tips for creating and enforcing remote team norms:

1. Ask for Feedback

Start the process by asking team members for feedback on what should be included in the team norms. This will give everyone the opportunity to share their opinions and make sure their needs and expectations are taken into account.

2. Set Clear Expectations

Be sure to include clear expectations in the team norms. This includes expectations for communication, collaboration, and productivity. It is important to set expectations that everyone is comfortable with and that will help the team work together effectively.

3. Review Regularly

Team norms should be reviewed regularly to ensure that they are still relevant and effective. This will give the team the opportunity to make any necessary changes or adjustments to ensure that the team is working together effectively.

4. Enforce the Rules

It is important to enforce the team norms to ensure that everyone is following the guidelines. If the rules are not being followed, talk to the team members about why and come up with solutions to help them stay on track.

Conclusion

Establishing remote team norms can help ensure that teams are productive, efficient, and have a strong sense of cohesion. It is important to take the time to create and enforce remote team norms to foster a safe and respectful work environment. By asking for feedback, setting clear expectations, reviewing the team norms regularly, and enforcing the rules, teams can create and maintain effective remote team norms.