Is it possible for fully remote companies to build a strong company culture?
Many assume that a shared physical space is essential, believing that watercooler chats and face-to-face interactions are what build connections.
However, thriving remote companies prove otherwise—showing that culture isn’t about where you work but how you work together.
We often view remote work as a challenge to overcome when it comes to culture and connection. But what if, counterintuitively, remote work could actually strengthen workplace relationships?
This article explores how remote companies can not only build but also thrive with a strong company culture by focusing on communication, shared values, and more.
What does company culture look like in a remote-first world?
Company culture goes beyond office perks and physical interactions; it’s about shared values, behaviors, and the way teams collaborate and engage with one another. In a remote-first world, culture manifests through:
- Clear communication and transparency
- Mutual respect and understanding, driven by empathy for shared remote work struggles
- Digital spaces that create inclusivity and belonging, regardless of physical location
In many ways, the challenges of remote work—such as adapting to asynchronous communication or feeling isolated—can actually bring teams closer. When everyone faces similar hurdles, a collective resilience and sense of camaraderie develop.
Remote work also provides opportunities to see the human side of colleagues, leading to deeper and more authentic connections.
Turning remote work challenges into opportunities for connection
At first glance, the lack of in-person interactions might seem like a barrier to relationship-building. However, remote work presents unique opportunities to foster deeper connections in unexpected ways:
- Shared challenges build empathy: Technical issues, work-from-home distractions, and time zone differences are universal struggles that unite teams. When navigated effectively, these may create a sense of mutual support within teams.
- A window into real life: With video calls, you get a glimpse into your colleagues’ home environments and daily lives. You might see their pets clamoring for attention or notice their homes decorated for the holidays they celebrate. These small moments add a layer of relatability and authenticity, helping to break down barriers and foster stronger connections.
- Intentional social interactions: Without spontaneous office chats, remote companies can be more deliberate in creating social opportunities, such as virtual happy hours, team coffee breaks, and interest-based Slack channels that help employees connect beyond work.
Instead of viewing these challenges as obstacles, remote companies can leverage them to build a culture rooted in connection and understanding.
Communication: The foundation of a strong remote culture
In a remote setting, communication isn’t just about getting things done—it’s the foundation of trust, alignment, and culture-building. Without the luxury of in-person cues, remote teams must be intentional about how they communicate to maintain a strong cultural identity.
Key communication strategies for remote teams include:
- Over-communicating core values and expectations: Reinforcing company values through every message, whether it’s project updates or leadership announcements.
- Choosing the right tools: Utilizing a mix of synchronous (video calls, live chats) and asynchronous (email, project management platforms) communication to accommodate different work styles.
- Encouraging open dialogue: Creating safe spaces where employees feel heard and valued, such as anonymous feedback surveys or regular town halls.
- Writing with empathy and clarity: Remote communication relies heavily on written messages, making it essential to be clear, considerate, and reflective of the company’s culture in every interaction.
For example, imagine a situation where a project deadline needs to be adjusted due to unforeseen challenges.
In an office setting, a manager might casually walk over to a team member’s desk and say: “Hey, I know we’ve hit a few roadblocks with this project. Let’s chat about adjusting the deadline—do you have a few minutes?”
This informal face-to-face conversation allows for immediate feedback, clarification, and reassurance through tone and body language.
In a remote setting, the same message would need to be communicated with more intentionality and clarity to ensure alignment and avoid misunderstandings. The manager might send a message via the team’s chat platform:
“Hi team, I wanted to check in on our project timeline. I understand we’ve encountered some unexpected challenges, and I’d like to discuss potential adjustments to the deadline. Let’s schedule a quick sync to go over our options. I’ve checked the calendar, and 2 PM ET looks clear for everyone. Will that time work for you all?”
This written approach ensures that all team members are informed, have time to process the information, and can prepare for a productive discussion. It also reinforces an open and supportive culture by acknowledging challenges and inviting collaboration.
Consideration and fairness in a remote company
In remote companies, employees must be more mindful and considerate of each other’s unique situations. This requires a heightened sense of empathy, as remote teams often operate from diverse time zones, cultural backgrounds, and personal circumstances.
To create a harmonious and inclusive work environment, it’s crucial that employees and leaders alike make a concerted effort to balance work demands with respect for individual needs.
For example, scheduling meetings across time zones can be a logistical nightmare, often resulting in inconvenient times, fatigue, or the exclusion of certain team members.
In a traditional office, everyone operates in the same time zone, making this problem less apparent. However, in a remote company, it’s essential to account for the different locations of all team members.
When meetings must be scheduled outside of regular office hours, it’s important to avoid fixing them at a time that disproportionately inconveniences one team or region. Rather than always setting the meeting during a time that works best for one team and creates inconvenience for others, the meeting times should be rotated.
By doing this, employees share the load of participating at odd hours, reducing feelings of resentment and ensuring that no one is left feeling excluded.
This approach requires ongoing communication and a genuine desire to accommodate each other’s needs. Small gestures like this demonstrate that remote teams are built on mutual respect, and that no one person’s time or comfort is valued more than another’s
Cultivating a sense of belonging in a distributed workforce
In an office environment, employees naturally form bonds through daily interactions, but in a remote setting, companies must work intentionally to cultivate a sense of belonging.
Some ways remote companies achieve this include:
- Establishing rituals and traditions: Virtual team lunches, online games, and company-wide celebrations can create a sense of togetherness despite physical distance.
- Encouraging employee-led initiatives: Allowing employees to form interest groups—whether it’s a virtual book club or a fitness challenge—helps create a more personalized culture.
- Recognizing achievements: Regular shout-outs and recognition programs help employees feel valued and appreciated, reinforcing their connection to the company’s mission and values.
However, while these activities may seem like the obvious solutions for building people-first team culture, there’s often a disconnect.
The reality is that many of these traditions can end up feeling forced, leaving employees to participate half-heartedly. Virtual happy hours, team challenges, or recognition moments might seem like mandatory events rather than genuine opportunities for connection.
To avoid this, remote companies need to move beyond standard, predictable formats and create truly engaging experiences.
Instead of sticking to the same old rituals, allow employees to suggest and vote on activities that genuinely interest them. A weekly team lunch might get stale, but a rotating list of activities based on employee interests can bring fresh energy and participation.
Also, keep in mind that the best moments of connection happen when they’re least expected. Creating space for informal, unstructured interactions—like spontaneous check-ins or casual chats in dedicated Slack channels—can help these organic moments of connection happen naturally.
For example, consider setting up a dedicated “Coffee Break” channel on Slack. With this channel, employees can indicate when they’re on a coffee break and open themselves up for a casual video call with a colleague.
This creates an opportunity for non-work-related conversations, allowing team members to bond over shared interests, life updates, or even just the simple enjoyment of a coffee together. This low-pressure, spontaneous interaction helps break down the barriers of remote work and promotes a sense of camaraderie without forcing anyone into a structured team-building activity.
Scaling culture beyond the core team
As remote companies grow, maintaining cultural consistency can become more challenging. However, with the right strategies, companies can scale without losing their cultural essence.
Key approaches include:
- Building a strong onboarding process: Immersing new hires in the company’s values, expectations, and communication style from day one.
- Assigning mentors or buddies: Pairing new employees with experienced team members to help them integrate smoothly into the remote culture.
- Documenting cultural guidelines: Clear documentation of company values, expectations, and communication norms helps ensure consistency across teams and time zones.
In particular, a well-structured onboarding process is crucial for remote companies because it sets the tone for a new hire’s entire experience. In the absence of in-person interactions, onboarding becomes the primary vehicle for communicating company culture, expectations, and ways of working.
So, how can you onboard new hires effectively in a remote company?
First, start with the basics: Ensure new hires have access to essential tools and resources like email, collaboration platforms, and any other necessary systems from day one. Assign a mentor or buddy to help them navigate their first few weeks, and set up introductory meetings with key team members to familiarize them with the company structure.
Beyond the standard steps, here are additional strategies to make your remote onboarding experience more engaging:
- Ship a welcome package with company swag and helpful remote work tools (think noise-canceling headphones or ergonomic accessories) to help them feel connected.
- Introduce them to company traditions, such as virtual coffee chats, weekly wins, or fun Slack channels dedicated to shared interests.
- Host an informal virtual lunch or happy hour to break the ice in a relaxed setting.
- Establish expectations around response times, preferred communication channels, and etiquette for asynchronous vs. synchronous interactions.
Embracing remote work as a cultural advantage
Remote work isn’t a barrier to company culture; it’s an opportunity to redefine it. By creating open communication and encouraging connection, fully remote companies can build thriving cultures that are just as strong—if not stronger—than their in-office counterparts.
At the end of the day, culture is not about where you work, but how you work together. With intentional effort, remote companies can turn distance into a cultural advantage and create meaningful, lasting connections. Want to build a thriving remote culture? Start by taking our Company Culture survey.
