“Being a great place to work is the difference between being a good company and a great company.” – Brian Kristofek, President and CEO, Upshot

Company culture is more than the sum of its parts. It’s an expression of an organization’s values and goals that you can discern in everyday activity – from how people dress and work together, to how tasks are shared, and what’s talked about in meetings. A company’s culture affects everything we do – on the good days when prospects are high, and through challenging times when resources are thin. 

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Like a person, a company culture can be seen as approachable or toxic, stressful or supportive, chaotic or organized. And what people think matters: 94% of respondents in a recent study said that company culture is critical to an organization’s success. 

At the same time, nearly 30% of the global workforce is remote – that number gets as high as 70% for some industries. How can you build a positive culture when everyone is dispersed? Maybe it’s time to ditch the idea of company culture altogether? Absolutely not. Here’s why:

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When an employee feels connected to the company’s culture they’re:

- Gallup/Workhuman

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For remote workers, feeling connected is arguably even more important: it’s the key to engagement. And Gallup identifies “engagement” as the mortar for business metrics like productivity, profitability, and customer loyalty. 

So don’t ditch it! Here are 25 ways to create a thriving company culture with remote workers. 

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1. Town halls

These all-company conversations are popular for building trust and a sense of belonging. A regular regroup shows that management is taking the time to listen. A town hall can plug all staff into company news, give space to introduce new hires, and celebrate wins – and even share some light relief (cue a slideshow of the holiday sweater competition). This is a great time for senior management to share big-picture views of company ambitions, and to make space for team and local updates – whether it’s celebrating a new account or reporting on conference attendance. Here are some tips for planning a successful town hall. 

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2. Innovation pitch daysAn employee pitch day is an exciting way to encourage collaboration and innovation. Whether you’re running a small accountancy firm or a global creative agency, chances are your staff have some great ideas about how to do things differently – from organizing email folders more efficiently to overhauling the company branding. Give them the floor and get ready to be surprised. Here are some top ideas about how to build a successful internal pitch. 

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3. Ask Me Anything with C-Suite
This is a fine suggestion from coach Alla Adams for execs to keep an achievable open-door policy, adding that regular Ask Me Anythings (AMAs) work well in virtual format. “AMAs initiate the expression of radical vulnerability from both sides.” Adams says. “They also help foster a culture of trust, curiosity, agility, and connection.”

LumApps has all the tech for top-down internal comms. Check out the town hall feature as part of our Enterprise Portal. 

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