4 unique ways to keep remote teams connected by using video calls

When it comes to top tips people share about working from home, the most common one is usually “schedule calls and make sure your video is turned on so you feel more connected with your colleagues.” This makes sense — after all, it’s arguably the closest you can get to having a face-to-face conversation and boosting that sense of real-life interaction while working remotely. But aside from having team meetings over video conferences, how else can video features be used to retain that team connection while you are all dispersed?

1. Leave it on

A difficult thing to replicate from the office environment is that feeling of being surrounded by your coworkers all day: you can constantly turn to one another to ask something or make an open comment to the table for some chit chat while you work. Consider hosting a video conference where you and your teammates simply leave the video turned on while you’re going about your entire day. Conversations don’t need to be constant, they can simply happen when anyone needs to speak up. This will help to simulate the live atmosphere of an office, where you can see other people working around you and can interact with them in real time without the hassle of scheduling a dedicated call.

2. House tour

Video calls can provide an insightful glimpse into the lives of your coworkers that you’ve never seen before, making plenty of room for you to learn new things about each other. As an ice breaker, why not invite your teammates to share an interesting part of their home (in as much detail as they are comfortable with). This can be anything ranging from a cool poster in their room, their dog, the collection of books on their shelf, or simply the workspace they’ve set up for working remotely. Whatever it may be, this simple act of sharing can bring teams closer together by shedding light on mutual interests or unknown traits.

3. Happy Hour

Who says Friday happy hours are limited to those working in the office only? Take video hangouts to a whole new level by celebrating Friday happy hour together virtually. It’s simple: set a specific time, send out invites to your teammates and encourage everyone to bring their drink of choice. Share your weekend plans and chill out together after a busy week of working from home.

4. All Hands

Often, we forget the true power of video calls and just how many people we can gather in them. It’s common for video calls to happen on an individual or team level, but don’t forget that effective tools will allow you to host upwards of 100 people into one call. With that in mind, why not schedule regular company-wide meetings that gather all your remote teammates for big announcements and updates. This can help everyone feel more aligned and connected on a wider scale, reminding people that they are still part of the company culture and community that extends beyond their immediate team.