You know that happy employees lead to a productive workplace as a business owner. But what if your employees are located in different countries? How can you create a sense of engagement and unity among your global team? Here are three tips to get you started.

Utilize Technology

There are several ways to use technology to connect with your employees no matter where they are in the world. Tools like Skype, Google Hangouts, and Zoom make it easy to have virtual face-to-face meetings. You can also use project management software to keep everyone on the same page (literally!) regarding deadlines and assigned tasks. Utilizing technology encourages proper communication even if your team is on different sides of the globe.

When using these tools, don’t forget to build also in leisure and social activities, such as virtual happy hours or team-building challenges. Here are some creative ideas:

Utilizing technology is a great way to ensure that everyone feels equally engaged and connected, no matter where they are physically located.

Celebrate Diversity

Employees from different countries bring unique perspectives and experiences to the workplace. Celebrate this diversity and encourage employees to share their stories. This can be done through a company-wide email or, even better, by creating a virtual chatroom where employees can get to know one another in an informal setting.

Having a diverse team also means more creativity and collaboration, which is great for problem-solving. For example, suppose someone from one country has a better understanding of the local market, and another from a different country knows more about industry trends. In that case, these two perspectives can be combined to find the best solution. Diversity also breeds innovation and creativity, so celebrate the diverse backgrounds of your global team.

Know More About Your Team

Most importantly, get to know your team members as individuals. Small things like knowing a team member’s favorite hobby or birthday can go a long way in creating an engaged workplace. Make sure to recognize birthdays and other special events with virtual gifts, cards, or shout-outs on company social media accounts.

Also, don’t forget to acknowledge achievements and hard work-no matter how small. This could be a “thank you” for completing an important task on time or a simple shout-out in the company newsletter. You can also have them send a package from the Philippines to the USA if you have team members living there containing items representing the Philippines. This way, you can show that you care about their backgrounds and cultures. Of course, you should also send a little something to your team members so that they’ll get to know you even better. Remember that this is more than just a business relationship-it’s a human connection.

Encourage Collaboration

While it’s important for each employee to focus on their tasks, it’s also important to encourage collaboration among team members. When employees feel like they’re part of a larger team working towards a common goal, they’re more likely to be motivated and engaged in their work. One way to encourage collaboration is to assign group projects or pairs for larger tasks.

Another way is to host weekly or monthly video conference calls where the entire team can check in with one another and share updates. Collaboration also creates a sense of unity among your global team, which can help increase productivity and morale.

To help foster a connected workplace, encourage interactions between remote workers and their colleagues in the office. This can include having weekly check-ins with everyone, virtual brainstorming sessions, and other activities where everyone can collaborate on projects. Collaborations help strengthen relationships between team members, and when everyone feels connected globally, it helps to create a stronger company culture.

Show Some Appreciation

Everyone likes to feel appreciated for their hard work. And there’s no reason why this shouldn’t extend to your global employees! Showing appreciation can be as simple as an email thanking someone for their contributions or going above and beyond their job duties.

You can also utilize recognition programs like small bonuses or gift cards to show appreciation for a well-done job. And make sure you recognize employees for their achievements in public forums, like during internal meetings or via email and other forms of communication. Appreciation is an essential part of keeping your global team motivated and engaged.

Although it may appear to be a difficult task, creating a globally engaged workforce is entirely possible. Utilizing technology, encouraging collaboration, and showing appreciation can bring your team together no matter where they are. Try implementing these tips today and see how much of a difference they make in employee engagement levels!