Building culture in remote teams doesn’t happen overnight. It takes intention, empathy, and a whole lot of creativity. When done well, it becomes the backbone of collaboration, belonging, and employee engagement — even across time zones.
So, what does a thriving remote culture actually look like in practice? Let’s walk through some of the most meaningful ways teams can stay connected, motivated, and inspired — no matter where they work.
Why Building Culture in Remote Teams Matters More Than Ever
A strong culture isn’t just “nice to have”—it’s a foundation for engagement, productivity, and retention. People want to feel seen, heard, and appreciated, especially when they’re not sharing the same physical space.
Creating that sense of belonging builds trust and psychological safety, which according to research, is crucial for effective collaboration and innovation. Harvard Business Review highlights how psychological safety allows team members to openly share ideas without fear of judgment or backlash — a must for high-performing remote teams. Learn more.
Key Practices for Building Culture in Remote Teams
Start with a Personal Touch: Make Every Experience Count
From day one, it’s important to create a personalised, welcoming experience for each employee. Whether it’s a digital welcome card filled with inside jokes and friendly GIFs, or a heartfelt video message from the team, these small gestures go a long way in making people feel seen and valued.
Regular 1:1 check-ins, not just for performance, but for support and coaching, are equally important. These intentional moments build trust and help maintain a strong sense of connection even without the office walls. If you want to dive deeper into how mentorship can transform remote team culture, check out this great resource on mentorship.
Champion Belonging Through Communities
One of the most powerful ways to build culture in remote teams is by giving people space to connect beyond their roles. Encourage participation in employee-led communities or interest groups — especially ones that align with social impact, diversity, or shared passions.
Women in tech, for example, often find inspiration and mentorship through professional development programs like our Elevate Program or community-led forums. These spaces create belonging, foster leadership, and make the work experience more meaningful.
Make Recognition a Daily Ritual
Recognition is more than just a “thanks” — it’s a proven driver of motivation, connection, and performance. When team members regularly highlight each other’s wins, aligned with values and outcomes, it builds a transparent culture of appreciation.
And let’s be honest: in remote settings, leaders can’t see everything. Peer recognition helps surface contributions that might otherwise go unnoticed. Bonus: it provides real data you can use in development conversations, goal setting, and performance reviews.
Encourage Cross-Team Conversations
One of the most underrated ways to build culture remotely is to spark new conversations between people who don’t usually work together. Whether it’s through a tool that pairs up random teammates for casual chats or a scheduled “coffee roulette,” these moments create unexpected connections that strengthen your culture from the inside out.
You’d be surprised how much team synergy starts with a chat between someone in sales and someone in marketing — or even across continents.
Leverage Tech for More Than Just Tasks
Tools like Microsoft Teams and Slack aren’t just for task updates and project files. They’re a virtual office — complete with memes, pet cameos, and spontaneous shout-outs. Encourage team members to bring their whole selves to these digital spaces.
You don’t have to force fun, but it helps to create low-pressure spaces for casual connection. A #random channel. A 15-minute “vibe check.” Even just keeping cameras on during calls (without making it mandatory) helps put faces to names and voices to personalities.
Just as building rapport is key for customer success, nurturing these interpersonal connections internally is vital for team success. You can explore parallels between the two in this article on building rapport with customers.
Prioritise Psychological Safety
Above all else, culture thrives when people feel safe to speak up, share ideas, and be themselves. That means creating a space where honest feedback is encouraged, and recognition isn’t just for high-performers — it’s for anyone who contributes with intention and care.
Psychological safety is what unlocks real collaboration — and when combined with a consistent, values-driven recognition culture, it becomes the fuel that powers great teams.
If you want to learn how to cultivate this mindset, this article on inclusive leadership culture offers valuable insights.
The Takeaway: Culture is Your Team’s Secret Sauce
At its core, building culture in remote teams is all about being intentional, showing empathy, and putting in consistent effort. When people feel truly connected, valued, and safe, they don’t just work better together—they bring more creativity to the table and want to stick around for the long haul.
Sure, it’s not always easy. But every small step counts. Keep the conversations open, listen actively, and you’ll see your remote culture grow stronger over time.
In today’s fast-moving world of tech sales—where remote work is quickly becoming the new normal—creating a strong, supportive team culture isn’t just nice to have, it’s essential. It helps keep your best talent, boosts overall performance, and makes room for diverse voices to be heard and celebrated.
If you’re ready to take your career to the next level or build a team that thrives, learn more about who we are and how we champion women in tech sales.