How do you build trust and rapport with remote colleagues you have never met in person?

1 Communicate frequently and clearly

Communication is the key to any successful relationship, but it is even more crucial when you work remotely. You need to communicate frequently and clearly with your remote colleagues to keep them informed, engaged, and aligned. Use a variety of channels, such as email, phone, video, chat, and project management tools, to share information, updates, feedback, and questions. Make sure you choose the appropriate medium for the message and the audience, and avoid overloading or confusing them with too many or irrelevant messages. Also, pay attention to your tone, style, and etiquette, and respect the preferences and boundaries of your colleagues.

3 Be reliable and supportive

Trust is essential for any team to function well, but it can be harder to establish and maintain when you work remotely. You need to demonstrate that you are reliable and supportive of your remote colleagues, and that you can deliver on your promises and expectations. To do this, you need to be consistent and transparent in your work, follow through on your commitments, meet your deadlines, and communicate your progress and challenges. You also need to be responsive and available to your colleagues, and offer your help and guidance when needed. Moreover, you need to be respectful and empathetic of your colleagues' situations, challenges, and perspectives, and avoid making assumptions or judgments based on limited information.

5 Celebrate achievements and milestones

One of the joys of working in a team is celebrating achievements and milestones together, such as completing a project, reaching a goal, or winning an award. These celebrations can boost morale, motivation, and recognition among team members, and strengthen their sense of belonging and pride. However, when you work remotely, you may not have the same opportunities to celebrate with your colleagues in person. Therefore, you need to find ways to acknowledge and celebrate your remote colleagues' achievements and milestones virtually. For example, you can send congratulatory messages, cards, or gifts, share success stories or testimonials, organize virtual parties or ceremonies, or give shout-outs or recognition awards.

6 Respect diversity and inclusion

Finally, working remotely can expose you to a diverse and inclusive team of colleagues who come from different backgrounds, cultures, languages, and experiences. This can enrich your perspective, creativity, and innovation, but it can also pose some challenges, such as misunderstandings, conflicts, or biases. To build trust and rapport with your remote colleagues, you need to respect their diversity and inclusion, and embrace their differences and similarities. You can do this by learning about their cultures, customs, and values, using inclusive language and behavior, avoiding stereotypes or assumptions, and addressing any issues or concerns in a respectful and constructive way.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?