We all know that team building and culture are very important for the success of any organization. In order to push projects forward, achieve company objectives, and live out a company vision, your team must be coordinated with each other, in-sync, and integrated. Team building is not something that comes naturally in an organization. It has to be deliberate and purposeful. In most cases, team members are focused on their particular tasks and department objectives, and don’t really have the time to build meaningful relationships with other people in the company.

Team building is something that requires effort. In a remote environment however, that effort has to be magnified significantly. In remote companies, team members are even more isolated and autonomous, for obvious reasons. It’s very easy for employees to fade off into their own zone and get out of touch with the bigger picture. Remote teams are often located in different countries, time zones, and have different cultures and beliefs. Strengthening your team building in these circumstances, when the only connection they have is a computer screen, makes it even more difficult.

While working remotely with dozens of team members all over the world, I’ve discovered a 5 tips to help with team building and make your team seem less distant and more integrated.

1. Send pictures of your food

You know the saying, nothing brings people together like food does. Same goes in remote setup. It’s very easy to send snapshots of your breakfast and lunch with the rest of the team. As simple as that sounds, it often spurs up the most dialogue and engagement with team members. Showing the variation of different types of food from people in different continents and cultures makes it even more fun!

2. Vlog your surroundings

Working remotely certainly comes with its perks. You’re technically able to work from anywhere you’d like, as long as there’s a good internet connection. Working at your desk, living room, a coffee shop, or out of town? Let your team know where you’re at, especially if it’s somewhere different! Letting your team inside your day-to-day surroundings helps form a closer bond and stay more connected.

3. Initiation videos for new employees

For each new employee, we send them a set of fun and personal questions. The kicker is that they have to answer them in a video message. This simple exercise helps new employees get acquainted with the rest of the team, and showcase their unique personality!

4. Company announcements in video

Instead of emailing or writing out company announcements, do it with video. Although it might not be practical, nor possible every single time, it’s nice to sprinkle in video whenever you can. Video is a great way to communicate with your team. It’s the next closest thing to being face to face, and it’s a great way to further build a connection with your team.

5. Share non-work/life events

There’s a lot more to life than only work. One of the benefits of a remote setup is the efficiency of communication. Most communication between team members is clear and to the point. Although a benefit from a time/efficiency perspective, it’s also a drawback in building relationships and personal connections with your team. You should share as many life events with your team as possible. Baby started crawling, you opened up a nice bottle of wine, travelling somewhere exciting with the family? Bring your team in your life as often as you can!