Remote Work Reality

Starting a new business brings its challenges, especially if you’ve been part of a bigger, well-structured company before. Chris Volpe, who shifted from a decade at Service Autopilot to running his own residential cleaning and window washing business, shares how different it feels. When you have a smaller team, particularly one that’s not always in the office, building a strong workplace culture can be tough. Chris noticed that things we often take for granted, like daily interactions and team dynamics, aren’t as naturally present in a small, remote setting.

Culture in Remote Settings

Building a strong team culture without a central office presents unique challenges. Daily interactions, once taken for granted, are now rare, and maintaining team spirit and coherence has become more complicated. Remote tools like Zoom, which are second nature in tech environments, aren’t as familiar in the home services sector. This creates a learning curve for many team members. To keep everyone on the same page, Chris suggests increasing touchpoints. These don’t have to be complex; simple, clear communication can help maintain team cohesion and ensure everyone understands their tasks and the reasons behind them.

Communication and Engagement

Looking forward, Chris discusses the importance of establishing structured communication rhythms, like regular meetings and clear goals, which can help guide the team even when they are not physically together. He reflects on the effectiveness of such strategies in his past roles and considers how they might be applied in his current business setting.

Each business will need to find what works best for their team and situation. For more insights on managing remote teams effectively, visit Organize It. For strategies on maintaining productivity and culture in remote setups, check out Service Autopilot.