Ensure individual performance objectives are clear and aligned across and up and down the organization, to ensure all participants have a stake in and share success and failure. Standardize on communication, code repository, documentation templates/storage and other administrative tools. Don't allow exceptions even for genius snowflakes. Ensure all teammates participate in key ceremonies such as planning, demos and inspections and allow different team members to spotlight their work. Create a clear and safe escalation path to leadership to break down barriers and provide air cover when needed. Reward success frequently and generously and deal with failure privately, constructively and share lessons learned professionally.

While Slack, daily stand-ups, and version control tools are essential for improving collaboration and enabling work in a remote environment, I’ve found that the bigger challenge is fostering a true sense of team unity. The solution is simple: treat them as a team. When you view all your team members—regardless of location—as equals and treat them accordingly, they will feel valued, contribute more, and strengthen both the team and the company. Understanding cultural differences is key, along with fostering a sense of pride within the team. This sense of belonging and shared purpose will drive your team forward.

The foundation of our remote work approach is built on effective communication to ensure clear and consistent understanding among all team members. We prioritize the use of essential tools while minimizing redundancy, creating a centralized hub that serves as the single source of truth for all work-related knowledge. This centralized system enables authorized team members to conveniently access critical information anytime, anywhere, fostering seamless collaboration. While we establish a structured and standardized workflow, we also maintain the agility to adapt to evolving circumstances, ensuring efficiency and productivity in any situation.

We standardize key workflows, integrate tools where possible, and set clear communication guidelines. Regular syncs and async updates keep everyone aligned.

Depends on the organizations involved and the situation at hand. Larger, more established organizations utilize Slack or Teams but the costs involved with these tools are not to be marginalized. In startups where you need to conserve cash and be more scrappy, WhatsApp is sufficient. Some prefer Signal or Skype.