The TEECOM Way: Connecting in a Virtual Environment

In 2020, TEECOM went fully remote. The transition hasn’t always been easy, but we have found ways to make it work for our team members. While many see barriers in the shift to a fully remote environment, we see them as opportunities to be intentional about the way we connect. Traditional watercooler talk looks different at TEECOM, and we set aside time for team members to break from their work and connect with one another. Additionally, because most communication happens over Slack and Zoom, recognition and shout-outs are all publicly seen, boosting team morale and connectivity.

How we Connect

Micro Connections

Strong teams are built through consistent connection. At TEECOM, many teams start the day with a daily huddle over Zoom to align priorities, share updates, and support one another. Weekly team meetings create space for deeper conversations, project collaboration, recognition, and open discussion. These intentional touchpoints help foster a connected culture where people stay engaged, supported, and moving forward together.

Serendipity by Design

Other points of connection include initiatives led by TEECOM’s culture committee, like our coffee breaks. These 30-minute virtual meetings give team members the opportunity to take a break from their work and connect with others. Because these are open to the whole company, they help avoid siloed connection within isolated teams.

The digital watercooler is also alive and well on Slack. Team members have opportunities to connect through interest-based communities on Slack focused on topics like pets, travel, parenting, volunteering, and hands-on creative pursuits. These groups help foster relationships, creating a workplace where people can share experiences, celebrate milestones, and engage with colleagues beyond their day-to-day responsibilities. For those looking for spontaneous interactions, our team members also have the opportunity to opt into our Donut channel. This automatically creates a random, bi-weekly meeting with another team member, sparking conversations that might never have happened otherwise.

Each year TEECOM hosts a wellness month, dedicating time focused entirely on the well-being of our team. Throughout the month, we host a variety of initiatives designed to support our people both personally and professionally. Highlights include social hours, sessions with our benefits representatives on navigating change and building connections, and live consultations with an ergonomics specialist to optimize home offices. To top it off, team members can win prizes geared toward physical and mental wellness.

Macro Connections

We also look at the bigger picture to ensure we are recharging our batteries and deepening bonds. On a monthly basis, our General Employee Meeting (GEM) brings the whole company together. The GEM gives opportunities for transparent company updates, staff changes, live working sessions, shout-outs, and “ask me anything” sessions with the CEO and President. These macro connections focus on transparency, celebrating wins, sharing milestones, and keeping everyone aligned with the company’s vision. Furthermore, our annual team events serve as the ultimate anchor, allowing us to connect in person.

Connection by Design

True connection in a remote environment doesn’t happen by accident; it happens by design. Another benefit of our virtual environment is the ability to connect with team members across the globe. Through Donut conversations and other cross-team touchpoints, we build relationships across time zones instead of within a single regional office. These connections bring us closer together as one TEECOM and help us avoid siloed regional cultures. They also strengthen a shared TEECOM culture, while still leaving room for local personality and perspective. We have evolved our tools and habits over the years to enhance these connections, but our core value remains exactly the same: putting people first.

Want to experience a remote culture that actually works? Check out our current job openings to see how you can join the TEECOM community.