RTB House Company Culture & Values

What is the biggest challenge to establishing a virtual-first company culture?

Resisting the urge to simply replicate the office environment online.

When we initially transitioned to a virtual-first model, we realized that attempting to mirror the physical office culture in a digital space was not effective. Through extensive employee feedback, we discovered that our team members did not desire a return to the old office culture. Instead, they preferred a culture that offered diverse engagement options. Some team members thrive on frequent celebrations and connection moments, while others appreciate having these opportunities available to opt into as they choose. To address this, we continually seek and incorporate feedback from our employees, enabling us to create a flexible and inclusive culture. 

By providing a variety of meaningful moments tailored to individual preferences, we ensure our virtual-first culture resonates with everyone, fostering a stronger, more connected team.

What’s your number one tip for fostering connection and/or collaboration among virtual teams?

To intentionally create opportunities for meaningful, non work-related interactions.

In virtual business meetings, the focus is typically on sharing information and advancing projects. While this can naturally lead to effective collaboration, it often doesn’t foster deep, personal connections. To truly build strong relationships within your team, it’s essential to set aside dedicated time for informal, social interactions. These moments can be organized by HR, internal culture committees, department leaders or even the employees themselves. 

Whether it be through team socials and bonding activities or casual Slack channels, the key is to attempt to establish and share discussion topics ahead of time to ensure the interactions are engaging and inclusive. By prioritizing these intentional, non work-related activities and conversations, teams can cultivate a sense of camaraderie and trust, which ultimately enhances overall collaboration and productivity.

What remote working tools do you lean on to reinforce culture?

We rely on a combination of remote-work tools and strategic in-person gatherings.

Frequent reminders and interactions are the lifeblood of our culture. Tools like Slack, email and infographics play a pivotal role in celebrating birthdays, holidays and virtual events, and help to foster a sense of community and belonging. Our Culture Committee, which meets bimonthly and is open to all team members, is another crucial component. These meetings are dedicated to planning celebrations and virtual events, assigning responsibilities, brainstorming new ideas and ensuring diverse participation and continuous cultural enrichment.

While virtual tools are invaluable, the significance of in-person meetings cannot be overstated. We strive to have departments meet in person annually to learn, strategize and connect. Additionally, we aim to bring the entire team together once a year to align on company goals and enjoy quality time together.