How Our Team Collaborates Remotely and Still Feels Connected

The workforce is slowly changing. Remote work is growing and spreading in popularity after COVID-19 affected our communities. Small and large companies now have hybrid and remote workers, but both have to put in the work to strengthen team collaboration. 

At Kinetic Greenhouse, collaboration doesn’t stop just because we’re working from different locations. To better understand what makes our remote collaboration successful, we talked with three team members about communication, tools, team culture, and how connection shows up in their day-to-day work.

Interview 1: Shelby Kalb, Strategic Director

For Shelby Kalb, connection starts with one of Kinetic’s core values: together, we succeed.

That value shows up through overcommunication, one of the team’s highest standards. When working remotely, staying connected doesn’t happen by accident. It takes effort, clarity, and consistency.

While meeting in person is always valuable, Shelby shared that Zoom meetings play a key role in keeping the team connected. Cameras are kept on whenever possible, allowing team members to read facial expressions and reactions much like they would in an in-person meeting.

Because many Kinetic clients are remote as well, being comfortable presenting, collaborating, and building relationships online is essential—not just internally, but externally too.

Shelby shared a few moments when she felt the most connected to the team. She appreciates having meetings with in-office and remote employees. Kinetic sometimes uses a device called OWL LAB during these meetings to help focus on the team member who is actively sharing an idea or speaking. Shelby also enjoys the virtual happy hours where remote team members are called in, and everyone does Interactive activities like trivia that help build team culture across locations.

Interview 2: Cam Wiest, Digital Marketing Specialist (Hybrid)

For Cam Wiest, connection comes from consistent communication and inclusion.

Working as part of a hybrid team means staying active in group chats where conversations balance both business-related topics and fun, informal topics. That mix helps maintain team culture and keeps communication human.

Face-to-face interaction still matters, even in a remote environment. Zoom meetings allow the team to connect visually and communicate more clearly, and daily check-ins help ensure everyone feels supported and informed.

Cam also emphasized the importance of bringing remote team members together in person when possible, whether for holiday parties or team events. These moments help strengthen relationships and reinforce that remote employees are just as much a part of the team.

In terms of tools, Cam relies on different tools to help with his communication goals, such as Zoom for meetings and collaboration, emails, and Google Docs for real-time collaboration, comments, and edits.

Interview 3: AJ Doherty, Director of Growth and Development

For AJ, connection is rooted in clarity, expectations, and accountability.

Constant communication helps create strong connections, but it only works when everyone understands their role and follows through. A connected remote team, AJ shared, is one where responsibilities are clearly defined, and teammates can depend on one another.

When it comes to advice, AJ stressed the importance of addressing miscommunication early. Repeated miscommunication can erode trust and signal a lack of respect for the team and company goals.

One phrase he shared sums it up best:

“You can’t bake a cake without sugar.”

Every team member plays a critical role. Understanding your importance to the team’s common goal and how your work supports others helps strengthen the entire team.

Three Key Takeaways for Remote Teams

1. Communication Has to Be Intentional

Whether it’s overcommunication, daily check-ins, or face-to-face Zoom meetings, strong remote collaboration depends on clear and consistent communication.

2. Tools Support Connection But People Create It

Technology like Zoom, project management platforms, and shared documents help teams stay aligned, but connection comes from inclusion, accountability, and effort.

3. Everyone Needs to Feel Valued and Included

Remote teams thrive when roles are clear, expectations are shared, and team members (remote or in-person) are actively included in both work and culture.

Remote work doesn’t have to mean disconnected work.

As these interviews show, connection is built through communication, clarity, inclusion, and shared goals. For small businesses and entrepreneurs managing remote or hybrid teams, the key is being intentional. It’s about how you communicate, how you collaborate, and how you show up for one another.

At Kinetic Greenhouse, staying connected is part of how we do our best work, no matter where we’re working from.