Remote teams need deliberate connection to prevent loneliness, says Country Navigator

Chris Crosby, co-founder at Country Navigator, said remote team leaders should focus on building environments that support teamwork and inclusion ahead of Loneliness Awareness Week. 

He advised leaders to take deliberate steps to help people feel connected when working remotely. 

Crosby also advised leaders to schedule meaningful one-to-ones and make space for team members to speak honestly about how they are coping. 

He said psychological safety is one of the most protective things a manager can provide.

Crosby said: “Invest in cultural intelligence. Remote teams are often global teams, and isolation deepens when colleagues from different backgrounds aren’t sure how to relate beyond the task at hand. 

“Cultural intelligence training helps people understand different communication styles and social norms, breaking down invisible barriers and building genuine inclusion across distributed teams.

“Be intentional about meeting culture. Schedule regular touchpoints that everyone can attend and don’t fill every minute with agenda items.”

Crosby added: “Build in time for unstructured conversation – a brief personal check-in or a simple icebreaker can replicate the warmth of incidental office interaction and signal that people matter beyond their output.”