For me,
1.Mutual Understanding
In a small team, it's crucial for members to have a good understanding of each other's personalities, working styles, and even personal circumstances. This foundation of information sharing and empathy forms the most important prerequisite for maintaining cohesion.
2. Shared Goals
Rather than focusing solely on smoothing out differences during collaboration, it's more important to ensure everyone agrees on the end goal. For instance, does the team prioritize earning more money, achieving a better work-life balance, or pursuing an ambitious, long-term vision? Having a shared purpose helps align efforts and maintain motivation.
3. Achieve Clear Progress Quickly:
While long-term goals are essential, for remote teams, maintaining cohesion often relies on achieving small, tangible victories. Identifying and successfully completing such smaller milestones with high quality is crucial. These incremental wins not only build momentum but also reinforce a sense of accomplishment and keep team morale high.
Best wishes to all such small teams, and to myself as well.