Office Regroup
Even with the best intentions, fastest Internet connections, and most streamlined project collaboration, there is often no substitute for face-to-face interaction. Additionally, in the telecommuting world, regardless of the importance of a topic, any conference call with more than three people will always suffer from the same inevitable issue: multitasking. Be it work or pleasure, something else will be stealing attention away at the moment that key question is posed. And unless someone is unusually rude, that kind of distraction does not occur when chatting in person. Much like any old school project manager will tell you ("Don't just wait for an email reply - pick up the phone!"), periodically getting a group together for a day or two is enormously beneficial. This does not need to be some locking-everyone-in-a-room scenario, but a more casual approach to regroup back in the office one day every week or two. It maintains camaraderie, allows any team members working closely a chance to talk out issues, and reminds employees in a tangible way that they are still part of a working organization - rather than just some remote cog churning out work products.