Four Communication Secrets of Effective Remote Workers

Office work as we know it is no more, at least for the foreseeable future. Due to the current coronavirus pandemic, teams have been thrust into remote working in a move that’s set to change the workplace for good. Many workplaces who were considering switching to remote work are taking this opportunity to do so, while others who might have written it off as a suggestion until now are realizing its benefits and considering it as a strategy even after the world returns to normal. But, remote working has its challenges, and with individuals working from home, communication has never been more important to keep things running smoothly. Here are some communication secrets of companies that successfully implement remote working.

Regular Live Meetings:

Trust is crucial between virtual team members, and while phone calls are great for keeping up to date or passing on instructions, it’s a good idea to set aside some time each day to have a virtual live meeting. Video conferences allow team members to see each other and read each other’s body language, which is more important than you might realize for building strong working relationships and encouraging strong teamwork. VOIP phone systems are a good choice for this as they tend to offer both voice and video calling features. This blog post by PieSync will help you choose the right VOIP system for you. PieSync’s blog also includes a range of further reviews and comparisons on tools and software programs that you might find helpful when switching to remote working.

Create Opportunities for Connection:

Remote teams don’t have the same natural opportunities as in-office teams to bond over lunch or over after-work drinks, so it’s important to actively create ways for employees to connect with, motivate and inspire one another. During the current lockdown situation, many teams have been doing this by having virtual ‘pub quizzes’ after work over Zoom on a Friday night, allowing them to bond with their teammates outside of the professional setting, have a little fun and get to know one another better. You might also want to encourage employees to meet up virtually at lunchtime, too.

Invest in Collaborative Messaging Technologies:

Over 40 percent of remote teams are still communicating and coordinating activities via Facebook messenger, Skype, and text messages rather than being provided with access to platforms that are specially designed for remote communication and project management. The result of this is that information winds up lost, because individuals, teams, and management are using different methods of communication. To avoid this problem, consider using a collaborative messaging tool such as Slack.

Have Clear Communication Guidelines:

It’s important to have clear guidelines and rules when it comes to how and when remote workers should be using communication tools. When is an email better than a chat message? When should the information be communicated via a telephone call or video call? For example, sending project notifications on a chat can be counterproductive as team members are more likely to become distracted by constant notifications, while emails aren’t the best choice for collaboration.

Today, more teams are switching to working remotely as the world stays at home. Good communication is key to successful remote work experience, so keep these tips in mind as you make the switch.