More and more people are working remotely these days—you and your colleagues included. While many of us have managed to work out the kinks, there is still some room for improvement in the communication department.
For your reading pleasure, here are 6 tips to improve communication between you and your remote coworkers.
1. Make Morning Meetings Happen
It isn’t enough for everyone to start work on time. What a team really benefits from is the assurance that everyone starts the day on the same page.In the days of offices and real-world conference rooms, this was easy enough. You could touch base with colleagues at the water-cooler and freely converse from desk to desk. Nowadays, you need to be a little more creative.
Create a time and (virtual) place for those moments to happen—and do it every day. You’ll be amazed at how synchronized the team seems.
2. Encourage Questions—and Provide Answers!
When it comes to team projects, a lot of key details can get lost in the flood of emails.Instead of letting teammates make assumptions, why not encourage them to ask whatever questions come to mind? The more they know, the more confident they’ll feel about their independent efforts. The same goes for you! Don’t hold back. If you have questions, talk to your team.
3. Team-Building Is Key
It can be hard to feel part of a team when you’re just working in your home office. Our advice? Incorporate some team-building activities into the workweek.What can you do? Invite all staff into a group meeting, maybe. Or, you can invite everyone to tune into a weekly update hosted by the top team leaders. During these updates, team leaders have an opportunity to boast about recent victories, quotas, and their great teams.
4. Sharpen Your Writing Skills
Were emails never your strong suit? Do you have a tough time drafting up a memo? You’re not alone.Just remember that no one is expecting you to be an exceptional wordsmith. When you’re drafting an email, follow the three C’s:
- Clear
- Consistent
- Concise
5. Respect Time Differences
Are some of your colleagues now residing in different time zones? That might explain why some people seem a little fatigued during those 9:00 AM videoconference sessions.Every workplace is different. If you want those morning meetings but half your staff lives in different time zones, you may need a different approach.
How about a mid-day meeting that catches everyone at their best and brightest? Or a 4:30 PM to cap off the day? It could be just the thing your team needs.