KEYS TO GOOD COMMUNICATION IN REMOTE WORK
The journey to remote work transformation is not easy, but we can certainly say that it will bring to your life the harmony that you always sought. So, in Virtual Remote Partner, we always try to give both to our team and to the community that reads us, the best tips, and keys to always walk this path firmly and forward..
A few weeks ago, we published a note about how to lead yourself and be able to lead others in this particular context that is remote work. In today's note, we will be dealing with a closely related topic which is essential for teamwork:
Keys to maintaining good communication with your remote work team!
Clear and concise communication allows a good understanding between the speaker and the receiver, and understanding is the path leading to problem solving.
Communication helps people know when it's time to be tough on criticism (always constructive) or to provide emotional support to someone; and when being behind a screen this task becomes more difficult than when being together in an office.
Nowadays, there is much less talk about how the weekend went, no chit-chat during lunchtime, no face-to-face meetings when a crisis arises, you can't know how the other person feels that day, if there is something that is worrying them or if it is a normal day. In addition, many times the first five minutes of video calls start the same: “do you hear me?”, “I think the call was cut off”, “My connection is a little slow”, etc. Because of all those new challenges, , communication feels somewhat awkward and unnatural compared to the easiness of walking up to someone's desk to ask them something.
So, how do I do “not to lose” what was easier with face-to-face work and happened naturally?
¡follow these tips!
– Always listen to the other: is an essential part of communication. That doesn't mean just listening, but more importantly: paying attention to your co-workers! Do not impose your opinions or thoughts without first knowing theirs!!
-Create the habit of communication through regular work meetings or simply to catch up. It is extremely important to be aligned!!
-Discuss team project goals and progress. Give your viewpoint and welcome other opinions!!
-Use communication software collaboratively for informal conversations, such as WhatsApp or Telegram. But use a different one for formal matters, like Teams or Outlook. Determine together as a team on which occasion which means of communication will be used!!
-Initiate meetings with recreational activities to get to know the team and strengthen communication ties. Always try to keep your team motivated and on track, , and when you feel they need an incentive, share interesting content or propose a different activity!!
-Over-communicate: It's better to go over the top than to fall short, especially at the beginning, when you don't fully know the team members yet, it is preferable to over-communicate than to under-communicate. Sometimes it is difficult to understand exactly where we are going or what we are building! Asking questions on an ongoing basis helps everyone walk in the same direction!
And above all, Remember that communication is the key for achieving your personal goals!, Either those of your team, your business, your family and any area in which you apply it!
