How To Improve Remote Working Communication

Since early 2020, many of us have been forced to stay at home due to the global pandemic. While the impact of the pandemic on our daily lives has reduced significantly, remote working is here to stay. As we settle into the new normal of remote working, it’s essential to make sure that we communicate effectively with each other.

Outlined below are four key strategies that you can implement to improve your communication while working remotely.

Organize Daily Calls

At the start of each day, virtual team meetings should be scheduled so that you and your colleagues can come together and organize the priorities for that day. You’ll also create stronger connections with your colleagues, which is vital for team building.

Don’t be afraid to start these meetings with conversations about each other’s personal lives. A helpful tip is to think about the conversations you would have in an in-person work environment and replicate them in virtual meetings.

One of the biggest challenges about remote working is keeping a routine and some sort of consistency throughout the day. Pre-organized calls at the start of each day provide a perfect stepping stone to kickstart the day.

Get To Know Your Colleagues’ Communication Preferences

Everybody likes to communicate differently, and with so many different options, it’s essential to understand how to communicate with everyone in your team. If your boss prefers to communicate via email rather than instant messaging, email them; if your colleague prefers a quick phone call rather than a chat thread, call them. Learning how others like to communicate gives you the benefit of communicating faster, and the added benefit of being more appreciated by your colleagues and boss.

Keep in mind that sometimes you will need to suggest the best communication style for the situation. For example, if you’re working on a project that requires a video call rather than emailing back and forth, ensure that you suggest this.

Utilize Communication Tools

In years gone by, email was the go-to communication tool for remote working. However, in today’s age, there are multiple different tools at our disposal to communicate with co-workers more effectively.

Slack is a fantastic example of a communication tool that has revolutionized the way teams communicate. Slack allows instant messaging, file sharing, voice calls, video calls, and even screen sharing. It also can separate chats into different channels to communicate better with designated teams or projects.

Zoom and Google Meet are fantastic ways to host video meetings with your colleagues rather than the traditional phone call. Seeing your co-workers’ faces allows you to bond with them better and also reduces the feeling of isolation.

Be Cautious When Emailing & Instant Messaging

When communicating via email or instant message, be aware of how your recipient may interpret what you’re saying. Body language and facial expressions play a massive part in communicating with one another. It provides context and an additional layer to what we are saying. Remote working takes away a lot of our ability to communicate in this fashion.

Luckily some practical applications and tools can help you understand the tone of what you are saying. One of the most extensive tools for this is called Grammarly. If you’re typing an email or message to a colleague, it can use its algorithm to show you how your message may be received, such as laid back, professional and more.

For more information and advice on better managing your mental health, remote working tips, and other additional information, visit VOC Associates! We have compiled a collection of resources and other information to help you survive working remotely!