We live in a world where remote work has become nearly mainstream, and more companies are leaning towards remote work to conserve overhead costs. When working with a remote team, communication is the biggest and, sometimes, the only way to maintain collaboration.
But if all we ever talked about was work, we’d get bored easily, and life wouldn’t be so much fun. To make your remote workplace interesting, we’ve got ten of the best remote communication tips to help you connect with your remote team on a more personal level.
Most of these tips and tricks are vital to establishing a work environment that doubles as a safe space for all your employees.
1. Start With A Simple “Good Morning“
While remote working seems like a more efficient option, there’s no denying that it takes away all the human interactions and structure you would otherwise have in a regular office.
To alleviate this issue, start a conversation the same way you would if you and your team met in the office that day.
And, of course, the simplest way to start a great casual conversation to ease the mind is to start with a “good morning” over your coffee. With a casual conversation, everyone feels a sense of relief and can start their day with a relaxed mind.
2. Be An Empath Because We’re All Human
While remote working is becoming more and more common, there are a lot of cases when all the parties involved in an individual workplace are not all tech-savvy, which results in communication interruptions or other workplace issues.
It can seem like a rough start for those new to remote work, and it’s your responsibility to try and show empathy. We’re all humans, and even the best humans on earth have made mistakes at one point or another.
Remote work for new employees can be stressful as it is since it’s still a relatively new concept to residents of many countries. Kindness, patience, and compassion can go a long way.
3. Try To Replace In-Person Meetings With Video Meetings
Of course, face-to-face meetings are not always possible if your team members live in different parts of the world. Try and arrange more and more video meetings frequently, which helps establish a better connection by simulating the experience of a face-to-face meeting.
4. Let Your Teammates Have A Place To Cool Off
As said earlier, life wouldn’t be as fun if all we talked about was working every single time. The solution is easy: create a venue where your teammates can discuss non-work things.
It can be anything casual, from a movie they liked to their favorite recipe for meatloaf.
Casual conversations help increase the bonding between team members and help increase overall team efficiency.
Many companies set up a casual channel in their internal messaging tools to promote more casual talks to alleviate stress, which brings us to our next point.
5. Internal Messaging Tools Are A Smart Investment Choice
If your company doesn’t have an internal messaging tool yet, it’s a great time to start investing in one. There will always be conversations that will need a video conference for the information to be properly conveyed. Still, there are a lot of short communications that you frequently need to maintain through internal messaging.
Though you could argue that shifting to email is a great idea, think again: each team member has an inbox overflowing with hundreds, if not thousands, of emails already. Do they want more emails to deal with? The answer is always no.
Instant messaging tools can be a great supplement to existing communication channels, allowing all the team members to stay on the same page.
6. Pave the way for Greater Bonding With Icebreakers
When working with an in-house team, it’s very easy to go from official conversation to casual and create a great bond with one or more team members on a more personal level.
However, that opportunity isn’t always there regarding remote communication. While you could make the point that a casual conversation isn’t possible till one takes the initiative, in remote communications, that idea is more complicated than it may seem.
Why not take the first step? Engage with the team by breaking the ice with simple, casual questions. Questions don’t always have to be too personal to start a casual conversation. It can be as simple as “What’s your plan this weekend”?
Though remote working is mainstream, the idea of being in an “office space” still puts mental restrictions on everyone. But if you create a safe space where your team members can work while being mentally at ease, you’ll find the team to be more productive.
7. Keep Your Writing Clean, And Your Message Clear
Quality writing is one of the best qualities you must possess, whether you’re leading a team or part of one. Adding filler words while writing a message is very easy, and simplicity is way harder to achieve than said.
The best way to get rid of the issue is to be direct. Now, we don’t advise you to be rude. Simply write things as it is in a short, concise manner that conveys the exact information you want to share.
The goal here is to focus more on the message you’re trying to convey, not how to suffocate it to sound “formal.” Too much formality can often take away the clarity of a statement.
8. Mind Your (Body) Language
According to Psychology Today, 55% of communication is body language, 38% is the tone of voice, and the rest of 7% is the words you speak. But nonverbal communications aren’t as prominent in remote workplaces. How do we adapt to such an environment?
A good start would be to fix your posture. Sitting upright and looking directly into the camera when you are talking is a great way to establish a confident attitude, and people will likely listen to what you have to express.
9. Always Keep Context In Mind
Understanding the context of a message can make or break any communication effort. Whether you’re sending or receiving a message, always remember the context and do your best to clarify to prevent misunderstandings between teammates.
10. Critical Thinking Can Help Avoid A Lot of Miscommunications
Playing the blame game is easy, and it is even easier to blame miscommunication on anyone sending or receiving a message. Instead of playing the blame game, brainstorm a little to understand the future interpretations and how your team members will perceive them.
Here are a few ways you can resolve the issue:
- Think before you write. Even one word can make a world of difference
- Adapt communication abilities to who you’re speaking with
- Keep message delivery time in mind
- Always ask for feedback (politely)
- Clarify and summarize your words after you’ve laid it all out
FAQ
Dress professionally, maintain eye contact, mute when not speaking, and be punctual.
Schedule virtual coffee breaks, participate in team chats, and contact colleagues for social interaction.
Use scheduling tools that display multiple time zones, establish core meeting hours, and rotate meeting times.
Use clear subject lines, bullet points, and concise language to convey messages efficiently.
Acknowledge the misunderstanding, clarify your message, and seek feedback to prevent future confusion.
