The working world has changed. More and more companies are incorporating virtual work practices or hybrid models, especially in the IT sector. The benefits of this approach are well-documented, and if CEOs want to keep their employees productive and satisfied, they should seriously consider remote work. However, internal communication can present a significant challenge.
Virtual work has made it easier to access talent from all over the world. This is a major advantage when implementing staff augmentation, particularly for specific, temporary projects where a formal hiring process isn’t feasible. However, this advantage can turn into a disadvantage if communication isn’t managed effectively.
Hybrid work and flexible hours improve employee satisfaction and work-life balance. Having happy and healthy team members often translates into increased productivity and successful outcomes. However, a poor communication strategy can undermine these benefits and make effective collaboration difficult.
If your organization operates remotely, here are several practical tips to help you tackle these challenges and boost the impact of your goals to achieve desired results. Yes, to hire vetted developers is important, but only through good communication can you fully leverage their potential.
Elements of Good Communication
Some clear principles can be applied regardless of the type of communication, whether virtual or in-person, and they make a big difference.
Aim for Clarity: Whether it’s a message sent through a platform, a well-crafted email, or an on-the-spot response, aim to communicate your message. Express simply and concisely what you want to convey.
Focus on Resolving Conflicts, Not Creating Them: Your reason for communicating should be to solve a problem or encourage effective collaboration on a project or task. Good workplace communication can help remove obstacles or provide feedback. Make sure the objective is always to improve the current situation.
Ensure Two-Way Flow: Every work communication is an exchange of information. If an employee is conveying a message to you, they’ll expect a response.
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1. Incorporate Digital Communication Tools
There are increasingly more tools available to maintain effective and professional communication with your team without resorting to WhatsApp. This channel is often considered personal by employees, so receiving work messages there is usually unwelcome.
The communication tools you provide for remote work should meet the team’s needs, align with their expectations, and fit with your organizational culture.
Incorporate chat applications, video conferencing tools, and project management platforms to work collaboratively and simplify the exchange process.
2. Establish Communication Agreements
Communication is the key to successful collaboration. Therefore, to ensure it’s effective, it’s essential to set up agreements. Where to start? Define your communication strategy and expectations. From there, establish clear communication guidelines and share them with the team.
Some useful tips when starting:
Define Clear Communication Channels: It’s essential to specify preferred communication channels for each type of message. For example, quick inquiries can go through chat, while email will be used for formal and/or non-urgent communications.
Set Realistic Response Times: Setting and adhering to realistic response times contributes to more efficient communication and helps avoid misunderstandings.
Respect Downtime: Remote work can blur the boundaries between work and personal time. To maintain balance, it’s important to set and respect downtimes.
Communication platforms support this by allowing users to adjust notification settings, for example, to control when notifications are received.
3. Schedule Time for Collaboration
When working remotely, it’s essential to promote collaboration and connections between team members who often don’t have the opportunity to interact in person. Here are some strategies for achieving this:
Schedule Regular Online Meetings: This allows team members to share ideas, provide progress updates, and discuss projects effectively.
Set Shared Goals: Aligning individual goals with the organization’s overall objectives fosters a sense of belonging, which is key to achieving these goals.
Organize Online Activities: Create meeting spaces where people can interact and connect in a relaxed way, outside of day-to-day responsibilities. For example, hosting game sessions or discussions on topics of interest.
Effective communication in remote work is crucial for maintaining smooth collaboration and fostering productivity. Obstacles exist, but they are not exclusive to remote work. These tips will also be useful for on-site teams.
Applying best practices for communication in remote work minimizes issues. It’s essential to determine the appropriate communication channels, establish guidelines, maintain a feedback culture, be transparent, and encourage connection. Remember: you may have the best development team in the world, but if you don’t know how to communicate with them, you likely won’t reach your goals.
