It’s no surprise. Remote work in some form or fashion is here to stay. For those of you who thought it might be temporary and struggled through the ability to communicate with remote work, now is the time to fully embrace the change. For others that embraced the change, there are small tweaks that will make all the difference! Let’s talk about how to improve communication with remote work.
Remote work has its perks. You can travel, run your errands, squeeze in a workout and have a much more flexible schedule while you continue to put in the work needed. But, there are downsides as well. If you are not in-person at your organization, you can be forgotten. If you cannot be physically present at your job, you need to make your presence impactful at every opportunity.
You actually have a lot of control over how to improve communication with remote work. With little effort, you can make a big impact and model the behaviors for your remote team.
Obviously, if you are on a phone call, your body language is not as important. But, remember that your body language influences the way you communicate. If you need to make a good impression on a phone call but you are slumped in your chair and wearing sweatpants, your voice will not come across as confident. These small gestures can be the difference between a good or bad result.
Every chance you get, use your camera. Even if no one else has their camera on…which should never happen. If you are an employer, you should set the expectation that cameras should always be in use with remote work.
Show up and be present. It is easier to understand people when you are looking at them. It is also much easier to focus on a conversation and not have distractions like your phone or emails when the camera is turned on. Every call is an opportunity to make your presence impactful.
Your background matters. If you are self-conscious about your space or it is just a mess right now, use a digital background. Going forward, take the time to add a bookshelf, a plant, your company logo, or some great art behind you. Your workspace can say a lot about you and is a great opportunity to put your best foot forward. Think about what you want to say about those things in your background as you choose them. Your background can also be a great conversation starter and relieve some of the awkwardness, when needed.
People have been mastering remote work communication for years. Here are some of the pro-tips.
Group meetings are the toughest to navigate. If you are leading a remote work group meeting, here are some practical tips to improve communication with remote work.
For participants, please participate. Leaders work so hard to put together these meetings. Yes, some leaders could improve their presentation skills to be more engaging, but it helps when they get feedback from participants and can read the virtual room. And this is another opportunity for you to make a real impact.
Finally, when we are not able to be in-person to give encouragement and feedback, get more direct with your kindness. “Receiving a compliment, words of recognition, and praise can help individuals feel more fulfilled, boost their self-esteem, improve their self-evaluations, and trigger positive emotions, decades of research have shown. These positive downstream consequences of compliments make intuitive sense: Praise aligns with our naturally positive view of ourselves, confirming our self-worth.”
Share these tips with your teams to improve communication with remote work. If your organization needs help navigating the IT waters of remote work or filling your technical skills gaps, TECKpert has your solutions. Reach out today for a free consultation.