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At the dawn of the COVID-19 pandemic, companies around the world have been thrown into the deep end of an unplanned operation Work from home The experience that took place on a global scale.
Now, more than two years later, and with the pandemic subsiding in intensity, many employers are embracing the much-needed benefits that a flexible work culture has brought to their companies and employees.
Today, it’s no secret that working from home or even on a hybrid basis works well. Companies report that they have seen increased productivity, employee engagement, and higher profits due to lower office expenses.
in study By Stanford University of more than 16,000 workers, it was found that productivity increased by 13% in 9% months due to a more favorable work environment for employees.
Another survey by Aritasker As of March 2020, when the pandemic is only beginning to unfold, it shows that remote employees are spending less time slacking off work, and more time committed to projects assigned to them. Increasing productivity and working hours has resulted in some employees taking as little as 1.4 extra days of work each month.
There are tall tales that can help support the claim that remote work actually benefits the company and its employees.
While it has been a difficult time for many to adjust to Virtual work environmentEssential skills such as good communication remain critical in any role, whether conducted internally or when deployed to teams.
Tips for effective communication
The success of any business, startup, or even entrepreneurial project lies in his ability to communicate effectively with other members of the team, management, or even clients.
Effective communication is key, which is why employers and their teams will often need to improve their communication skills, both written and verbal to mitigate any issues and express their concerns in a respectful and professional manner.
Choose a medium for messages
For employers, managers, and most likely employees, it is important to take a look at the means of messaging or communication that your team uses. While there are many communication platforms to use, not all of them will be equally effective.
Some employees may enjoy using email to communicate due to the nature of the message, and other times a direct message on a desktop messaging platform such as Slack or Microsoft Team may be more appropriate. Your company probably sees more video or audio calls every day than having to communicate through written messages.
Each method can be effective in its own way, it’s up to you as a filer employer Or an employee to consider which works best to share information or receive feedback from someone else.
Learn team preferences
Some team members often communicate remotely only through the method chosen for daily activities. Depending on what each person wants to share, getting to know people’s preferences not only makes it easier to get their attention right away, but it also helps set healthy virtual office boundaries.
In a study he conducted Owl Labs As of 2021, 70% of remote employees surveyed said virtual meetings and video conferencing were less stressful. Of the survey, 64% now prefer blended meetings over in-person attendance.
Be clear and concise
Nothing is more annoying than having to read a lengthy email only to find the most important information in the last couple of lines.
For employers and managers, get into the rhythm of crafting messages that are short, clear, and concise. Get to the subject as quickly as you can, but do so in a professional manner.
The same can be said about employees. When responding to a colleague or asking for information about something, avoid small talk in your emails and messages, and be clear about your intentions. Again, it is important to do this in a professional manner to ensure that no complaints arise due to a lack of communication.
Use good tone and action
A lack of face-to-face or even personal communication can quickly lead to misinterpretations among employees. There is a high probability that when you send an email or a message, many times someone will misread it, find it unpleasant or maybe even impolite.
When Email collectionOr a newsletter or just reaching out to someone, think about how you would read an email if you were on the receiving end. If you think it might be too abrupt, change some of the wording. It’s good to think about how to say things, especially in a remote office context.
Not all employees or colleagues will be on the same pitch as you, so it’s best to assume good intentions when sending and receiving work-related messages.
Be aware of different time zones
Since companies can now hire from a larger pool of talented and skilled workers, many telecommuting companies often find themselves having workers they’ve hired in different time zones. And while this may not be a critical issue due to the nature of digital tools, when it comes to connectivity, things tend to get a little trickier.
Remote teams must clearly communicate what they have Active working hours It is compared to other members. More than that, when an employee is “out of the office” or on vacation, there should be clear communication about how the remaining members are going to work through this.
Mindfulness also helps set healthy workplace boundaries. Not the most pleasant experience is having to get up for a video call in the early morning hours just because your colleague is still up at 9-5. Respect available working hours Staff and teams can be contacted, planning according to their schedule.
Make time for regular conversations
The virtual office can become a deserted place, especially for teams that don’t communicate or video call every now and then. As a way to keep employees engaged and encouraged, it’s a good idea to take time to engage in informal conversations about everyday things.
Setting aside time for employees to get together after the weekend, or right before vacation through a video or audio call will help make the remote office feel less lonely and more personal.
Through this, employees can also get to know their team members better, and employers will have the opportunity to interact casually with their employees as well.
When the opportunity arises, see how you can interact with other team members through casual conversations now and then, even if it is through instant messaging.
Newsletter distribution
In the office, it’s very easy for news or information to spread too quickly, good or bad. In a virtual workplace, this is a bit different, and it’s not always that you might find entire teams or companies on the same page at the same time.
A great way to make sure employees are well informed of any upcoming events, projects, or general information is to distribute an electronic newsletter. Of course, doing this every week may seem tedious, but it’s better to do it every month, or maybe even every other week.
Newsletters don’t need to be boring – there are plenty of opportunities here to create an insightful and engaging circular that keeps employees interested in work, management, and their colleagues.
to finish off
As a remote worker or telecommuting business owner, it can be difficult to communicate effectively with team members when they are spread out in different parts of the country or the world. As we have learned with many other types of businesses, communication remains an important part of any business aiming to succeed and achieve its goals.
Having a method of communication that is effective, and that allows teams to be well informed and aware of everything that is going on, will help the company become more productive and improve performance.
Take your time to practice good communication skills, both written and verbal, as this can help you in the long run in building a team of remote employees, or even looking for a work-from-home job. Connectivity, in any shape and form, helps the business do its job properly but also creates a sense of inclusion in the age of virtual work.
Posted first on ValueWalk. I read here.
Featured Image Credit: Photography by Helena Lopez; pixels. Thank you!
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