The world has changed quite dramatically in the last few months. Beyond how we shop and interact with one another, COVID-19 has shifted working patterns for companies across all industries.
But how long will these changes stay in place? Is remote work the new normal?
Many employees that have been working from home for weeks now question why they ever went into an office in the first place. And many corporate leaders see the potential savings of using a remote staff as well as keeping employees happy with a more flexible work schedule. And happy employees tend to be more productive and stick around longer.
Benefits aside, there are definite challenges faced in this potential new normal corporate scenario. One obvious question is: How do leaders lead their remote staff effectively?
Answer: By honing their executive communication techniques.
And with this in mind, here are some leadership communication tips you can use to effectively engage and inspire your remote teams.
Make Communication a Priority
With the lack of physical presence and in person connection, it is essential to make communication a priority. And this doesn’t just mean for meetings. Think about all of the touch points that the average person has with others throughout the day: on a short break, near the coffee machine, someone coming over to ask a question, lunch together…even waving hello to a colleague as you head to the bathroom.
Our potential new normal will not have all of these small interactions that help us stay connected. And so there will be greater need for leaders to make communication – between themselves and team members and between the team members themselves – a priority. This shift will need to happen within the company culture.
Encourage Team Members to Reach Out
While many team members may enjoy working remotely, there are those who feel isolated and not really part of any team. Again, without all of those smaller touchpoints throughout the day, some of your team members may feel as if they are missing out on the culture.
Create a safe space for people to connect outside of meetings and scheduled calls. Take advantage of technology and use video conferencing platforms like Skype or Zoom to check in with team members.
You can also use a platform like Slack that allows all employees, remote or in-house, to communicate in real time throughout the day.
Schedule “Office Hours” to Keep People Connected
Are there certain times when people can reach out to you no matter what they need to discuss? Is there an open time for co-workers to chat? Your team is used to walking by your office and giving your door a light knock – how can they do the same now only virtually? Let them know you are still available to them and tell them the best way to reach you throughout the day.
Daily Check-ins
Is there a system of daily check-ins that you want to implement as a company? Many effective remote managers establish daily calls with their remote teams. If every member of your team works independently from one another, you can have one-on-one calls with your staff. If time does not allow for that, then you can have a daily team conference or video call. The important thing is to make these daily check-ins a regular and predictable part of the workday. When your team knows they will have access to you and each other daily, they know their questions and concerns will be heard.
Have a Feedback System in Place
Feedback is always important but perhaps even more so when staff members are working remotely. Here are some tips on giving remote feedback:
● No news is not necessarily good news – A lack of regular contact can lead to confusion about a team member’s performance and a project’s status. Not hearing anything from you can make your team members feel isolated and uncertain about the job they are doing. Make sure to take the time to provide feedback to your staff.
● Choose the best means of communication – When your team works remotely, you can get used to relying on certain channels of communication. You may use text and instant messaging for the most part to get in touch with staff. But sometimes these channels aren’t well-suited to give feedback. They lack the nuance of a spoken conversation, and that’s really necessary when giving good or constructive feedback. So it really is best to schedule a phone call for feedback.
● Be specific – Vague or ambiguous feedback is never helpful – whether good or constructive. When you are busy, it’s easy to just throw out an, “You’re doing a great job!” But it is far more effective to let your remote team member know exactly what it is about their performance that you appreciate.
Set Virtual Meeting “Rules”
When we all work in the same space we have rules. Don’t come in late. Don’t interrupt when someone else is talking, don’t steal money out of the petty cash box to buy donuts and scratch-offs… that kind of thing. Well, just because you may be managing a remote staff doesn’t mean that anything goes. You’ll still need rules in place. For instance, if you are having a video call, the rule my be that everyone must be on that call. Maybe a rule is latecomers to the call aren’t allowed after a certain time. Having a system in place will help everyone know what is expected of them.
Set People Up for Success
Don’t assume that virtual communication is the same as in person communication, because it’s not. If I had a dollar for every time someone showed up on camera and I either couldn’t see or hear them, I’d have enough for a down payment on a condo in Dubai. OK, maybe not Dubai, but definitely somewhere in the world.
Since working remotely is new to many people, chances are most members of your team don’t know best practices for virtual communication. Teach them! This will not only build them as individuals, but it will also build your entire team.
These are just some of the ways you can brush up on your corporate communication skills so you can lead any team located anywhere in the world. And when your executive communication techniques are on point, your confidence as a leader will soar, raising your entire team with you.
