How can virtual leaders ensure effective communication with remote workers?
Effective communication is key to making any business successful, but is even more crucial when working remotely. Since 2009, the number of virtual employees has grown 159%, with 16% of companies worldwide now 100% remote. As companies continue to shift to a culture that provides “work from home” flexibility, communication will play an even larger role in our everyday lives. Check out 4 ways you can connect with co-workers to make sure you never miss a beat.
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1. Hold Virtual MeetingsWhile working remotely provides a sense of flexibility, stay engaged with co-workers by holding video meetings. Doing this weekly or even daily enables employees to visually connect with the people they work with and communicate what everyone is working on for the week. Providing teams with a space to discuss what everyone is working on and to ask questions will improve overall workflow and performance.
2. Use Communication ApplicationsEmail is a vital part of working remotely; but having a dedicated communication application is an essential tool for employees to quickly and effectively reach their managers and peers. It keeps every team member more organized and connected. Applications like Slack, GoogleChat and Microsoft Teams allow you to keep a thread of your conversations on one database through structured chat rooms. Many of these services allow you to create threads between the company as a whole, co-worker to co-worker, or divided by specific teams or projects.
3. Utilize Project Management ToolsIn addition to using communication apps, utilize project management tools to increase workflow. Programs such as Workamajig, Trello, Basecamp, and Asana help manage deadlines and deliverables for each team member. Using these all-in-one platforms not only gives an overview of the department as a whole, but clearly shows what each individual is working on, their progress on specific projects, and how they are collaborating with others.
4. Establish Rapport Among EmployeesEven though you might not be meeting in person each day, establishing rapport among co-workers should be at the forefront of how you structure your online space. Using different thread conversations active throughout the work day gives team members a space to share their creative ideas, helpful feedback and questions. Encourage everyone to participate and use their strengths in order to collaborate with others for the overall success of the company and workplace relationships.
Effective communication can be practiced even before you enter the workforce. Earning your degree remotely can help you establish good work and study habits that translate well as you prepare to embrace work-from-home opportunities. ACU Online allows students to earn a degree while virtually connecting with their peers and faculty members to make the most of their learning experience. Check out acu.edu/online or contact us at 855-219-7300 to learn how we’re educating students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world. Become a student and join our vibrant, online community. Leaders from multiple industries offer their advice on communicating effectively in the remote space with intentionality. By David Liu July 12, 2021 Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. How can teams effectively communicate if they are never together? Zoom and Slack are excellent tools, but they don’t replicate all the advantages of being together. What strategies, tools and techniques work to be a highly effective communicator, even if you are not in the same space? Kamal Janardhan, Microsoft
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