Communication goals are essential to every business. Why? Because those goals are involved in the following business operations:
- Hosting a meeting
- Examining sales reports
- Emailing and calling clients (including prospective ones)
- Reporting project status to supervision
However, if you have remote employees, these goals may seem different from having your in-house staff on-call. Despite the advancements in today’s technology (i.e. instant messaging, video conferencing platforms, etc.), it may seem confusing to work with at first, especially if your company has been using traditional methods for years. The good news is, even with these technological advancements, your business can achieve the art of communication by doing it right the first time. So, with that in mind, here are 10 useful tips on how your company can achieve said goals with your remote workers:
1. Define Your Communication Goals
“Just like you would with your in-house staff, you must set the terms and expectations for your remote staff as well,” says Brian Samson, a business writer at OXEssays and Paper Fellows . “Just keep in mind that your terms and expectations solely depend on the nature and culture of your company, along with its own set of expectations. This prevents miscommunication from happen at any time during a project.”
2. Proactive Management
Remote team management should always be proactive, so that everything runs smoothly, and staff won’t get overwhelmed. By letting your staff know about things ahead of time – say, an “all hands on deck” project – your workers can be ready for it, thus reinforcing effective communication. And, it helps you keep in mind of when remote staff take time off of work, and avoid any unnecessary delays.
3. Have A Schedule
Schedules are essential to any business, regardless if the majority of the projects are either small or large. And although you shouldn’t forget about producing great results, you should have a schedule in place, so that your remote team can achieve those desired results.
A schedule allows you and your remote team to be more productive in their work, and to be consistent with it. You can even establish start times for each day to help your staff get into the zone. And, a schedule allows you to be more communicative to your staff, especially whenever they might have any questions or concerns about it.
4. Have One-On-Ones
Normally, the goal of one-on-one meetings is to check in with workers on project. Plus, this helps managers get to know their staff, and to see if their workers need anything or want something resolved as soon as possible. Not only can one-on-ones be a sort of mini evaluation, but it can also be a coaching session to help your staff feel more motivated about their work. So, when conducting these one-on-ones, make sure that both you and your staff are using effective communication to project ideas and encourage discussions.
5. Have Clear Expectations
It’s never okay to assume that everyone on your remote team will all be on the same page, when it comes to work hours or when you’ll be available for check-ins and conference calls.
Instead, make sure that you outline your expectations in advance, so that there is less frustration and more smooth transitions to any new remote work settings. Though, to help your remote staff make the best out of their work, instruct them to work around their most productive hours, rather than have them work on specific start and end times. As long as you communicate these things clearly to them, you’ll ensure that your remote
staff is working in a timely and appropriate manner.
6. Be Open To Communication Preferences
It’s important to remember that not everyone will operate in the same way. Even in today’s world, there are still people who might not like using Zoom (or even know how to use it) to call people. Some people may prefer instant messaging over emails. Or, some people may prefer email over phone calls or texting. But sometimes, you’ll need to establish video and or phone calls for important things like meetings, collaborations, etc. The important thing here is to figure out who likes what, and then try to communicate in the way that best meets their needs.
7. Don’t Micromanage
“As many people of management may tell anyone, it’s a big temptation to check in with remote teams about their progress multiple times throughout the day,” says Mollie Simpson, a remote worker at Essayroo and Boomessays . However, micromanaging can detrimental to your team. And, this can be seen as a distraction, while also sending the wrong message that you don’t – and won’t – trust them to get work done. So, by ditching daily deliverables, it not only allows your staff to focus on work, but it’s also paving the way for better communication.”
8. Experiment With New Communication Tools
While email is still used to keep in touch with employees, times have changed. So, with many digital platforms and tools to use at your disposal, you can experiment with each of them to see which ones are easy to use for you and your staff. Platforms like Slack allow you to chat directly with others, share files and documents, host voice or video calls, and even allow screen-sharing.
9. Allow Collaborations
Nowadays, team collaborations are important, since they allow for greater productivity.
So, it’s not surprising that many employers are looking to improve collaborations for remote staff. By allowing collaborations, not only are you allowing a steady flow of productivity to thrive, but you’re also giving your remote staff the freedom to reach out with each other no matter where they are, and no matter the concern.
10. Attract Talent With Career Growth Opportunities
Finally, career growth opportunities can help you attract and keep remote talent within your company. Extending opportunities to remote staff will keep them happy and engaged in the work that they do.
Conclusion
In truth, communication is essential to ensuring a well-running company, for in-house and remote departments. And, as you can see by these 10 helpful tips in this article, establishing effective communication goals for your remote staff is essential, and it doesn’t have to be difficult. As you work with your remote team to get tasks done, you’ll ensure a positive ecosystem of ideas and productivity.
Lauren Groff writes and edits content at Dissertation Services and Research Paper Help . She also contributes to numerous publications, such as A-Level Writing Service.
