The COVID-19 pandemic changed a lot of things, especially in the workplace. With so many organizations shifting to at least partially-remote teams, it has presented challenges with remaining effective in communication.
If you are running a remote team currently, there are a few tips that can go a long way towards improving communication.
Show Empathy
Empathy is finding a much larger place in the world of leadership and with good reason. At the end of the day, we are all human beings with human problems and emotions. Leaders who can show empathy show that they, too, are human beings.
Times can be stressful. Creating an open dialogue and just listening can be an effective way to find out what is going on in someone’s life and to provide an outlet for the stresses that may be running through their head during any given day.
Say “Good Morning”
The biggest change brought about by working remotely is the small human interactions that we would otherwise experience. Even saying “good morning” to someone through video calls can be a great way to make everyone feel a sense of normalcy.
Being remote can present a feeling of isolation from the rest of the team. By making those small connections, it can allow the team to feel like they are still invested in this together. And that is one of the most important things about maintaining a team that is working remotely.
Have Regular Check-ins
It can be all too easy to fall into one’s own work, especially in a remote work setup. Which is why, as leaders, it is important to keep open lines of communication. Something as simple as a daily check-in can be effective for keeping open communication with each member of the team.
It is a great way to find out where someone is on a project or what they are working on. It can also be a great way to check in on a team member to see how they are doing.