5 Virtual Communication Tips for Managers
Posted July 7th, 2020
With many professionals working from home, finding the ideal way to communicate with your team can be a challenge. Often, the approaches you’d use at the office don’t make sense when everyone’s working remotely. Plus, telecommuting creates difficulties that can be solved by using the right communication methods. If you want to know how you can excel, here are five virtual communication tips all managers should explore.
1. Have One-on-One Video Meetings
When you touch base with employees, consider using a one-on-one video meeting instead of another approach. It can serve as a substitute for meeting in-person, making it easier to create a connection. Plus, being able to see people on occasion can boost morale, which may lead to performance improvements.
Consider setting up a video call with each of your employees every one to two weeks. That way, you can have an actual face-to-face discussion, even if you can’t get actually get together at the office.
2. Schedule Group Video Chats
Remote teams can have trouble bonding. The lack of face-to-face conversation creates a sense of distance, and that can hinder their collective performance.
When you’re managing a virtual team, schedule group video chats on at least a monthly basis, don’t focus solely on work topics. Encourage a bit of casual conversation, as well. That way, everyone can forge stronger relationships and feel like part of the grander whole.
3. Limit the Use of Email
Email isn’t usually ideal for many conversations. Miscommunications are common, for one. For another, a critical message can quickly get buried, causing you or your employees to miss something crucial or to incidentally cause a project delay due to a lack of a response.
Limit your use of email whenever possible. Instead, favor messenger platforms, video conferencing, phone calls, and even text messages, especially when a piece of new information is vital.
4. Investing in Collaboration Software
Having a robust collaboration solution makes a difference. When communicating is easy, and everything is centralized, including file-sharing, you are streamlining communication for your team.
Additionally, most collaboration solutions give you the ability to create multiple rooms. You can separate conversations based on the topic, making the information simpler to track and monitor.
5. Have the Right Equipment
When video calls are a critical part of staying connected, it’s wise to invest in your equipment. While you don’t have to spend a fortune on a webcam and microphone, do make sure that the ones you have are high-quality. Poor audio and video diminishes the experience and makes it hard for your employees to understand you. Make sure that the options you choose provide clear images and sound, reduce background noise, and are adjustable, ensuring you can make changes when the need arises.
Call Us Today
Ultimately, by following the tips above, you can improve virtual communication. If you’d like to learn more, the staff at Bayside Solutions can help. Contact us today and see how our remote workforce management expertise can benefit you.
