During the COVID-19 pandemic, working from home became much more commonplace. Even as restrictions lift and some return to work, others are looking to make remote life a regular occurrence.
As leaders, it is important to have proper communication with the team. Here are a few ways to ensure that communication remains strong with your remote team.
Remember the Human Element
Organizations that haven’t really done the remote thing will have a bit of a learning curve. It is important to remember that each of us is different and that we are trying our best. Instead of getting stressed out about potential challenges, remember the human element.
Have empathy for employees and be available to help during the initial transition. It can provide the reassurances needed to navigate some of the early potholes that can come with remote working.
Human Interaction
It can be all too easy to get right down to business each time you communicate. But maintaining that human interaction is crucial. Little things like saying “good morning” can go a long way towards improving morale.
It is simple, it makes everyone feel like they aren’t just a cog in the machine, and can help set the tone for the rest of the day. Creating a virtual “water cooler” is a great way to encourage that human interaction, promoting casual conversation that can make it feel like everyone is in the same building.
Regular Check-ins
In the remote world, it can become all too easy to set your team to a task and then let them go. While that may work from time to time, it can lead to a bit of disconnection between management and staff members.
That is why it is so important to have regular check-ins. See how staff is doing, check for progress on any current projects, ask what can be done to help them, and all the other basic human things that management should be doing. They can go a long, long way.