How Communication Improves Productivity in Remote Teams

In the new normal boardroom meetings and weekly update meetings have been replaced by Zoom calls, Google Meet, Slack, WhatsApp and other tech channels. Teams habituated to whiteboard reviews, are now adapting to Zoom review calls. Although employers were quick to adopt remote working, they soon found that not every employee adapted to it as expected. 

Lack of proper communication was found to be one of the reasons why some remote teams ended up unproductive. ‘Zoom Fatigue’ has been a trend in the new normal owing to poor communication strategies by anxious employers. Remote employees often also felt that communication has become one sided with organizational structures being dominated by hierarchies. Ideally, employers need to create open communication channels that motivate employees during crisis. Open communication helps improve productivity in remote teams in the following ways:

·        Encourages remote teams to be vocal about concerns, questions, or conflicts

·        Strengthens solidarity with the organization’s goals and objectives

·        Improves collaboration among team members

·        Upholds company values and culture through times of difficulty

·        Allows for better interpersonal and empathetic relationships among team members

But, how do you actually build your remote working culture around open communication? Here are a few suggestions:

·        Minimize formal communications to occasions where is it necessary

·        Let teams communicate internally about projects and deadlines

 

          Organize virtual team building sessions to get rid of the Zoom Fatigue

·        Schedule informal communication sessions to interact with your teams

·        Schedule Q & A sessions to let your teams voice out their concerns

·        Make time for team bonding activities to build better relationships among your team members

·        Listen to feedback and take actions that show your commitment towards ensuring a healthy work environment

·        Foster communication that builds long lasting relationships and empathy

Although the future of work is still uncertain, good communication always improves productivity.