By Dr. Sue Ann Guy
Definition, Occurrence and Symptoms: Remote work groups, which are employees collaborating virtually from multiple different locations, depend on effective communication processes to achieve employment goals. As more businesses use remote work groups within day-to-day operations, improved remote work group communication becomes critical for business success.[5] Failure to correct poor-performing, unproductive or inefficient tech-based communication to support remote work groups contributes to confusion, mistrust, reduced team productivity, scheduling conflict, miscommunication, high employee turnover, reduced employee engagement, burnout, anger, headaches, stress, anxiety, depression, etc.[2, 6, 7] Fortunately, multiple ways to improve remote work group communication exist.
Coping and Recovery: Apply these three helpful strategies to improve communication in remote work groups.
1. Satisfy communication preferences and tech necessities in alignment with communication guidelines. [1, 2, 4, 5] When communication guidelines are established for all group members, remote work group expectations are easily and efficiently satisfied. Employees become more motivated to engage effectively within remote work groups. Groups should obtain communication preferences from all members of the remote work group along with providing full access to applicable communication technologies (i.e., cloud storage, shared calendars, virtual private networks, email, video phone calls, chat and instant messaging, videoconferencing, etc.). Integrate these communication technologies into regular group meetings to strengthen team communication and collaboration. For example, if Jim, who is a regularly-traveling team member, prefers calling into mandatory meetings as opposed to videoconferencing, then simply permit Jim to call into meetings whenever necessary. Provide Jim full credentials to the remote group’s cloud storage, for example, so that Jim may access group forms, literature, recordings and documents on-the-go as well.
2. Cater to time differences by reducing synchronous communication. [1, 2, 4] Remote work groups may span the globe, working from several different countries worldwide. Time differences impact remote group members’ ability to schedule, prepare and gather for team meetings, while hindering regular communication between team members. Pressure to synchronize work schedules increases employee scheduling conflict, anger and confusion. However, reducing work requirements for synchronous communication (communications performed at the same time) reduces such symptoms for remote work group members. Asynchronous communication, on the other hand, allows remote team members to perform non-urgent dialogue regularly with other team members at preferred times of the day.
3. “Virtual Happy Hours”. [1, 3, 4, 5] Allocate some time at each meeting or on a specific day of the week for casual conversation, chit chat, games, personal updates, rewards and celebrations through videoconferencing with remote work group members. Regular opportunities to socialize online within remote work groups normalize the work environment, increase camaraderie and connections between remote team members and ensure a virtual community. Once in a while, meet offline with remote team members to socialize for dinner or lunch.
While working within remote work groups, foster and communicate a work environment that satisfies communication and tech needs in alignment with guidelines, use asynchronous communication to cater to time differences and enjoy “Virtual Happy Hours” with remote team members.
References
1. https://www.telnetww.com/blog/remote-work/10-tips-improving-remote-team-communication/
2. https://hive.com/blog/remote-team-communication/
3. https://www.texthelp.com/resources/blog/12-ways-to-improve-communication-remote-working/
4. https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/improve-communication-skills-remote-worker/
5. https://hbr.org/2018/02/how-to-collaborate-effectively-if-your-team-is-remote
6. https://www.contactmonkey.com/blog/remote-team-communication-challenges
