Remote communication is a hot topic right now. Especially as businesses continue to navigate the lingering pandemic. And while some people are thriving in the new world of remote communication, some people are still struggling.
It’s true that nothing can replace good old fashioned face-to-face communication, but with remote communication growing in necessity, as well as becoming the new go-to standard, it’s important to be able to navigate it easily.
If you’re still struggling to master remote communication, don’t worry! We wrote a simple guide to the skills you need to finally get down this communication path.
Be Clear
When communicating remotely, it’s always important to be very clear with what you are saying. Leave no room for interpretation. No matter if you are giving instructions, asking or answering questions, or just pitching ideas, make sure your intent is clear.
Also, don’t be afraid of being wordy. Sometimes, it takes extra words to make sure people completely understand what you are saying. Remember, details are good!
One area where it is hard to be clear over written remote communication is your tone. We have all experienced texts and emails that we weren’t sure if they were meant to be funny or mean, and it can be very confusing.
To prevent this on your end, be clear with your messages. If you are making a joke over email, include an emoji if it is appropriate. If you are being serious or stern, use clear concise language and possibly even plainly state that you are not happy.
Be Patient
Success with remote communication is all about patience! When everyone is in a different location using a different computer and different internet, it’s inevitable to have some issues that could prevent remote work from running smoothly.
Whether it’s a coworker’s slow internet making a video call lag or a coworker who seems to never reply to messages in a timely manner, you will definitely need to exercise patience in remote communication.
A lot of the time, these minor inconveniences might not be fixable. They might just be a part of your remote communication experience. And while they are not ideal, everyone is dealing with the same kind of issues.
Things are not operating like normal right now and it isn’t really clear when things will be normal again. While we all struggle with the demands of the current world, it is important to be patient with your coworkers and your customers as we all adapt.
Be Available
If remote communication is part of your daily workload, make sure that you are practically always available during work hours. It’s impossible to completely avoid things like bathroom and lunch breaks, so don’t sweat it when you miss a message.
However, it is important to stay vigilant. Messages could be coming in at any time from coworkers or customers, so make sure you are in place to answer them in a timely manner.
And when it comes to nights and weekends, respect your coworkers personal time and try to avoid sending messages during these hours. You may only intend for these messages to be read in the morning, but some might feel the need to answer you as soon as they get the message.
The best part is, if you respect your coworkers’ downtime, they will respect yours, as well!
Keep It Simple
One of the hardest things about remote communication is the wide range of ways to communicate. There are phone calls, video calls, text messages, emails, chat boxes, surveys, and so much more. It can be hard to keep up with!
The best way to get a handle on all your forms of communication is to keep it simple and find somewhere where communication can happen all in one place. This is where Xeno comes in!
Xeno is a program that can condense all your communication into one remote and team-friendly location. Xeno offers things like automated chat boxes, surveys, team inboxes, and streamlined channels so you can stay organized and on top of your communication!
