5 Useful Employee Communication Tips For Remote Workforce

Employee communication is the key to organizational success. It is the sharing of information and ideas between employees and the management and vice versa. How management and employees connect tells a lot about the fate of the organization.

If communication is not your top priority, all of your other priorities are at risk. ~Bob Aronson

Today millions of corporates all around the world are working from home due to the covid crisis. Many have adapted to this new work culture, and few are still finding its foot to adjust and find ways to improve their effectiveness in communication. We all know how employee communication is critical for any business to sustain.

We live in a world where the channels of communication are evolving every day. Today we have multiple communication tools, from Slack to business VoIP systems that are convenient and easy to use; they make our work much easier and faster. But the effectiveness of employee communication cannot be emphasized only on the communication tools that we use. The communicating tools and channels are great; there is no second thought about it. But for organizational success and improved productivity, your modes of communication must blend well with your culture and workforce.

Also, work from home culture is going to stay. Amidst all the uncertainty and ambiguity, one thing that we are sure about is that the future is digital. But the success of an organization will hugely rely on employee communication and understanding its complexities.

Here are Some Tips to Improve Employee Communication for Better Productivity and Success

1. Maintain Transparency

Since in-person communication and discussion have transitioned into virtual meetings, the flow of transparency is compromised. Also, it is understandable that it may not be easy to pass down the information that deals with decision-making and strategic planning to achieve goals and objectives conveniently. But you cannot compromise transparency. Lack of transparency can create a lot of confusion and misunderstanding between the management and the employees. When making important decisions and strategies to attain your goals, make sure to bring as many team members possible. Hear their inputs and allow everyone to share their ideas and views.

Here it is important to note that we are all together in this. Embracing transparency and communicating effectively through regular meetings can help you win, irrespective of your work location.

2. The Power Of 'We'

Employee communication is never a one-way communication. It is a conscious two a way communication between the employees and the management. You know the reality, it is not "I' but 'We.' We plan, we execute, we build, and we win. The effectiveness of employee communication is that it is always two-way communication.

Therefore, to build employee engagement, one must exercise two way communication. Give your remote employees regular feedback, be open to hearing their views, understand them, and act on the information that you gather along the way.

Communication must be HOT. That's Honest, Open, and Two-way. ~Dan Oswald

3. Streamline the Communication Process

Streamline the communication to both save your and employees' time and energy. You might use the best communication tools that you have in the market, but if it is not well-organized, it can bring a lot of confusion and misunderstanding.

Inform your employees for any business meetings beforehand and give them the time to prepare for it. Also, mention your expectations openly. Keep a considerable and acceptable time frame while getting a response from your remote worker through emails or other communication tools.

Strategic planning is a necessity here. Keep tabs on the latest updates con business communication and always try to implement those. Change is still constant; future events and technological advancements would always give you new opportunities and also obstacles. Understanding those aspects and communicating effectively with every move is the key to success here.

4. Set the Right Tone

Set the right tone and be professional while you communicate. For many, the remote/work from home culture is new, especially for small organizations. Big organizations often have employees that work for them remotely due to geographical barriers. But the covid crisis has blurred the lines for all. It has become the new normal for organizations worldwide.

Therefore, it is crucial to understand that even your work from home, your job is still professional and must reflect in your communication. Thus, both the employees and the management should set the right tone and etiquette while communicating.

5. Measure the Effectiveness of your Current Modes of Communication

What works for other organizations and the workforce may not work for you. Every work culture is different, and so are communication approaches and strategies. Therefore, regularly analyze and measure current communication styles. See the remote workers' engagement and take a survey to understand what is working and what is not. Make your objectives clear and precise, or else the whole purpose of communication would be lost.

Lastly, it is important to understand employee communication for work from employees rely on trust and understanding. There could be many instances where you experience misunderstanding and miscommunication. Being empathetic and respectful towards each other should be given more priority. After all, we are all learning and trying to adapt to a new work culture deliberately.

This article is written by Braja Deepon Roy. He works as a Content Creator and Digital Marketer at Vantage Circle. He actively participates in the growth of corporate culture and keeps himself updated in this space. For any related queries, contact editor@vantagecircle.com