It’s not easy to master remote team communication. Team members scramble to figure out how to collaborate without the convenience of being physically present in the same place at the same time. When interacting with colleagues who work remotely, even the simplest gesture can be misinterpreted in the absence of the usual visual cues. Here are three ways to make sure you’re understood when you’re not face-to-face:
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Picture your colleague. When emailing or calling him or her, try to imagine your colleague at their desk listening to you. This visualisation will increase your empathy and improve your chances of clearly saying what you mean.
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Spell things out. Don't just say, "Get back to me," for example. Be clear about follow up. Do you expect a phone call or an email? When?
- Respond promptly. When you don’t reply right away to an email or voicemail, you leave the person wondering whether you value the relationship or not. Answer quickly, even just to say you’ll send a more complete answer later.
The above leadership tip...
was sent in response to a question from a participant on our acclaimed 10/10 leadership development and mentoring programme. Whether you're a first time manager or an experienced leader, straightforward, practical advice on best practice is hard to find. Until now. To find out how you, your team or your organisation can benefit, please contact us.