In recent years, remote work has become increasingly popular, with many companies embracing the flexibility and benefits of this model. However, remote work also presents unique challenges, particularly when it comes to communication.
When working remotely, team members are often physically separated, making it more difficult to communicate effectively. As a result, setting communication expectations is critical to ensuring that everyone is on the same page and that projects are completed efficiently.
Here are some key ways you can set communication expectations when working remotely.
Establish a Communication Schedule
Establishing a communication schedule is one of the most critical aspects of setting communication expectations when working remotely. By having set times for communication, team members know when they are expected to be online and available.
When creating a communication schedule, consider:
- The hours that everyone is expected to be online
- The preferred method of communication during those hours
- Which communication channels will be used for different types of communication (for example, email for sharing information, instant messaging for quick conversations, and video conferencing for team meetings)
- The time zone of each team member and how this will impact communication.
It’s important to make sure everyone understands the schedule and follows it consistently. If someone won’t be available during their scheduled time, they should let the team know in advance.
Choose the Right Communication Tools
Choosing the right communication tools is crucial when setting expectations for communication when working remotely.
There are many options available, including:
- Instant messaging
- Video conferencing
- Project management tools
Take the time to identify which tools are best suited to your team’s needs based on:
- The type of work you’re doing
- The number of team members
- The communication preferences of individual team members
- Which tools will facilitate collaboration and communication most effectively.
Once you’ve settled on the right tools, make sure everyone knows which tools to use for different types of communication. This will help ensure that communication is consistent and efficient.
Set Response Time Expectations
When working remotely, it’s important to set expectations around response times. This helps reduce frustration and ensures that everyone is on the same page.
Establish guidelines around how quickly team members should respond to messages. For example, you might expect an instant response to urgent messages, or within 24 hours for non-urgent messages.
It’s important to communicate these guidelines clearly to all team members and to make sure that everyone follows them consistently. You might also consider using a tool like Slack, which allows you to set status updates that indicate whether you’re available.
Encourage Open Communication
Encouraging open communication is another important aspect of setting communication expectations when working remotely. When team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, opinions and concerns, it can help improve collaboration and productivity. It can also reduce misunderstandings and conflicts.
Encourage team members to express themselves openly and create a culture of feedback and constructive criticism. This can help teams work together more effectively and achieve their goals.
To encourage open communication, try:
- Encouraging team members to ask questions and seek help when they need it
- Hosting regular virtual team meetings to brainstorm ideas and discuss progress
- Creating a virtual “watercooler” channel where team members can chat casually and build relationships.
Clarify Expectations Around Project Updates
Communication is critical when it comes to project updates. Team members need to know the project status, who is responsible for what, and the project timeline.
Establish expectations around how frequently project updates should be shared and through what channels. For example, you might choose to update the team weekly via email or daily via project management tools.
It’s also important to make sure that everyone understands the project’s overall goals and objectives, so they can stay focused and motivated.
Define Expectations Around After-Hours Communication
When working remotely, it’s important to define expectations around after-hours communication. Remote work can make it challenging to separate work and personal time, and it’s easy for team members to feel like they need to be available at all times.
Establish guidelines around when after-hours communication is permissible and when it is not. This can help ensure that team members have the opportunity to switch off from work and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
To define expectations around after-hours communication, consider:
- The expected hours that team members should be online
- Whether or not team members are expected to respond to messages outside of business hours
- Which communication channels should be used for after-hours communication (for example, email or instant messaging)
- Whether or not team members should schedule meetings or share updates outside of business hours.
Communicate these guidelines clearly to all team members and make sure that everyone understands and follows them consistently.
Set Expectations for Professionalism
When working remotely, it can be easy for team members to get comfortable and let their professionalism slip. However, it’s essential to set expectations for professionalism to ensure that everyone remains focused and motivated.
To set expectations for professionalism, consider:
- How team members should address each other (for example, using first names or titles)
- The tone and language that should be used in communication (for example, avoiding slang or inappropriate language)
- How team members should dress during video conference meetings
- The level of etiquette that should be observed during meetings (for example, not interrupting others while they’re speaking).
By setting expectations for professionalism, you can help create a positive and productive work environment.
Use Video Conferencing for Face-to-Face Communication
Video conferencing can be an excellent way to facilitate face-to-face communication when working remotely. It allows team members to see each other’s facial expressions and body language, which can help improve communication and reduce misunderstandings.
Consider hosting regular video conference meetings, both for one-on-one meetings and for team-wide meetings. Be sure to communicate the video conferencing schedules clearly to all team members and make sure everyone has access to the necessary tools and equipment.
Be Transparent About Team Members’ Availability
Transparency is critical when working remotely, particularly when it comes to team members’ availability. When team members know when their colleagues are available, it can help avoid unnecessary delays and reduce frustration.
Be transparent about team members’ availability by:
- Making sure everyone knows the schedules of their team members
- Using shared calendars or scheduling tools to coordinate meetings and deadlines
- Communicating any changes to availability as soon as possible.
By being transparent about availability, you can help ensure that projects are completed on time and that communication is consistent.
Incorporate Opportunities for Social Interaction
Social interaction is essential for building bonds between team members, which can help improve collaboration and communication. When working remotely, social interaction can be more challenging, but it’s still vital to incorporate opportunities for interaction.
Consider incorporating opportunities for social interaction, such as:
- Virtual team building activities (for example, online trivia games or virtual happy hours)
- Online forums or groups where team members can share information and ideas
- Virtual “coffee breaks” where team members can chat about non-work-related topics.
Incorporating opportunities for social interaction can help build a sense of community among the team and improve morale.
Provide Regular Feedback and Recognition
Feedback and recognition can be powerful motivators, particularly when working remotely. It’s essential to provide regular feedback and recognition to team members, so they feel valued and appreciated.
Provide feedback and recognition by:
- Setting clear performance goals and expectations at the beginning of a project
- Providing regular feedback on progress towards those goals
- Recognizing team members for their achievements and contributions.
When providing feedback and recognition, be specific and timely. This can help ensure that team members understand what they’re doing well and where they need to improve.
Develop a Communication Protocol
Developing a communication protocol can help ensure that communication is consistent and efficient when working remotely. A communication protocol is a set of guidelines and tools that outline how team members should communicate with each other.
To develop a communication protocol, consider:
- The types of communication preferred by team members
- The frequency of communication required
- The best practices for each type of communication
- The tools and technologies used for communication.
Be sure to communicate the communication protocol to all team members regularly, and encourage feedback on how it can be improved.
Foster a Culture of Trust
When working remotely, it can be challenging to build trust between team members. However, trust is critical for effective communication and collaboration.
Foster a culture of trust by:
- Encouraging open communication and feedback
- Setting clear expectations for accountability and responsibility
- Providing opportunities for team members to work together on tasks and projects
- Recognizing and rewarding team members for their contributions.
By fostering a culture of trust, you can help build strong working relationships between team members and improve communication.
Continually Evaluate and Improve Communication Strategies
Finally, continually evaluating and improving communication strategies is crucial when working remotely. As team members’ needs and preferences change, it’s important to adjust communication strategies accordingly.
To continually evaluate and improve communication strategies, consider:
- Soliciting feedback from team members regularly
- Analyzing metrics related to communication effectiveness
- Experimenting with new communication tools and technologies
- Reviewing and adjusting the communication protocol regularly.
By continually evaluating and improving communication strategies, you can help ensure that your team is communicating effectively and efficiently.
Final Thoughts
Working remotely requires unique communication strategies that involve setting clear guidelines and protocols for communication. By setting communication expectations, you can improve collaboration and productivity, which are essential elements for running a successful remote team.
Some of the critical elements for setting communication expectations when working remotely include establishing a communication schedule, choosing the right communication tools, setting response time expectations, encouraging open communication, clarifying expectations around project updates, defining expectations around after-hours communication, setting expectations for professionalism, using video conferencing, being transparent about team members’ availability, incorporating opportunities for social interaction, providing regular feedback and recognition, developing a communication protocol, fostering a culture of trust, and continually evaluating and improving communication strategies.
By implementing these strategies, you can help ensure that your remote team works together effectively, communicates frequently, and achieves their goals. Effective communication is key to the success of any remote team, and by prioritizing communication, you set your team up for success.