Skip to main content

Our current situation has forced businesses to make changes in their work settings and allow flexible working arrangements for their employees. With so many business teams fractured and scattered among home offices, it’s crucial to keep business operations running and communication lines open.

Remote work is hardly new. Thanks to advances in communications technology, you can still communicate with remote employees anywhere, anytime. Here are some useful tips to master the art of communicating digitally so you and your employees can pursue common goals and achieve business success while working from home.

1. Set realistic goals for your employees 

First, lay the ground rules for working from home. Communicate expectations early to keep you and your team on the same page. Define the goals for your team and, importantly, align them with both your business culture and the reality of your employees’ current situations. Whether that means adjusted sales quotas or new ways to earn extra income, goals should be as specific and realistic as possible.

2. Open opportunities for collaboration 

Maximise available resources to communicate with your staff effectively. As the head of a team, you want to make sure that you’re bringing people, talent, and resources together, even when face-to-face interactions are limited. Initiate collaborative work using suitable platforms.

3. Listen attentively

With a work-from-home set-up, it’s easier for employees to become just a number. The challenges of working from home, the stress of social distancing, and the anxiety of the ongoing pandemic have made empathy more important than ever for business and team leaders. Combined, these added pressures can have a negative impact, not just on your workers’ productivity, but also on their lives. Always listen when your team members have something to say. Acknowledging the reality of their struggles is an effective way to provide valuable support and preserve morale.

4. Minimise disruptions 

Every situation will be different for every employee, especially during a crisis. It’s inevitable that their home life will affect their work and their focus. Often, the mere risk of interruptions will affect productivity and disrupt workflow. Though unavoidable, you should try to accommodate these more turbulent working patterns and avoid micromanaging. Reserve communications for urgent matters instead of relentless project updates. Giving them time to adjust helps them to focus and accomplish tasks without the added stress.

5. Use the right tools to communicate

Whether it is through an email, a five-minute call, or a videoconference, use the proper channels of communication when reaching out. Depending on what type of message you want to relay, it’s important to be smart with how you communicate. Emails should be reserved for more detailed messages. Video meetings are ideal for training staff or sharing files. Instant messaging or calls can be used for brief catchups with your team.

Fill downtime with Bartercard!

A work-from-home setup can increase one’s productivity through the right tools and continuous engagement. However, every business owner knows that there’s still more opportunity to maximise their staff’s capacity and fill in downtime.  Bartercard lets businesses transact with trade dollars to exchange goods and services. Keep your remote employees productive and turn any downtime into increased sales! Learn more about how Bartercard works today!

Anna

Author Anna

More posts by Anna