Effective and efficient communication can make or break a team. You can’t expect your team to produce the desired results if expectations aren’t communicated, your team isn’t collaborating effectively, or your team doesn’t feel connected to one another. This is especially important in remote work environments.
Think about it.
You can’t pull Todd into your office to ask for an update on the flyer he’s working on. You can’t gather your marketing team in the conference room to discuss what the stakeholders on the sales team need in their latest request. Instead, everything is handled virtually, where it can be difficult to decipher things like tone, body language, and the feeling behind what’s being said.
Virtual communication tools can help.
Let’s dive in.
Here are ten signs your remote team isn’t communicating effectively.
4 Ways Virtual Communication Tools Can Help Your Remote Workers Succeed
With technology specifically designed for remote workforces and virtual communication, you can:
- Improve collaboration
- Promote a healthy workplace culture
- Streamline workflows
- Prevent miscommunication
Improve Collaboration
It can be hard to work remotely. Your team is probably spread out over multiple states (maybe even countries), making it hard to collaborate effectively. However, most virtual communication technology has features that make it easier, such as file sharing, video conferencing, and integrations with popular business apps. They also offer different communication channels, like email, chat, group chat, and calling. This means your teams can reach each other with the click of a button. Most of these platforms are also hosted in the cloud, making collaborating even easier.
Promote a Healthy Workplace Culture
Humans crave personal interactions. We want to interact with others, even if it’s just chatting in the breakroom or meeting for a quick cup of coffee. This becomes more challenging with remote work. In fact, many remote workers deal with feelings of isolation and loneliness. Virtual communication tools can help you replicate these in-office interactions.
For example, our marketing team has several group chat channels for different interests, like food, movies, TV shows, crafts, and even books. It adds an element of togetherness that makes us feel connected to team members we might not interact with often. It gives us a chance to have those human interactions. Plus, it allows us to share funny GIFs and memes, which helps break up the day-to-day hustle and bustle.
With video conferencing capabilities, you can host virtual happy hours, coffee chats, and Team Time to play games and have fun, even if you aren’t in the same area. It’s a great way to foster a sense of connection and build meaningful relationships.
For tips on managing your remote team, check out our blog post.
Streamline Workflows
With projects, ensuring everyone is on the same page and in the loop is crucial. Otherwise, you run the risk of having the project fall apart. Having a virtual communication platform with video conferencing is key. You can schedule regular meetings to keep track of different projects and see where various stakeholders are in the process. It also provides the opportunity to ask questions and get answers. With screen share abilities, your team can resolve any blockers in the moment, without waiting for a reply over chat or email (which, as we all know, can sometimes take days!)
Prevent Miscommunication
One of the greatest advantages of virtual communication tools is the variety of communication methods available. You can chat one-on-one. Bring in other team members in a group chat. You can quickly hop on an audio or video call to instantly get the answers you need. Having all these communication channels available means you – and your team – can actively communicate in real time. And, it ensures everyone is in the loop and on track to meet deadlines. This is a surefire way to avoid miscommunication and misunderstandings and ensure important details aren’t missed.
Virtual Communication with b-hive UCaaS
For the long-term success of your remote workforce, you need a virtual communication platform like the b-hive UCaaS platform. b-hive has advanced features that give your remote team new ways to communicate and collaborate, regardless of location. Plus, we’ve recently re-vamped the mobile version of the platform for even better communication and collaboration.
Learn more about the b-hive UCaaS platform and b-hive Communicator by scheduling a demo.
