Communication is critical in remote work. But it’s challenging because you don’t see the people you’re working with. Also, you need to master specific remote working tools to collaborate better.
On top of that, there are cultural and personal differences.
It’s not as easy as it seems. But worry not, it’s something you can learn!
Here are 7 communication tips for remote workers.
Learn Your Team’s Communication Flow
Most likely, your team has a preferred communication flow.
What communication tools and programs are used? Do you have project management software like Asana or Monday?
Try to learn and adapt to what they’re using to communicate better as soon as possible.
Build Trust By Being Proactive
The problem with online work is that you don’t see each other. Some bosses worry that you aren’t working. With so many distractions, what else can you be doing?
Well, you can ease their minds by being proactive. You can simply update them with the progress of the tasks you are doing.
What’s the estimated time for completion? Are there any roadblocks that you’re facing? And once these are completed, you can ask for other tasks to do.
By being proactive, they can trust your words. And if they trust you, you can communicate better with them.
Watch your Capitalizations
What do capitalizations imply? Imagine getting a message, “I NEED THE FILES RIGHT NOW!”
Friendly? No. It sounds like a hostile irate colleague ready to punch you in person.
You might not mean it. But you should use capital letters sparingly. You don’t want to inadvertently start a fight.
Learn their Culture
How would you feel if your boss said, “I sent you some thongs! Let me see when you get it.”
That feels uncomfortable and scandalous, right? But if you have an Australian boss, “thongs” mean slippers. Gotta love Australian slang.
When communicating, make allowances for cultural differences to avoid any misunderstandings.
Engage in Casual Chit-chat
Like in an office setting, you make friends by interacting with your colleagues. With that, don’t be afraid to engage in casual chit-chat.
You can talk about work or casual topics. Or maybe, you can send each other memes.
Working online doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. A little friendly office banter won’t hurt.
And when you build rapport, it’s easier to work together, even online.
Use Emojis when Necessary
How would your teammates know how a sentence should be read? It’s easy in face-to-face conversations when you see and hear their body language and tone.
But online? They can only assume.
Emojis can help with that.
If you think something is funny, feel free to use continuous “🤣🤣🤣.” Want to congratulate someone? Celebrate with a “🥳🥳🥳.”
Using emojis can help provide context for your messages.
Respect Time Differences When Collaborating
With remote work, you can be productive while working with different colleagues in different time zones. You just have to utilize proper communication tools.
But with different time zones come limitations. There will be hours that you’ll be working asynchronously. A lot of friction can happen when you demand output beyond their working hours.
For example, you finished an article at around 5 PM (GMT+8) and you need images before you post. If your graphic designer is in New York (GMT-5), don’t expect him/her to answer at 4 AM in the morning.
Respect each other’s work schedule and plan your collaborative tasks around that.
Looking for remote work? Sign up through Remote Staff to get the best remote work listings for Filipinos.
Remote Staff offers long-term remote working opportunities depending on your skills. And you can definitely apply the communication tips above for better collaboration with your client.
Cheers to finding your dream remote job!
