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The last two years of the pandemic have changed a lot about how we work and communicate. Social distancing meant that we were no longer working under the same roof. So, communicating with colleagues and superiors became virtual. We had to rely a lot on apps like Slack, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams. Moreover, as real-time communication was out of the question, it created a gap between employees. So, strategies for effective communication are necessary to bridge the gap and improve communication.
For many workers, hybrid work culture is the new normal. So, for a better workflow, the first step could be a reliable internet connection. You don’t necessarily need a new connection, though. You can call the Cox bill pay number to get speed or bandwidth add-ons for your current package as well. Although hybrid communication comes with its own set of challenges, there might be no other choice. Many employees prefer working from home and some would even take a pay cut if it meant they could work remotely.
Strategies for Effective Remote Communication
The pandemic has made many processes redundant and has changed organizational structures. The hybrid work model is here to stay for possibly a long time. So, we have to make arrangements and be prepared to take on the new challenges. As most companies have never done this before, they might not know if they’re on the right track. So, here are some things you need to consider and change about your workplace.
1: Revisit your Current Strategies
The first thing to plan a better communication strategy is to evaluate the already-existing protocols. As a lot has changed in the past two years, you might need to revamp your current policies. You should consider how your employees used to communicate before the pandemic. Moreover, you also need to differentiate between synchronous and asynchronous communication standards. For instance, your employees might think they need to reply immediately to all messages. So, it can be difficult to maintain the same methodology in a hybrid setup.
You might need to reconsider what discussion point is important enough to conduct a meeting. Because that might not be possible in hybrid setups. So, you might want to rule out new standards for emails, messages, and one-on-one communications. Another important factor can be the storage and distribution of company documentation. You might need to introduce a more robust cloud-based storage system that everyone can access.
2: Develop a Consistent Hybrid Policy
When you’re determined the loopholes in your current policy, it is time to develop a new one. A hybrid setup means that you have to cater to two groups of employees. Some would work on-site while others would be working from home. So, the policy needs to be flexible enough to accommodate both teams. It should ensure a healthy workflow without any disturbances.
This might be the most important step so take your time with it. As your team’s needs have changed, they would expect a new template or policy document. So, the new policy should tell them how to communicate during office hours. They need to know what the company expects from them throughout the workday. There should be a standard protocol for team meetings that include in-house and remote employees. Moreover, the company policy should also consider the official modes of communication such as Zoom, WhatsApp, etc.
3: Regular Team Meetings
It can be difficult to maintain regular team meetings when half of the team is always working remotely. So, scheduled online meetings can be ideal to handle any communication gaps. Moreover, scheduling them weekly can mean that your employees know they have to take time out for this. Make sure that you discuss as many talking points as possible in these meetings. It can be a great way to check up on the ongoing tasks and potential difficulties. You can ask your team to make an agenda for every meeting so everything is covered and there is no waste of time.
4: Provide Consistent IT Support
Another important factor for the smooth running of the business can be your internal IT support department. Your hybrid workforce might run into IT issues now and then. Moreover, almost all teams will rely on technology more than ever for constant communication. So, you might need a better IT support system that can be available round the clock. If the response times are too slow, the business might suffer.
5: Use Better Communication Tools
You will also need to use more consistent communication tools to connect with your employees. All teams should be using the same tool so there are no discrepancies. You can pick a reliable communication tool like Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Trello, Asana, etc. These tools can make it simple to assign daily tasks to each employee. Moreover, you can always know what everyone is working on and the current status of all ongoing tasks. So, not only will they help you in smooth communication, but you can also regulate workflow easily.
