If you take a closer look at the global employment situation, you’ll see that the number of remote jobs is increasing. With that, the idea of working from home is also becoming much more normalized.
This isn’t just us saying all this trying to sell you a story; these are facts. Here are some stats to help you better understand this situation.
Remote Working Statistics
- The World Economic Forum says that within the next six years, remote jobs are expected to grow by around 25 percent.
- Buffer reports that 98 percent of workers prefer working remotely every now and then.
- Across the world, 16 percent of companies operate fully remotely according to an Owl Labs study.
Based on these statistics, it’s evident that remote working has become pretty mainstream. However, there’s another reality to working remote jobs that employees face.
A Gallup survey reveals that remote workers tend to feel disconnected from their organizations. Workers who felt a connection to their respective organization’s purpose fell to 28 percent from 32 percent in 2022. This disconnect is real, but it’s not untreatable. In fact, through effective communication, you, as an employer, can effectively connect with your employees.
In this article, we’ll take you through a few ways through which you can use technology to better connect and communicate with your remote workforce.
Learn How Employees Interact with Your Communication Efforts
To achieve significant growth in terms of connectivity with your remote workforce, you must first learn how they interact with your communication efforts. For that, you need to gain actionable insights by studying said communication efforts.
Studying user engagement with regard to your emails, texts, etc. is a great way to acquire valuable insights. Many employers often refer to their CardioLog analytics for this purpose.
CardioLog Engage can help improve your connectivity with employees. The tool can give you valuable analytics data and insights into your remote teams’ behavior and preferences.
This CardioLog engagement tool will help you track how employees interact with your communication efforts on places like SharePoint and Microsoft Teams. That way, you can see what type of message formats, content, and sizes they might interact with the most. This, in turn, will help you figure out what each employee likes and what they don’t in terms of workplace communication.
According to Intlock, with the help of such data, you can effectively plan your communication and connectivity strategies for your remote employees. As you start doing so, your employees will be more eager to receive and respond to your messages accordingly.
Schedule Weekly Video Calls or Meetings
Consistently scheduling weekly video calls or meetings is crucial for maintaining a strong connection with your remote team. These calls create a regular touchpoint that fosters a sense of inclusion and engagement among employees.
In addition to group meetings, consider incorporating one-on-one calls occasionally. These personal interactions provide an opportunity for employees to share their thoughts and concerns more openly.
Such calls can help you better understand individual needs and challenges, fostering a deeper connection and demonstrating your commitment to their well-being. Of course, you must respect your workers’ time zones as it’s essential to effective communication.
Schedule meetings at times that are convenient for everyone, or rotate meeting times to accommodate different time zones. By showing consideration for their schedules, you demonstrate empathy and respect, which can significantly enhance their motivation and productivity.
Work with Collaborative Tools
Using collaborative tools is essential for effective communication with your remote employees. These tools facilitate real-time collaboration, enabling team members to work together seamlessly, regardless of their physical locations.
For instance, you can use a document-sharing platform like Google Docs to have multiple remote employees edit and comment on a document simultaneously. That way, everyone is on the same page regarding an edit or addition to a document.
Instant messaging platforms are another invaluable resource. They provide a quick and efficient way for team members to communicate, share updates, and ask questions.
Project management software can also play a significant role in keeping your team organized and focused. These tools allow you to assign tasks, set deadlines, and track progress, ensuring that everyone knows their responsibilities and stays on track. This improves productivity and at the same time enhances accountability within the team.
Also, don’t forget about virtual whiteboards. They can be an excellent tool for brainstorming and idea sharing. These platforms allow team members to visualize their thoughts and collaborate on creative solutions.
Engage in Online Multiplayer Games
A little bit out of the box, but at this stage, this is exactly what you want.
You don’t have to play anything intense. Games that help in team building will be good enough. Maybe something like Among Us or Valorant. If these feel too intense, opt for something as simple as online chess or even poker.
In the workplace, such socializing is common, which is why it’s easier for employees to connect there. However, for remote workers, this is not always possible. Hence, online bonding, ideally through video games can go a long way in helping them feel connected with the rest of the office.
If not video games, you can also watch a movie with them together from time to time. See what they prefer and do just that. Hosting virtual movie nights can be a fun and relaxing way to bond with your remote employees. That way, although you may be miles apart, you can still foster a sense of community, helping them feel more connected with you.
Will All These Tactics Work?
If you want the short answer, then yes, these tactics are bound to work when trying to connect and better communicate with remote employees. Some of these tactics, like playing online games or watching movies together virtually, might feel a bit weird at first.
However, that’s the point; you want to get your remote teams comfortable with you. Otherwise, how can then feel connected with you and the others?
Thus, go and try these out, and see how effective they are in making your remote employees feel more connected with you.
