Maintaining Good Communication While Working Remotely

Communication is a key part of any remote team. It helps you stay on top of things, keep your projects moving forward, and make sure everyone is aligned with each other. But communication isn’t always easy when you work remotely. You might have trouble getting in touch with people or having face-to-face meetings. And it can be hard to know how much time you spend communicating versus working.

In this article, we will discuss the best ways to communicate while working remotely. We will also look at some tools that help you manage your communications better.

How To Communicate When Working Remotely?

Maintaining good and clear communication is sometimes easier said than done. Especially when you’re part of a remote team where face-to-face interaction is a rare option as you’re all meeting virtually. But even if you and your team are just meeting online via video calls, there’s still plenty you can do to improve your communication skills.

Here are some tips for maintaining good communication while working remotely:

  1. Be Clear About What You Want

When you’re working remotely, it’s important to be crystal clear about what you want from others. This means being specific about what you need from them and why. For example, if you need someone to review your code, tell them exactly what they should check out. If you need feedback on a project idea, explain clearly what you think needs improvement. Being clear about what you want makes it easier for others to understand what you expect from them.

  1. Stay In Touch With Your Teammates

One way to maintain good communication is by staying in touch with your teammates. Whether you meet up in person or use an app like Slack, keeping in touch with your colleagues is one of the most effective ways to ensure you don’t miss anything important.

  1. Use Tools That Help You Manage Communications Better

If you find yourself struggling to get in touch with your teammates, then using tools that help you manage communications more effectively could be useful. These include apps such as Slack, Zoom, Trello, Asana, Basecamp, and JIRA. They allow you to share files, collaborate on tasks, and track progress easily.

  1. Schedule Regular Meetings

If you’re not used to scheduling regular meetings, then now may be the right time to start doing so. Scheduling regular meetings allow you to set aside time to talk to each other. It gives you a chance to catch up on what’s going on and plan ahead for upcoming deadlines.

  1. Keep Track Of Time Spent On Communications

It can be difficult to gauge how much time you spend talking to your teammates. So, it’s helpful to keep track of how long you’ve spent communicating with them. Using tools like Google Calendar, Trello, or Asana can help you see how much time you spend on different aspects of your job.

  1. Set Up A Meeting Agenda

A meeting agenda lets you cover topics quickly without wasting too much time on small details. It allows you to focus on the big picture instead of spending hours discussing every little thing. An agenda also helps you avoid missing important information.

  1. Share Information Online

Sharing information online is another great way to communicate with your team members. There are many options available including blogs, forums, wikis, and social media sites. The key here is to make sure you post relevant content that will benefit everyone involved.

  1. Ask Questions And Listen To Answers

Asking questions and listening to answers is a great way to stay connected with your teammates. When you ask questions, you give people the opportunity to express their opinions and ideas. Listening to these responses can help you learn new things and identify areas where you can improve.

  1. Be Open About What You Need From Others

When you’re working remotely, you’ll have to do some extra work to make sure you’re getting everything you need from your teammates. One way to do this is to be open about what you need from others. For example, if there’s something you need to be reviewed, let your coworkers know. Or, if you need feedback on a particular aspect of your project, say so. By being upfront about what you need, you’ll make it easy for others to understand what’s expected of them.

  1. Don’t Forget To Communicate!

Communication isn’t just limited to face-to-face conversations. In fact, email and instant messaging are two of the best methods for remote workers to stay in touch with their teammates. Email is a quick and efficient method of sharing information while instant messaging provides a more personal connection. Both of these methods can be used to send messages, schedule meetings, and even discuss projects.

  1. Make Sure Your Team Members Know How To Reach You

You should always include an e-mail address or phone number in all of your communication materials. This makes it easier for people to contact you when they have questions or concerns. Also, make sure you tell your teammates how to reach you during any scheduled meetings.

Some Of The Best Communication Tools for Remote Teams

There are many different types of tools available to help you communicate as a remote worker. Here are just a few:

Slack – Slack is a messaging app that allows teams to chat about topics like project updates, customer feedback, and more. If you want to learn more about Slack, check out our guide here.

Skype – Skype is another popular tool used by remote workers. It lets you video call up to 50 people simultaneously. To get started, sign up for an account here.

Google Hangouts – This is one of the most widely used tools for online collaboration. It has features similar to Skype but also includes group chats, file sharing, screen sharing, and more. Sign up for a free account here.

Teamwork Projects – This is a web application that makes it easier to collaborate with others. It provides a central place where you can store files, share them with others, and comment on them. You can use it to create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more. The service is completely free. Learn more here.

Zoom – Zoom is a video conferencing platform that works across desktop computers, mobile devices, and tablets. It supports up to 100 participants per meeting. You can use it for both personal and business purposes. Check out their website here.

Asana – Asana is a task management software that allows you to organize tasks into projects, assign them to individuals, and track progress. It also integrates with Google Drive so you can access all of your files from anywhere. Learn more about Asana here.

Basecamp – Basecamp is a project management tool designed specifically for small businesses. It offers several features including task tracking, calendar integration, and document storage. Learn more about Basecamp here.

Trello – Trello is a Kanban board that helps you plan and prioritize projects. It’s great if you need to break down large projects into smaller steps. Learn more about Trello here.

Basecamp – BasecampHQ is a cloud-based project management solution that combines email, task lists, calendars, and invoicing. It’s perfect for freelancers who want to manage multiple clients. Learn more about BaseCampHQ here.

GitHub – GitHub is a code repository that hosts open-source projects and private repositories. It’s a great way to share ideas and collaborate with others. Learn more about GitHub here.

Microsoft Office 365 – This is a suite of productivity apps that include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher, Access, and more. You can download these apps directly onto your computer or through the cloud. Learn more about Office 365 here.

Microsoft Teams – Microsoft Teams is a team communication platform that includes chat, voice calls, and video meetings. It’s built right into Windows 10. Learn more about Microsoft Teams here.

Hootsuite – Hootsuite is a social media dashboard that allows you to schedule posts, monitor mentions, and engage with followers. It’s an excellent tool for managing multiple accounts simultaneously. Learn more about Hootsuite here.

The Bottom Line

Communication should be a two-way street. If you’re working remotely, make sure you’re communicating effectively with your colleagues and clients. If you want an effective online collaboration or meetings with your team or co-workers, ensure that you can reach them and they can reach you also.

Although you are working remotely, teamwork can still be executed once you have a clear and good communication system in place. And the tips and suggestions mentioned above will help you get started on this journey.

Scroll to Top