Michael Page Logo

Main menu

  • Home
  • NEW - Timesheet
  • Jobs+

    Searching for a job?

    • Job search
    • Submit your CV
    • Salary comparison tool
    • Income tax calculator
    • Featured employers

    Job search advice

    • Job search advice
    • Cover letter and CV advice
    • Growing your career
    • Job interview tips
    • Making your next career move
    • Global opportunities

    Search for jobs

  • Career advice+

    Career advice

    • Being happy at work
    • Career Chats - Podcast
    • Cover letter and CV advice
    • Graduate advice
    • Growing your career
    • Inclusivity Mapper
    • Job interview tips
    • Job search advice
    • Making your next career move
    • Tips for temps

    Salary centre

    • Salary centre
    • Salary advice
    • Salary tools

    Skills centre

    • Skills centre
    • Top 21 skills eBook
    • Top 100 skills tool
    • Skills Checker

    Popular articles

    • Popular articles
    • How to change careers during a pandemic
    • How to answer competency based interview questions
    • Optimising your CV for 2021
    • Top tips for working from home with others
    • Why are transferable skills so important?
  • Recruiting+

    Looking to hire?

    • Recruitment services
    • Request a call back
    • Reasons to partner with us
    • Advertising for candidate attraction
    • Salary benchmarking tool
    • Submit a job spec
    • Client testimonials

    Outsourcing/project recruitment

    • Outsourcing/project recruitment
    • Managed service provisions
    • Project solutions
    • Advisory
    • Outplacement/career transition
    • Future-proofing your talent pool in an uncertain market

    Insights

    • Webinars & events
    • Market analysis
    • Salary Guides
    • Webinars & events

    Management advice

    • Management advice
    • Attraction and recruitment
    • Development and retention
    • Diversity and Inclusion Centre
    • GDPR
    • IR35
    • Run your recruitment processes remotely
    • Upskilling, reskilling, and talent onboarding Ebook

    Recruitment expertise

    • Recruitment expertise
    • Discipline expertise
    • Industry expertise

    Request a call back

  • Work for us+

    Work for us

    • Work for us
    • Why choose us?
    • Your role here
    • Use your skills
    • Apply now
  • About+

    About us

    • About Michael Page
    • Recruitment services
    • News & research
    • Client testimonials
    • Reviews
  • Contact+

    Contact us

    • contact us
    • Find your local office
    • Request a call back
    • Submit a job spec
    • Submit CV
    • Timesheet portal
    • Feedback
  • Job match
Register / Sign in
Saved jobs (0)
Saved jobs (0)
Register / Sign in
Login or Sign up
Search for a job

You are here

Home>Advice>Management advice>Development and retention>The importance of communication when working remotely: Five helpful tips

The importance of communication when working remotely: Five helpful tips

by Michael Page
The importance of good communication

Effective communication is an essential tool in maintaining strong, lasting working relationships at all levels of an organisation. This is particularly true when operating remotely and navigating uncertain times. Employers that invest in delivering clear lines of communication will rapidly build trust amongst employees, leading to increases in productivity, output, and morale in general.


The global pandemic has brought communication into sharper focus in recent months, as a majority of teams are now operating entirely remotely. Poor communication, whether this is due to personal reasons or a lack of sufficient technology, will inevitably lead to unmotivated, ill-informed staff that may begin to question confidence in their abilities and eventually the organisation as a whole. 


Utilise the right technology to communicate effectively


There are many tools that businesses can use to promote effective communication when engaging with people virtually. Consider mixing it up when connecting with your team. 


Video conversations - Video communication allows face-to-face conversations with teams across the business. At a time when many businesses are operating entirely remotely and employees are spread out across different locations and time zones, this key to maintain a more human connection. Video conversations encourage effective collaboration and allow your staff to get to know each other better. While meeting in person is not a viable option, utilising this technology is a great way to have more personal discussions about how your people are feeling. 


Email - Communicating through email is a great way to track communications and keep relevant people in the loop. Even though many businesses operate through email, it is important to teach your teams the value of this tool. Email applications often act as the tool that ties businesses together, with comprehensive meeting calendars, address books, and organisational functions at the fingertips of your team members. However, ensure you are not over relying on email as comms tool. Often, key business messages can be better explained verbally.


Direct messaging - Email can be a great way to discuss wider projects. But, to make it easier for your employees to have fast conversations throughout the day, give them access to direct messaging tools such as Sametime or Skype. These tools give them the ability to have real-time conversations, without waiting for email replies and can be used for quick updates or informal catch-ups. 

Phone calls - This may seem obvious, but with the tools above being so readily available in the workforce today, people can often forget that they can have a phone conversation with each other, and prefer to send an email or video call instead. Encourage your teams to pick up the phone and speak to one another when they can; an email confirmation can always come afterwards if it is needed.


Five ways to promote open and effective lines of communication 


Beyond the technology available, there are five key areas where organisations can improve and enhance communication: 


Define goals and expectations - Managers should be delivering clear, achievable goals to individuals and their entire team. It is important to outline exactly what is required on any given project. This ensures that all staff are aware of the objectives of the project, the department, and the entire company. 


Deliver your message clearly - Delivering a clear message to your team will ensure that they completely understand what you want them to do, and your objectives for setting these tasks. Get your message across clearly without causing confusion or offence.
Choose the appropriate medium - It is important to figure out what you are going to say, and why, and that you choose the right medium. Take time to decide if an email, telephone call, or memo is the best way to get your message across.


Keep everyone involved - If you want effective communication to run throughout the entire organisation, you need to be accessible. Make sure that the lines of communication are kept open at all times. It will encourage open dialogue with you regularly. This is particularly important when managing with remote teams.


Listen to your team members - The ability to listen to your colleagues and take any suggestions or feedback that they give seriously is crucial. Real listening shows respect and allows you to learn about any outstanding issues you may need to address as an employer.

Effective communication in the workplace is an integral part of business growth and collaboration between professionals. If you would like to discuss how we can support your business at this time, get in touch with one of our specialist recruitment consultants today.

Previous article
Ten inexpensive but effective ways to motivate your staff
Ten inexpensive but effective ways to motivate your staff
by Michael Page
Read article
Next article
The value of managing absence
The value of managing absence
by Rob Archer
Read article

Get in touch

Get in touch

 

Topics

  • Career advice
  • Management advice
  • Salary centre
  • Insights

Access our Webinars & Events

 

 

Download our free eBook

 

 

Tags

Building relationships
Communication
Motivation
Productivity
Tips
Working relationships

Tweets from @michaelpag

Michael Page Logo
  • Follow us on FacebookFollow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on LinkedInFollow us on LinkedIn
  • Follow us on TwitterFollow us on Twitter
  • Watch us on YouTubeWatch us on YouTube

General

  • Site map
  • Site terms
  • Work for us
  • Feedback
  • Accessibility
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Employee rights
  • Cookies
  • Modern Slavery Statement
  • Privacy policy
  • Complaints policy
  • Country/Region

About Michael Page

  • Investors site
  • PageGroup corporate site
  • Page Executive
  • Page Personnel
  • Page Talent
  • Page Outsourcing

Search for jobs

  • Accounting
  • Audit & Advisory
  • Banking & Financial Services
  • Compliance
  • Construction
  • Consultancy, Strategy & Change
  • Digital
  • Engineering & Manufacturing
  • Executive Search
  • Facilities Management
  • Fashion
  • Health, Safety & Environment
  • Healthcare
  • Hospitality & Leisure
  • Human Resources
  • Insurance
  • Legal
  • Life Sciences
  • Logistics
  • Marketing & Agency
  • Not for Profit
  • Policy
  • Procurement & Supply Chain
  • Property
  • Public Sector
  • Retail
  • Sales
  • Tax
  • Technology
  • Treasury

Mobile applications

Download Our App Download Our App

Employers

  • Request a call back
  • Submit a job spec
  • Our offices

Awards

Reviews

Feefo logo

 

Accreditation

Michael Page is part of the PageGroup. Michael Page is a trading name of Michael Page International Recruitment Limited. Registered in England No. 04130921 Registered Office:
Page House, 1 Dashwood Lang Road, Addlestone, Weybridge, Surrey, KT15 2QW