Essential Interpersonal Skills for Remote Work
Several statistics studies and research have been gaining popularity regarding remote work, listing its pros and cons.
However, one fact remains unchangeable it has been a challenge to build relationships, connections and virtually feel the camaraderie of the team spirit. It’s even more challenging for those joining a new organization remote not benefiting from the “meet and greet” with colleagues and peers in an in-person setting, gathering for a coffee break or lunches. A team member will feel left out unintentionally (I least, I hope it’s unintentional).
With that said, we must make improving interpersonal and communication skills a priority. You can focus on communication skills as you work remotely and take steps to consider as you interact and communicate virtually.
I like to call these are the manifesto of interpersonal & communication skills. Here are some that I thought might be of interest to you:
- Clear communication – It’s essential as you work virtually to remember the non-verbal cues aren’t as strong; therefore, it’s best to consider the clarity and outline your message’s details or ask.
- Develop a strong voice – whenever you are on video calls, be clear, concise, and show up with confidence in every interaction.
- Assume good intention – It is so easy to have miscommunication, especially when working remotely. First, don’t make assumptions. Second, if you feel misunderstood or mis-interrupted, handle these conversations via phone or video versus an email communication that might miss the mark and tone you are trying to convey.
- Timely response – to build trust and reliability among team members and managers and eliminate guesswork and anxiety, it is vital to respond promptly to emails, phone calls, and other communication efforts. It is the professional way of working, so they only get the information they need when you respond to them—keeping mind sharing relevant updates on projects, status reports, and tasks as needed without others having to ask for the information, keeping the lines of communication open and easy for moving the work forward and creating an environment that thrives with a sense of ease, efficiency, and productivity—minimizing the spin in getting to the information or accomplishing the targets.
- Build rapport – when you build interrelationships with colleagues in person, the same also applies when working remotely. It may definitely take longer and might not be easy for some, but it is very possible to do. Consider sending a check-in email or chat at the beginning of the day as if you are working in the same space. You may want to ask how they are doing or what they did over the weekend before diving into work talk and tasks. Let your team know your availability, for example, when you sign off early, go on vacation, or update your status online to show you are busy when you are in a meeting. These are simple steps to follow but powerful as it shows your professionalism and courtesy towards others.
- Learn communication preferences – not everyone has some communication styles; some prefer video calls, email, phone, or quick chats/text messaging. Shake up your communications media as not all situations require only one type of communication. Your discernment, intuition, and reading of the environment/room will guide you in determining the optimum way to handle communication preferences and styles, so be mindful and pay focus attention.
- Verbal conversation – don’t forget those that you can have via phone or even video calls. With so many technology options and platforms and adding different generational styles in communicating, many individuals carry an entire conversation over texting instead of doing it the old-fashioned way via a phone. This keeps the personal touch and connection alive and the lines of communication open versus cold, disconnected way using texts.
- Utilize team software – As mentioned earlier, technology has made it possible for everyone to be accessible and within reach by using options available to you to improve communication with your team members. Depending on the company’s internal resources, some use Zoom, Teams, Slack, or something similar as communication for projects, deadlines, tracking responsibilities, etc. Be sure to utilize the software that is expected and operationalized by our company.
In summary, working remote allows you to hone and enhance your interpersonal and communication skills with some of the above listed; this may benefit you in the long run as you will find yourself with a skill set that can positively impact many areas of your life. Be flexible, adaptable, and have a beginner’s mind in your approach. You will become versatile in no time with your interpersonal and communication skills.
