Categories: Business

The Secret To Effective Communication When Working Remotely

Whether it’s because of a new job or a remote team, working remotely is on the rise. Whether you’re used to being in an office or not, communicating with your remote coworkers regularly can be challenging. That’s why we’ve put together this list of tips to help make sure that your communications are productive and clear—and that they don’t lead to miscommunication or hurt feelings.

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Get Straight To The Point In Email

Use the subject line to summarize the email.
Use bullet points to make it easy to skim.
Be clear and direct in your tone. Don’t be overly formal or passive, but don’t be informal either—aim for a professional tone that is friendly and positive, even if you are giving negative feedback.

Use Emojis Sparingly

Emojis can be a great way to express emotion in a written communication, but they should never be used in formal emails or meetings. They also shouldn’t be used in formal documents.

Focus On What You Both Agree On, Not What You Disagree On

When it comes to communicating with your team, the key is to focus on what you both agree on, not what you disagree on. This is where most remote workers get tripped up. If someone says or does something that rubs you the wrong way, it’s easy to focus on that—but then we lose sight of all the positive things they do and say as well!

Instead of getting bogged down by how someone else does something differently than you would like them to do it or how they said something that could have been phrased differently, focus instead on what you agree with them about.

Offer Constructive Criticism As Early As Possible

When you’re working remotely, it’s easy to get caught up in what you’re doing and forget about the rest of your team. This can lead to frustration for everyone involved—not only because it means that work isn’t getting done as quickly as it should, but also because no one feels like they’re being heard.

To avoid this problem and ensure that everyone on your team feels included, offer feedback to other people on your team as early as possible. This will allow them to make improvements while they still have time and energy left over from their regular responsibilities. The earlier in a project you provide constructive criticism, the better off everyone is going to be!

Don’t Give Feedback That’s Too Critical Or Specific

It can be difficult to give feedback, especially when you work remotely. When you’re not able to see your coworkers face to face, it’s easy to fall into the trap of focusing on what you disagree with rather than what you agree on. You should avoid this at all costs—instead of nitpicking small details and ideas, focus on what both parties agree upon and build from there.

Give your coworker feedback as early as possible in order to get the most out of their ideas without having time constraints or other factors getting in the way. Additionally, make sure that any feedback is given in private settings so that conversations remain positive; if something needs clarification or further explanation afterward then consider scheduling an hour each week where everyone can come together for a quick meeting (or series of meetings) where issues can be addressed openly and safely.

You Can Be Direct And Positive At The Same Time

If you want to be effective in communication, make sure that you are specific and direct. However, don’t make it personal. It’s okay if someone doesn’t understand what you’re saying or why you said it—they’ll learn over time. Just because someone doesn’t get a joke or share your sense of humor doesn’t mean they aren’t as good as you or don’t deserve respect; every person on the planet is different!

When giving feedback, think about how much criticism people need before they get better at something. You can always give more feedback later—if needed—but remember that too much criticism can lead others away from wanting help from you again in future situations where they may need assistance because they feel like there isn’t room for improvement within themselves yet (eagerness).

Conclusion

We hope these tips help you communicate more effectively when working remotely. Remember, it’s not about perfect grammar or how well you speak the language, but how clear your message is and how much you care about understanding each other.