Fax is a thing of the past; although you may still rely on this form of technology to send important documents, most companies won’t use it to send a quick message. There are far more convenient and personal ways to communicate with your remote employees.
Try incorporating some of these methods into your communication strategy to build a sense of community with your remote team.
Slack
Slack is a collaboration software that allows employers to create group chats for various teams. These can be companywide or specific to a particular division. Users can also send private messages.
In addition, Slack has a smartphone app that your employees can download on their phones to always keep the conversation going.
Google Hangouts
Schedule your next meetings with remote employees through Google Hangouts. As part of the Google suite, Hangouts allows you to have real-time video calls while sharing information from other Google apps, including Gmail and Google Drive. Share a presentation from Slides or link to a document without leaving your video call.
Employees will love how convenient and integrated Hangouts is compared to older methods like Skype.
Group Texts
Small businesses usually have a more casual atmosphere, which means businesses can be coordinated through a simple text message. Many mobile providers offer plans for small businesses, and other services offer SMS services tailored for small businesses’ needs.
Apps like WhatsApp can also make it easier to keep all of your remote employees accessible and interconnected.
Personal Emails
The email isn’t dead, but it is an art form that requires a little finesse to make an impact in 2019. Make sure that your emails are personal and connect with each recipient. Chain emails are cumbersome and can quickly misconstrue a message; stick to email for personal communication. If you ever need to have a conversation with two or more people at the same time, take it to a group chat where people can collaborate more easily.
Staying in Touch with Remote Teams
Managing a team of remote employees can be tricky; you might struggle to feel like you’re really making a connection if your only communication is via text. For this reason, you should also strive to hold video meetings at least twice a month and make sure that you include plenty of one-on-one conversations.
Remote employees perform critical roles in a company, but the lack of physical presence can make them to feel disconnected and unappreciated. Stronger communication channels will help resolve this and ensure that everyone in your company is always on the same page.
