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Communication is a double-edged sword, the way you use it can create wonders or mayhems.<br>Till now, companies have poured billions into collaborative office spaces, but due to the current circumstances, they are forced to look at alternatives.<br>Let us check out some simple yet powerful ways to promote teaming and collaboration.
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Due to the current pandemic, almost all service industries across the globe have implemented work-from-home policies. Although these are necessary steps to flatten the curve, remote work and social distancing have put a strain on teams. Till now, companies have poured billions into collaborative office spaces, but due to the current circumstances, they are forced to look at alternatives. Let us check out some simple yet powerful ways to promote teaming and collaboration.
Communication When working from home, we feel insecure and instinctively place communications at a higher tier. We start to make excessive calls and chats, draining our time and causing additional frustration. Communication is a double-edged sword, the way you use it can create wonders or mayhems. What to communicate? When working remotely, we should make effective use of the time to stay in sync with everyone. But make sure to value other people’s priorities and constraints as remote working has brought in its own share of the problems.
Within the team, hoarding of information and sabotages should be discouraged instead promote a positive mindset and encourage sharing. It builds trust and improves the performance of the whole group. Read- How to keep a positive mindset? How to communicate? First and foremost, select a tool that suits your organizational need as the primary source of communication. Having multiple channels can create delays or cause miscommunication. Example: If your team is using a WhatsApp group for updates and someone sends a mail to create a separate thread, your team will get confused. Sometimes these separate conversations will even branch off in totally different directions When your primary mode of communication is inadequate, mention the alternative and continue the conversation from there.
Mediums of Communications Video Conferencing Videos conferencing helps build personal connections faster because you can see each other. It doesn’t mean that all meetings should be video-enabled but at least incorporate one in a week to create strong bonds within the team. Video calls are best for brainstorming sessions or to share your hearts and minds, but not as effective when it comes to focusing on solving problems quickly.
Chats Every team should have a chat corner where you can share about anything, be it a new series, technical doubts, or updates. It helps the team to be connected, but make sure not to bombard it with unnecessary forwards and spoil the charm. Conference Call Share the agenda for the call in advance so that everyone will know what to expect. Prepare for the meetings and be watchful about the time. The organizer should orchestrate in a way that helps the audience absorb the content and understand the expectations clearly. Document the discussion and distribute the points to all the participants so that everyone will be on the same page.
Appreciation When we were at the office, it was easy to pop your head over to the next cubicle and say, “Hey great job out there” or thank someone during the coffee time With remote working, It is no longer possible still the power of appreciation and gratitude should not be taken lightly. According to psychologist and author Paul white, “Everyone has their preferred way of receiving praise and acknowledgment.”
Here are some of the ways of expressing appreciation and gratitude Personal Appreciation Note Bring your appreciation to their inbox. It can be a personalized message or an e-card. Shout outs Call out the small and the big wins. Thank each other’s support in mails marking other members or using group channels. If you are in a position to nominate for awards do so to bring in a big smile Face to Face time Celebrate the successful completion of milestones or solving the critical issue in a Face to Face meetings like the video conferences.
Respect Respect and value each other’s contributions Expresses and listen to other member’s ideas and suggestions. When everyone trusts each other, micromanagement will not be present. The right kind of support If anyone within the team needs support, do not hesitate to cover their back. Teams should feel like “We” instead of “I” at all times, be it good or bad. No finger pointing In the case of escalations or setbacks, instead of blaming and pointing fingers at each other, face it head-on as a team
Spend some quality time Spend some quality time with the team, and ensure that everyone gets valued and acknowledged for the efforts they put in. Flexi working hours A nice reward like signing off a bit early after a hard work week lets the team blow some steam and enjoy their time. Whatever way you choose, showing genuine appreciation and gratitude is what matters.
Team Collaboration Being an HR, recently I have met with a team that had demanding customers, stringent deadlines, and limited resources. The team was in a crisis despite that they were able to deliver quality service. The team members said that “It is tough, but we are happy to be part of this team,” which was a true definition of a strong team. There are few ground rules to be followed to have great teams like this
Conclusion The current situation will pass, and the future is bright. No matter what you choose to do, ensure that you keep the team’s morale high A team is not a group of people working together. A team is a group of people who trust and support each other. Thank You!! Related stories from @The Lessons Guy How to improve work life balance How to deal with difficult people at work Ways to make virtual learning effective for kids
