Several tools can help improve virtual team performance, such as a virtual office background. Still, all the tools in the world will not improve team performance as effectively as communication. You must have relatively excellent communication skills to run a successful team in a virtual environment. That said, communication skills go beyond the team lead. Team members must also have strong communication skills to ensure team performance. There are approximately five steps or techniques to improve team communication.
1. Having Regular Check-Ins
Team members must maintain regular communication with their team lead. You can help with this by ensuring regular weekly check-ins with individual team members. During the check-ins, you should ask about the current project, any issues, how the team member feels about their workload, and anything else that seems pertinent to the situation.
Regular check-ins give you the opportunity to take the temperature of your team. You can analyze stress levels and how performance is measuring up to project goals and deadlines. All this information ensures an ongoing dialogue between you and your team members.
2. Leaving Cameras On
Finding an office background free online can help unify the virtual workspace for your team, but it doesn’t always encourage team performance. If you want to encourage performance, instruct all team members to leave cameras on during meetings. Allowing members to turn off cameras enables multi-tasking, and it cuts down on the information that gets through during essential meetings. You do not speak to hear your own voice, and neither do your team members, so keep cameras on to ensure focus and participation.
3. Accepting Feedback
Improving communication is also about finding areas where you can improve. Ask your team to provide feedback on your meeting style. Ask for suggestions for improvements. You want to find ways for your team to open up and be honest about what they need from you to understand their responsibilities more than they do or to reach out and receive direct responses when necessary. Sometimes, managers are so focused on improvements their teams can make that they forget they are also fallible.
4. Establishing Communication Guidelines
A branded Zoom background can create a team feeling, but only direct communication improves team camaraderie. When working with a team, you should establish clear communication guidelines or directives. Team members must know that when working for you, they are valued.
Guidelines should include contact information and response times. Also, you should stipulate any preferred contact methods, such as cell phone, email, or text.
5. Discussing Communication Preferences
Managers are not the only ones who may have communication preferences. Before emailing or calling individual team members, figure out how they prefer to be contacted. Taking the steps to find out contact or communication preferences can help with team unity and transparency.
Communication is crucial to teamwork and virtual or remote atmospheres. The above techniques can help you develop stronger communication within your team. If you feel like you need more information or support, contact a remote work consultant.
