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6 How to build relationships from a distance

Poor communication is often at the root of negative issues experienced in any workplace, but this is especially significant when remote working.

The next activity will help you to think about how you can encourage good communication from your colleagues.

Activity 4 Good communication

Timing: Allow about 10 minutes for this activity

Watch Shauna Moran from Operate Remote as she explains to leaders what is recognised as a key cause of frustration in remote teams.

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Transcript: Video 5

SHAUNA MORAN
Hi, guys. It's Shauna here from Operate Remote. And today, I want to speak to you about the number one cause of frustration that I see on remote teams. And that is not understanding what your expectations are and how you communicate them. So for example, what I often find with managers and leaders of remote teams is that they aren't fully aware of what they expect from their teams on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
This can be something as small as switching your video cameras on in a team meeting because this shows that you are engaged, bought in, and connected to the conversation that's happening in this virtual room. As a leader, I would say to you today to reflect on what those expectations are and then decide the reasons behind those expectations and how you're going to communicate that to your team. I'd love to hear your experiences below on understanding those expectations and how you've defined them for your remote team.
End transcript: Video 5
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Now make a note of the ways in which you could help your ‘leader’ to communicate better.

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Discussion

A key issue is lack of communication about key expectations, so you might have listed some of the following ideas:

  • asking your line manager or supervisor to clarify their expectations for your work
  • following up that conversation with an email summarising your understanding of their expectations and asking for confirmation that you have done so accurately
  • agreeing a daily or weekly point of contact where you can report on progress and ask for feedback/support etc.

In a workplace situation, both informal and professional communication are important in developing productive working relationships. You’ll start by looking at the benefits of informal interactions.