Stay Connected by Mastering Communication With Your Remote Team

Remote work opportunities have completely changed the professional landscape, especially in industries like IT where top talent has decided to step away from the cubicle and into the new opportunities found in remote work environments. It’s estimated that 50% of Americans work remotely – a number that is even higher in the tech industry.

Perks of Remote Work

As an IT professional looking to gain experience and make the next major career leap, remote work offers opportunities to work with new companies or on exciting projects without the issue of geographical barriers. Remote workers can find more opportunities to advance their careers and benefit from working with more diverse teams.

With all the benefits of remote work, there can be a few challenges as well. When you’re working as part of a team, the perks of remote work – such as flexibility and independence – can become downfalls to communication if you and your team aren’t on the same page. Thankfully, the solutions to these pain points are easy to solve. Here’s how.

Make Communication a Priority

Communication is by far one of the biggest challenges for remote workers. When you’re working in an office environment, it’s fairly easy to bounce ideas off a co-worker or ask management directly for advice. In a remote work environment, it can feel like everyone is scattered and communication between the team falls short.

Try these easy tactics for reducing communication challenges for your team:

• Meet regularly throughout the week. Have designated days and times when everyone on the team is available for a group chat.
• Keep good notes. If something comes up and you’re unable to reach someone, make sure to make a note of it. Brings these notes to your team chats.
• Use collaboration tools efficiently. Collaboration tools help keep everyone on task and updated on progress, which is especially important for teams with members on opposite sides of the world.
• Find the communication sweet spot. A little trial and error can help you discover the best communication method for your team.
• Don’t forget to pat your fellow team members on the back and give recognition for a job well done.

Build Trust

Remote work isn’t for everyone – especially those without a sense of direction or self-discipline. This means remote teams are usually made up of individuals with exceptionally high standards. This is normally a great thing, but it’s a trait that can lead to some team members trying to micromanage the entire project.

This approach can be disastrous on many fronts. Trust that your fellow team members have been brought onto the project because their skills and expertise align with the qualifications in the same way yours do. If a problem does exist, take it to management.

Are You Ready To Work Remote?

Are you ready to for a new, exciting remote career opportunity? We partner with companies across the U.S. that are looking for someone just like you. We’re here to place you in your ideal remote work environment. Contact nTech Workforce today and see where the future takes you.