A dedicated space within the home and a good routine are essential when it comes to remote working, according to researchers from BI Norwegian Business School.
Whether we live in rented accommodation or our own homes, many of us are now having to learn how to work effectively and efficiently from within our living spaces.
Professor Sut I Wong and associate professor Gillian Warner-Søderholm, from the Department of Communication and Culture, have outlined five tips for better communication when working remotely during this global pandemic:
1. Establish a good routine on how to share information on digital platforms so people don’t get drowned in too much information.
2. Set up regular interaction points every day, such as morning coffee Skype or Zoom meetings or digital lunch breaks to connect with other team members for knowledge sharing, feedback, or just to catch-up socially.
3. Agree on what it means to be a good digital colleague – clarity combined with respect – who does what: clarify responsibilities each team member has while working from home.
4. Celebrate group achievements and company news by sharing a digital message or snap to the team.
5. Encourage transparency and inclusion – it is easy to forget to include all members in the chats, so encourage debriefings and discussions in teams, even digitally.
This advice follows their study which found remote workers communicate substantially less with colleagues and managers when working from home and were often left feeling helpless about their work.
Subsequently, they may feel unsure about their tasks or how to coordinate with other team members.
A sense of ambiguity sets in leaving them feeling at a loss in regards to motivation and feeling connected.
During a crisis, such as the coronavirus pandemic, people are also struggling with the fear of getting sick, the practicalities of a lock-down, and uncertainty surrounding the future.
Teams need to set up a “digital water cooler” – a social online interaction point for team members to hangout and compensate for lack of physical interaction.
Daily communication with remote colleagues and managers is even more important in such stressful times: it helps people stay connected and feel part of their work community.
This avoids feelings of loneliness, boosts confidence in work, and maximises team productivity.
Good communication leads to better understanding of individual tasks as well as improved coordination among members in the teams.
