Although COVID-19 has virtually seen to the end of office culture, communication in the workplace (or, perhaps now: digital workspace) is still ever-important. The world of work has drastically changed in the past two and a half years since the first global lockdown, and today, more and more companies are undergoing a digital transformation. The displacement of people in the workforce from an in-person office to remote work has resulted in a new form of communication and collaboration, across the screen.
In this new context, a work environment is actually more easily accessible to employees from home. Via a laptop, tablet or mobile phone, companies are able to connect directly with their employees from wherever they are. Their documents and tools (task management, meetings, social network and agenda) are all unified in one centralized, cloud-based place.
And as people refocus and adapt to this new work pattern, expectations are also changing. Employers are demanding an increase in productivity, while employees look for an innovative work environment that will also encourage their well-being. In an ideal digitized work scenario, employees use internal communication to progress together and take advantage of each other’s strengths to solve problems quicker. In some ways, Zoom calls can grant more space to every individual, as only one person can speak at a time; the same goes for a traditional form of office hierarchy that measures employee importance by who sits where in the conference room, as everyone is now behind an identical screen. To maintain a level of coworker connection and company identity from far away, it’s important to be intentional about your digital experience.
Social cues are more easily understood in a physical environment, so working from home can lead to misunderstanding. Without seeing your boss’s office door closed while they’re bent over their computer, you might not know that they’re stressed; without seeing a group of colleagues chatting quietly in the breakroom you probably won’t know there’s gossip floating around the office; or without seeing the newbie struggling to get their work done by the end of the day you wouldn’t know to lend a helping hand. And for those who don’t enjoy remote work, video and phone calls can be emotionally draining. Miscommunication can run rampant online without the right arrangements in place.
Gone are the days to “never mix business with pleasure,” as this modernized work environment requires us to literally open our doors to corporate culture. To monitor your mental welfare and work productivity while fusing your personal and work life, communication is a great start. So, where to begin?
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Boundaries
It’s important to find an open setting for you to work at home where you’ll feel comfortable jumping on a call or a Zoom meeting with your team without being overheard or interrupted. As far as your roommates-turned-officemates go, negotiating terms for work hours is a benefit to all parties. In an email or over a face-to-face call, let your employees know when you’ll be reachable and what they can expect from you. The traditional office was an inherently social place, and ensuring your part in that built-in social network will require you to voice what you’d like to participate in.
Trust
Confidence in your value at your company will grant you the freedom to improve your performance even further. Employees work best when their boss has their best interest at heart and provides a sense of safety – for them to share their ideas, express concern or ask for help. This can be difficult to accomplish digitally, so it’s up to managers to put structure in place to prioritize the needs of their team. This could be as simple as letting people know that your “Zoom door is always open” for conversation, or setting up weekly check-in meetings to run through what is and what is not working for everyone.
Emails
Articulating a message while maintaining professionalism is a skill in today’s digital landscape, as navigating office politics has always been a feat. A colleague’s work email address shouldn’t be a place for you to get some things off your chest (especially if they concern someone else at your company). In these instances, let the anger retreat before you click send. Feelings may be temporary, but an email thread is forever.
Respect the chain of command
Using the ‘cc’ tool on an email as a power play isn’t the way to fix a minor matter. Prioritize resolving issues together instead of going over someone’s head to make yourself look better (or to make them look worse). And if you find yourself on the receiving end of a suspiciously cc’d email, mention that you can handle it and they should communicate with you directly rather than involve others.
Integrate new tools
As information grows across platforms and new software tools, people can create their own content. To make sure that your information reaches your intended audience, try implementing two-way, personalized communication tools. Besides the digital toolbox you use for your job functions, identify ones you can use strictly to communicate with your colleagues. Think Slack, Zoom and Google Drive. These systems provide fast, casual ways to interact and exchange ideas without having to sign off with a “Sincerely.”
Lead with empathy
As a general rule of thumb for life, demonstrating care for others creates trust, honest relationships, collaboration and empowerment. Beyond your traditional obligations, you may benefit from going out of your way to check in on people’s headspaces and how they are coping with daily changes. As employees seek a sense of belonging, the leaders who engage teams the best are the ones who rise to the challenge of promoting equity and supporting personal well-being as a fundamental component of business.
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Maneuvering the changes in the workplace can make anyone feel out of control, so building a foundation of connectivity and support will deliver a healthy culture for everyone involved. Your teammates are your biggest assets, so stay connected with the people you work with beyond department or geography. Thankfully, you can enhance communication with these suggestions. It might only take one.
