Every remote team has its own set of communication channels. Usually, they consist of email, chat, video/audio call, calendar, task tracking system, and knowledge base.
Most of these channels are asynchronous. But some companies tend to overuse chats and meetings the way they used to work in an office. It makes everyone's work synchronous and ineffective. Don't fall into this trap—use the power of asynchronous communication. The best remote teams can make decisions asynchronously, and it is much better because people can think their responses through.
- Meetings. Whenever possible, avoid them. Don't hesitate to skip unproductive group meetings. But if you absolutely need a call, make sure to define the meeting's scope, limit it in time (usually no more than one hour), and let people prepare for it.
- Writing. Become an excellent writer. Write work-related texts the way so that they can be reused or referenced. It includes emails, tasks, proposals, chats, knowledge base. Writing is an essential skill in remote communication.
- Pairing. Work together in a video call with a shared screen. Pairing sessions help to build relationships with colleagues. It's one of the most efficient ways to exchange expertise for remote teams.
- Socialize. Remote work lacks interpersonal interaction. Join virtual huddles for casual talk and fun, meet together in real life, organize company retreats.
Remote communication is hard. But when used right with awesome people, it can be as rich as more traditional in-office communication.