Let's Chat About Communication
I’m a talker. I know that comes as a shock to those of you who know me. But we're humans, and communicating elevated us to where we are today. And miscommunication is often why that's a hot mess. At work, in our relationships, and in our communities. Maybe I'm a dreamer, but it doesn't have to be like this. The key to better communication is often setting expectations. And how do we do that? By talking and talking and talking. Oh! And listening! I always forget about listening.
Looking back...
Recently we’ve had some really good discussions about work ethic, burnout, work/life balance, and other related topics. And as you probably figured out, there’s a central theme of poor communication in all of these challenges. So how can we turn this weakness into a strength?
First, we have to acknowledge that for better or worse, how we work has forever changed. Talented folks are going to work from the location of their choice. That ship has sailed, so let's move on.
Instead, let's focus on how our communication practices should change to enable a high level of work excellence and a high degree of engagement.
Make New Habits
It bums me out, but those hallway chats aren’t coming back for most of us. So we're going to have to make an effort to duplicate that experience as best we can. For those leading teams, we need to create new touchpoints with our people, which means not just reaching out when we want something. Instead, regularly ask how people are doing, share a fun meme or a funny story. Don't force it, but when there's an opportunity to be human together, take it.
Set Clear Expectations
While some managers worry that “remote work” is code for “sitting in front of the TV not actually working,” the team might feel that it means “work is now 24/7 and you should respond to emails regardless of the hour.” If this new work environment is going to succeed, both sides need to come to an understanding of what exactly is expected. It might be an agreement that between 9 and 5 responses need to be prompt. There are a few “core hours” set aside for meetings and other collaboration. And there are set times to get work done. All of which may vary by the individual, the time zone, and what you're producing.
Whatever it looks like for your company, you need to make sure everyone is on the same page.
Be Flexible
There are always going to be exceptions. For managers, this means you’ll occasionally have an urgent need (the site is down!) and have to connect with the team outside normal hours. For the team, someone may be offline because of a sick child or a personal emergency. Those exceptions, of course, should be just that -- exceptions. If you consistently require communication outside of work hours, you need to make changes in the form of revised client expectations or adding more talent. I can't imagine you enjoy working all the time either.
The key to all of this is to make sure both sides are talking about communication, as meta as that sounds. A lot of us got where we are by sacrificing personal time to get things done, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right approach. As long as everyone understands what to expect from each other, we can get our work responsibilities done during normal biz hours.