Digital communication is essential for any organization, but especially for those with remote or hybrid teams. How can you keep your employees engaged, informed, and motivated through digital channels? In this article, we will explore some best practices and examples of digital communication case studies from different industries and sectors.
Before you launch any digital communication initiative, you need to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and how you will measure your success. Do you want to improve collaboration, productivity, or innovation? Do you want to foster a sense of belonging, recognition, or feedback? Do you want to align your employees with your mission, values, or culture? Depending on your goals, you will need to choose the most appropriate digital tools, platforms, and formats for your communication.
Think too about whether your organization is fully remote or hybrid. Approaches that might work well for one audience, won't for another. An event where some people are present physically and some attending virtually creates both practical challenges (audio, video, how to handle questions etc) and might not have the same impact for both types of attendees.
Not all employees have the same needs, preferences, or expectations when it comes to digital communication. Some may prefer email, while others may favor instant messaging or video calls. Some may want to receive frequent updates, while others may want to focus on their tasks. Some may enjoy social media, while others may find it distracting or intrusive. To avoid overwhelming or alienating your employees, you need to segment and personalize your communication based on their roles, interests, locations, or feedback. You can also use analytics and surveys to understand their behavior and satisfaction.
We provide our remote employees the ability to opt-in and be part of a Microsoft Teams channel specifically for those who choose to be remote, where they can find others who live in their same area, or talk with others globally and get tips and resources about working remotely successfully.
D'un commun accord avec ses collaborateurs : ● Identifier les contraintes qui poussent au télétravail ● Déterminer, éventuellement, les conditions et la durée du télétravail : horaires, réunions, les outils de communication de la team, le budget de la connexion (forfaits mobiles par ex)... ● Concevoir et mettre en ligne des outils / plateformes de suivi des actions et projets (Trello, Google Docs, Slack, fichier Excel personnalisé) ● Définir les objectifs par projet ou par client ainsi que les deadlines du delivery ● Si possible, mettre en place des incentives pour motiver davantage à la concentration des équipes ?? ● Pour les réunions d'équipe, déterminer la durée et l'ordre du jour à l'avance ??
Synchronous communication is when you interact with your employees in real time, such as through phone calls, video conferences, or live chats. Asynchronous communication is when you exchange messages or information without expecting an immediate response, such as through email, blogs, or podcasts. Both types of communication have their advantages and disadvantages, and you need to use a balanced mix of them to optimize your digital communication. Synchronous communication can enhance collaboration, rapport, and trust, but it can also cause interruptions, fatigue, or stress. Asynchronous communication can increase flexibility, efficiency, and autonomy, but it can also create confusion, isolation, or delays.
Using digital collaboration tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Asana to ensures that remote employees can stay connected and collaborate with their colleagues easily.
An example I've seen work well in blending synchronous and asynchronous communications is reserving synchronous communications, like 1:1 meetings with direct reports, to talk about issues like collaboration and rapport building, and layering in "pull style" asynchronous communications- e.g., dashboards- for more static updates on things like progress toward milestones.
The quality and relevance of your content is crucial for engaging your employees through digital communication. You need to create content that is informative, useful, and inspiring for your audience, and that reflects your brand identity and voice. You also need to use different formats and media to appeal to different learning styles and preferences, such as text, images, videos, audio, or interactive elements. Moreover, you need to keep your content fresh, timely, and consistent, and avoid sending too much or too little information.
Digital communication is not a one-way street. You need to involve your employees in the communication process and make them feel valued and heard. You can do this by encouraging them to share their opinions, ideas, or experiences, and by acknowledging and responding to their feedback. You can also create opportunities for them to interact with each other and build relationships, such as through online forums, groups, or events. Additionally, you can reward and recognize their contributions and achievements, and celebrate their milestones and successes.
Remote work is new for many of us, and most organizations are experimenting and learning as they go. When we share information with our remote employees, we always offer a way for them to provide feedback, whether through email or through a Microsoft Forms survey. We've found that remote employees appreciate the chance to share their voices and insights to help shape the best experience for them.
To encourage participation, it's important to celebrate successes and achievements. Establishing moments to acknowledge and celebrate both individual and collective successes is crucial. This can be done through virtual meetings, recognition emails, or collaborative platforms.
One of the best ways to improve your digital communication is to learn from the best practices and examples of other organizations that have successfully engaged their remote employees through digital channels. You can find many digital communication case studies and examples from different industries and sectors, such as technology, education, health care, or non-profit. You can also look for inspiration from your own employees, customers, or partners, and ask them for their feedback and suggestions. By learning from the best, you can adapt and innovate your digital communication to suit your own goals and needs.