Body language on a screen?

With remote working becoming the norm, many businesses have switched to video conferencing to communicate, connect and collaborate.

For the past few months at Xero, in place of face-to-face client workshops, we’ve been delivering client training through webinars and have seen a fantastic response with many people wanting content and information on how to best adapt to the current conditions. We’ve also recorded and produced free educational content and courses to help small businesses during these challenging times, covering topics like business continuity planning, accessing government funding and more.

While it gives us a great way to share and connect, one of the challenges of virtual meetings is the ability to make more personal, one-on-one connections.

Certainly, for those who are starting a new job while working from home I empathise with the difficulties they face when it comes to establishing relationships and bonding with new colleagues.

When we’re together in person, body language plays a big part in how we communicate. For example, a team huddling together when brainstorming and discussing ideas emanates positive vibes that can get others pumped up. And we can definitely tell when someone is excited through the way eyes light up when talking about what they like or have an interest in, I’ve always found this a great way to get to know someone.

There is a link between a positive sense of belonging and our ability to function effectively. So how can we form strong connections and relationships virtually whether you are starting a new job, trying to establish a connection and trust with new clients, or engaging and motivating your current team and direct reports? 

I would like to share some tips in building trust virtually.

Turn on video

Body language and tonality makes up 93% of communication, and only 7% of what you said verbally makes it part of the equation. Make it a habit to turn on your video during virtual meetings so people can see your face. Better still, make videos the default setting. Sit back to show hand gestures, and have your camera at eye level which helps give the sense that you are talking directly to someone. Be acutely aware of your facial expressions, and smile! 

Also, though you think you are being subtle, your audience can easily tell when you are not actively listening, and working on other tabs during a meeting, which can come across as being inattentive and does not help when it comes to building trust!  

Become a social butterfly

There is no shortcut to it, you just have to invest more time and take a proactive approach when establishing connections with new colleagues. Reach out to them to set up regular meetings and catch-ups, and ask them to turn on video too. Mark yourself available on calendars so they can book your time for meetings easily, which helps to build your presence. This can also apply to clients and partners, albeit with a slightly different frequency. 

While discussing work is probably a must in these sessions, try to build rapport by asking open-ended questions so you could learn more about team dynamics. If you see something interesting in their video background, ask them about it. Another idea is to switch to a less serious corner of the house when joining internal meetings, which gives your colleagues a chance to ask questions about you.

Share learnings 

Showing empathy and keeping an open mind is probably the most important soft skill as we ride out the pandemic. Remote working poses a lot of challenges to people who don’t have a dedicated space like a study room where they could focus. 

If you are a new team member, be flexible about the way your colleagues communicate, some might prefer video calls, and some prefer sending messages and emails. Try to be accommodating to established habits. Once your team has warmed up to you, make yourself easily accessible to your colleagues by sharing learnings and taking on roles such as becoming the mediator when joining meetings over video calls or consolidate conversations you’ve had with different individuals on the same project so that everyone stays on the same page. Though not as direct as body language, it is a way of showing your sensitivity and kindness.

The reality is that the world has changed and for many of us remote working will become a greater part of the way we operate. We’re all going to need to build a new set of ‘soft skills’ that enable us to build trusted and valued relationships with colleagues and clients that we may have never met in person.

The thing about soft skills is that they can be really hard to build, we need to adapt and work hard on this!

Now is the time to think about what the communication approach would look like as remote working may stick and flexible working arrangements are here to stay. Are you ready to make adjustments to your habits to build a more resilient team and business post-COVID? 

To access more supporting resources for SMEs, please visit our Business Continuity Hub.