Geographically spread-out teams are now more and more common, but this has created a new management challenge: how to supervise employees in different locations and across time zones. In this week's ⚡#QuickLearning presentation, our education & training organisation, Synergy Learning, provides you with 4 communication top tips to successfully manage people in different places in order to better work together: ➜ Set expectations ➜ Regularly check-in with your team ➜ Encourage informal interactions ➜ Make everyone feel like a part of the team Implementing these communication standards effectively in your organisation will ensure you build a culture of trust, and clear lines of communication. --- All of Synergy Learning's ⚡#QuickLearning presentations can be read in 5 minutes or less, and are designed to help you instantly gain useful professional communication skills. To learn more about any of these topics and for the full presentation, consider joining one of Synergy Learning's #ProfessionalEnglish programmes, online or in person! www.facebook.com/synlearning

1. Communication
skills for remote
management
1© Synergy Learning 2018

2. Communicating
to improve engagement
2
It has been said that communication is ‘the oxygen of a distributed company’:
companies that have remote workers need good communication strategies in order to
succeed.
1. Setting expectations: communicate targets and clear accountability for them. Also
highlight how people fit into the big picture of where the company is going.
 Worst case: ‘At a minimum, we want to accomplish…’
 Best or ideal case: ‘In the best case scenario, you would...’
 Average case: ‘Overall, we will be happy if you can…’
2. Arranging moments for check-in communication: make sure to include clear
deliverables and follow-ups (and check that everyone understands these)
 ‘We would like to review this deliverable with you at the same time next week’
 ‘Let’s connect again in two days to review your product roadmap’
© Synergy Learning 2018

3. Communicating
to improve engagement
3
3. Encouraging impromptu interaction: you have the responsibility to facilitate non-
professional communication too, so people can bond more closely. This requires nurturing
a culture of ‘familiarity’ in communication
 Address people informally with ‘hi’, ‘hey’, or ‘how’s it going?’ and use first names
 Use pleasantries like ‘nice to see you’ or ‘it’s been ages since we caught up’
4. Using language that makes others feel part of the team: adopt inclusive vocabulary,
mention commonality of your goals, and make sure people feel recognised and valued
 Try to use ‘we’ and ‘our’ before ‘I’ and ‘my’ when conveying team reports
 Use words and phrases like ‘shared’, ‘big-picture’, or ‘common objectives’
 ‘I’d like to draw everyone’s attention to [NAME’s] work’, ‘I’d like to take a moment to
acknowledge the great work of [NAME]’, or ‘please join me in saying thank you to
[NAME]’
© Synergy Learning 2018

4. Look out for our online
learning materials and
our other classes!
© Synergy Learning 2018 4
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