Workplace communication has long been a vital component of any successful business practice. Just because your team is no longer in the office together all the time doesn’t mean team communication has to suffer.
The solution? Overcommunication. When you live by the policy of communicating too much, your team is much more likely to avoid potential communication breakdowns and overcome feelings of disconnection. Keep reading for some tips on how to make a policy of overcommunication easy.
1. Clearly Communicate Team Scheduling
If your hybrid team members are dividing their time between home and the office, find a way to make everyone’s in-office schedule known to the team. This can help your team contact each other and schedule meetings more easily. If seating is limited in your office — common among many hybrid workplaces — it will also be helpful for your team to know the office capacity before they go into the office.
Calendar invites are a great way for everyone to communicate their in-office and remote days. For example, if you work remotely Tuesdays and Thursdays, you can invite your team to a recurring meeting titled with your name and the word “remote” for Tuesdays and Thursdays. Just make sure to designate the event as an all-day event and mark the slot as “free” so that it doesn’t crowd your team members’ calendars. Scoop’s hybrid workplace platform can also be used to help teams see where everyone else is working and manage desk reservations at any given time.
2. Establish Team Workplace Communication Norms
Make it crystal-clear how your team communicates by writing it up as a team norms document. Work with your team to establish which communication tools (email, Slack, text, etc.) are best for which purposes. This can help promote better collaboration as well as reduce feelings of overwhelm, which can result when virtual communication tools are used inappropriately.
3. Keep Your Team Well Informed
During times of transition, such as the current shift to the post-pandemic hybrid workplace, the way leaders communicate to their team can make the difference between employees feeling engaged or feeling disconnected. Update your team frequently on company news including performance, organizational changes, or any relevant strategic initiatives. They’ll appreciate the transparency and feel more included. Likewise, ask your team members regularly how they’re doing, both at work and personally, and pass on any relevant feedback to leadership.
Overcommunication: The Key to Hybrid Workplace Communication
Managing change often comes with its challenges. With clear, consistent, transparent overcommunication, you can help reinforce the vision and goals of your company and make sure your team not only stays in alignment but is also happy and engaged.
