The key to the smooth operation of any company — remote, hybrid or in person — is getting everyone in the company on the same page and ensuring they have access to the same resources. With a remote company, however, this is especially vital, as team members can be in different locations and even different time zones, making effective communication an even more challenging task.
Having a solid internal communications strategy comes into play here. According to the members of Young Entrepreneur Council, the following eight tips can help you and your team create an effective internal communications strategy and ensure everyone has the information they need to succeed.
8 Tips to Improve Your Remote Team’s Internal Communications Strategy
- Create a company wiki page.
- Set up designated Slack channels.
- Know your team’s preferred communication style.
- Host a short weekly meeting.
- Beat the time zone hurdle.
- Stick to the same software.
- Determine what is truly essential.
- Design a company newsletter.
1. Create a Company Wiki Page
Whether the company has 10, 100 or even 1000 employees, the proper organizational structure needs to be in place so that everyone will know where to go if they have a problem, question or feedback. I would create a company wiki page that communicates what the company is doing; the mission, vision and goal; the organization chart and directory; and office policies and procedures. — Jay Dahal, Machnet
2. Set Up Designated Slack Channels
One way to keep everyone on the same page is to create designated Slack groups for discussions. For example, we have a marketing channel for all our employees with marketing-related roles. Sharing the right information with each group keeps everything running smoothly and ensures our teams all have access to the resources they need to do their best work. — John Brackett, Smash Balloon LLC
3. Know Your Team’s Preferred Communication Style
You have to know what your team’s communication style is. Are they good at writing? Better with chats? How about tools or task coordination? Do they prefer calls? Love one-on-one meetings? Or are they the best in video calls? Know what their style is and adjust accordingly, giving everyone an opportunity to learn, but at the same time, communicating through their style as well. — Daisy Jing, Banish
4. Host a Short Weekly Meeting
Internal communications are important regardless of whether your company is remote or in-person. My best tip is to have a short meeting once a week where each department can give updates. The goal is to keep it short and sweet. I think it’s a great way to just make sure everyone is on the same page. — John Hall, Calendar
5. Beat the Time Zone Hurdle
One of the biggest challenges for remote workers is working in different time zones from their boss or team. This arrangement is difficult for productive, synchronous communication. To circumvent this problem, settle on a single check-in time and use this time for team communication by scheduling meetings, one-on-one and team chats, progress, guidelines and changes for the day and week at this time. — Tonika Bruce, Lead Nicely, Inc.
6. Stick to the Same Software
One of the best ways to keep everyone on the same page is to have everyone use the same cloud-based communication software, whether Slack, Asana, Skype or another familiar program that everyone can access. This ensures everyone gets messages and has access to the information they need. If you’re using too many channels, some people may miss essential memos. — Kalin Kassabov, ProTexting
7. Determine What Is Truly Essential
With remote work, communication becomes more important than ever. An effective communication strategy first involves determining what information is pertinent and what is not. Haphazard sharing may be a tempting overcorrection, but that could overwhelm the team by burying the most important information. Thoughtfully determining what is essential to share is the first key step. — Akshar Bonu, The Custom Movement
8. Design a Company Newsletter
My tip is to create a weekly or monthly newsletter. This document can be a great way to keep everyone updated about what’s going on in the company, and it can also be a place to share announcements or important information. By having a solid internal communications strategy, you can ensure that everyone is on the same page and that important information is not lost in the shuffle. — Blair Williams, MemberPress
