1 / 44

Conquering the Remote Team Communication Flow

Conquering the Remote Team Communication Flow. MaryKay Grueneberg November 12, 2018. About me: MaryKay Grueneberg. Certified Professional Technical Communicator STC Fellow Sr. User Assistance Developer. @MKGee. Remote and global teams come with special issues and challenges.

wayneingram
Download Presentation

Conquering the Remote Team Communication Flow

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Conquering the Remote TeamCommunication Flow MaryKay Grueneberg November 12, 2018

  2. About me: MaryKay Grueneberg Certified Professional Technical Communicator STC Fellow Sr. User Assistance Developer @MKGee

  3. Remote and global teams come with special issues and challenges

  4. Maintaining functional communication is key for global team success

  5. Responsibility

  6. Manager Responsibilities • Navigate time zones • Navigate communication styles • Manage meetings • Defining roles (not titles) • Bond the team • Tame the technology • Be aware

  7. Time Zones

  8. Meetings need to rotate • Project plans need to accommodate • Need a common time block for communication • Need to be flexible • Cannot use it as an excuse to exclude

  9. Holidays

  10. Communication styles

  11. More than just a language difference • Cultural differences – meeting settings • Consider different needs and approaches • Be mindful, not obsessive • Avoid idioms and slang • Cultural diversity is just another diversity

  12. “Determining national characteristics is treading a minefield of inaccurate assessment and surprising exception. There is, however, such a thing as a national norm.” Richard D. Lewis, British linguist

  13. Meetings Out of control?

  14. Meetings • Bi-weekly meetings, at a minimum • Rotate times for team meetings • Treat time zones fairly • Structure the meeting schedule, but let meetings be natural • Unmute!

  15. Define roles, not titles Photo: http://wisconsintechnologycouncil.com

  16. Need to understand their role, not just their title • Everyone needs to feel needed • Inclusion is especially important for the remote team member • Team goals help create focus

  17. Build Bond the team • Social virtual lunches or virtual coffee breaks • External team lunch? …send a gift card • Conference calls – be aware (chatter) • Agenda item – catch up time • Virtual office tours

  18. Technology Photo: www.aiesec.ca

  19. Technology Brainstorming and informal collaboration: Online communities: Yammer, Stormboard, Slack, Pie, Trello, MS Teams, Office 365 Informal discussions: chat, Lync, Skype, Stormboard Building relationships: in person, teleconference, telephone (in that order!) Photo: www.aiesec.ca

  20. Technology virtual polls: Doodle, Adoodle, Wiggio, DirectPoll Group decision making: Video conference or video: Viber, Skype, Skype for Business, GoToMeeting, Zoom, WebEx, Periscope Presenting information: Sharing information and updates: Internal blog, social network: Yammer, Slack, Jam

  21. Technology online tools: MS Project, JIRA, SharePoint, Trello, Asana, Base Camp Project management and creating assignments: online calendars: Time Zone Ninja, TimeAndDate.com, Doodle, NeedToMeet, MeetingWizard, Google Calendar, Miranda Scheduling meetings: Preparing reports: collaboration tools: Google Docs, Air Table, Huddle

  22. .Be Aware Introvert? Unsure? Lacking communication skills? Photo: HuffingtonPost.com Intimidated?

  23. Pay attention to silent members • Establish the reason for silence • Coach communication skills • Encourage team members to reach out • Make sure all are equal

  24. Remote Team Member Responsibilities • Stay visible • Verbalize non-verbals • Connect with the team • Perform

  25. Be Visible

  26. Be Visible • Talk during meetings • Let people know what you’re doing • Ask if you can help • Have an opinion

  27. Verbalize Non-Verbals

  28. Verbalize Non-Verbals • Laugh out loud • Say “yes” while others are nodding • Have a good attitude • Smiles can be heard • Sit up straight

  29. Connect

  30. Connect with the team • Good interpersonal skills • Overcome obstacles • Engage your co-workers • Be available • Seek out support

  31. .Performance Matters

  32. Perform • Be organized • Decrease distractions • Toot your own horn! • It’s an office, not a bed • Know your goals

  33. Everyone’s Responsibilities • Some things are a just two-way street: • Build trust • Change isolation into inclusion • Check in • Set realistic goals • Give Recognition

  34. Build TRUST Trust is a two-way street

  35. Building trust takes time • Prove your worth - allegiance will follow • Don’t expect anything you are not willing to do yourself • Lead by example

  36. Isolation Photo: Petrol/CanStockPhoto

  37. Isolation Inclusion • Isolation => feeling undervalued and powerless • Inclusive culture leads to productivity • Helping people belong ≠ being interchangeable • Ask for input

  38. Check in • Keep the schedule • Be consistent • Scrum-like • Be proactive • 1:1 – highest value activity you have

  39. Set realistic goals • Have a plan • Be transparent • Stretch • “A goal is a dream with a deadline”

  40. .Rewards and Recognition • Validation • Peer recognition • Formal or informal • Get creative! Photo: http://www.e2logy.com

  41. Remote and global teams come with special issues and challenges… …but nothing that can’t be overcome!

  42. Questions?

  43. Thank you! Contact me!MaryKay GruenebergMaryKay.stc@gmail.com

More Related