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13 Smart Strategies For Keeping Remote Tech Workers Informed

Forbes Technology Council
POST WRITTEN BY
Expert Panel, Forbes Technology Council

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Remote work is becoming more and more common and companies are having to learn the best ways to keep in touch with their team. This can be especially challenging in the field of technology. Many tech employees tend to keep their heads down and focus on the task at hand, so they might not be constantly monitoring their phones or emails for updates.

As tech leaders, the members of Forbes Technology Council know how to effectively communicate with their teams, no matter where they’re located. Below, they share 13 ways to efficiently communicate with remote technology employees and keep everyone on the same page.

1. Hold Weekly Check-Ins

It’s absolutely vital to have weekly check-in meetings. I’ve found that having a consistent meeting on calendar goes a long way. Check-in to go over and scope the current status of projects, timelines, new products and features. You will ideally build a team of self-starters who are committed and don’t need micromanaging, and the meeting actually becomes a great time for collaboration. - Ernie Bray, AutoClaims Direct Inc. (ACD)

2. Implement Accessible Technology

A collaboration-driven culture is based on intent and commonality. Open-source platforms not built for commercial use, but for joint passion create frameworks for common use. Accessibility is the first step for tech executives to build a strong culture with remote tech teams. Technology has the capability to drive people separated by time or distance to connect and promote communication. - Subramanian Gopalaratnam, Resulticks

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3. Promote Frequent Conversation Across Channels

My communication strategy is built on three pillars: build trusting relationships, communicate frequently and engage holistically on a personal level. I use multiple communication channels as each has its own advantages. For longer or one-to-one conversations, I opt for video calls. I also over-index documentation and written follow-ups to keep everyone on the same page. - Barkha Saxena, Poshmark

4. Invest In A Task Management Tool

I’ve seen many companies use tools like Slack or Teams and then get stuck into information overload. Task management tools (like Jira or Asana) help create a good workflow and goal-oriented tasks and are easier to manage. They help identify impediments ASAP and tech workers don’t feel pressured to constantly keep monitoring channels in Slack, making it less stressful for them as well. - Mihir Shinde, B&H Photo Video Pro Audio

5. Integrate A Deadline System

Try to implement a strict deadline system with regular reminders for each employee. This is not only a great way to monitor their activity, but also an opportunity to increase their motivation by showing them their progress with every completed task. - Daria Leshchenko, SupportYourApp Inc.

6. Create An Internal Blog

Create an internal blog where employees can share significant projects, updates and learnings. This makes it easier to know what others are working on across the organization and it keeps everyone on the same page regarding goals. This is also a good place for the leadership team to share its strategic plan and how goals will be achieved. A living document encourages a shared understanding. - Niko Skievaski, Redox

7. Hold Regular Video Conferences

Make sure you have open communication channels with instant messaging, email and text. This can include tools like Slack, Basecamp, MS Teams, WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, etc. Introduce them in via video conference to your regular team meetings to ensure participation. Human connection is also important, so schedule regular check-in meetings and provide progress updates to make them feel part of the team. - Elaine Montilla, CUNY Graduate Center

8. Have A Central Digital Workplace

As work gets more flexible and remote, we need a common place to work that isn't as noisy as most modern messaging platforms. This could be a central digital workplace where teams go to manage their work and have conversations around it. This helps us avoid working in silos, minimizes the difference between on-site and remote workers and brings in inclusiveness. - Suresh Sambandam, Kissflow

9. Hire Effective Communicators

We’re a remote-first company and have been for five years. The biggest impact on your company isn’t the tools you use (though those help), but the kind of people you hire. Hiring effective communicators is essential for remote companies. You cannot look over someone’s shoulder or walk by their desk to check-in. Hire people that don’t just do the work, but also communicate it. - Kendall Miller, Fairwinds Ops, Inc.

10. Give Employees Open Lines Of Communication

What we do with our employees is to make sure there is a clear communication channel open to them. We involve them on Slack, email and Jira. We never close the line of communication, offering instead more ways of communicating through things like pair reviews, screen shares, etc. We don’t treat them any differently from an employee that sits right next to us and they know that! - WaiJe Coler, InfoTracer

11. Keep Your Team Updated On Company Events

Keep your remote team members on the same page by having frequent, regular meetings with them. Update them on current events in the company, not just about their specific work. Your wins are their wins, so share them and make sure their voice is being heard as well. Each employee must feel empowered and included no matter how far away they are. This catalyzes collaboration. - Marc Fischer, Dogtown Media LLC

12. Hold Scrum Meeting Collaborations

One way to communicate effectively with remote tech employees is to hold weekly scrum meetings to check on progress, address holdups and schedule realistic deliverables for each agile iteration. We use Zoom for video work sessions to ensure that remote workers can collaborate on content on-screen as needed. - Archie Agarwal, ThreatModeler Software, Inc.

13. Get Everyone Synced From The Start

It’s a common problem for contacts, calendars and schedules to not automatically sync for every employee, even if you’re using some of the most popular software out there. Finding a solution to make that happen ideally without training, complicated installation or configuration would ensure your team is using the collaborative devices they should be. - Vernon Weitzman, Cira Apps Ltd