Effective communication goes beyond just using our words but includes other aspects such as non-verbal cues, emotional intelligence, and active listening. But, having to work from home can be difficult as written communication lacks non-verbal cues and tone of voice.
To avoid misunderstandings and maintain clarity, here are a few tips to maintain effective communication.
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Keep writing clear and concise
Focus on your intentions behind your message in order to avoid filler words and passive voice. While it may seem easy to write clearly and concisely, you’d be surprised by how easy it is to add filler words. Ideally, it is best to get your message across with as little words as possible and remove redundancies.
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Highlight your tone of voice
While concise writing is usually preferred, sometimes direct communication can come off as abrupt or rude. If you have an established relationship with the person you are communicating with and the topic allows for it, including emojis or images can be useful to help convey tone and avoid misunderstandings in written communication. Think about how you want your audience to understand your message and inflections, but be wary about using too many images or emojis as they can be distracting.
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Organize and format your writing
With remote communication, a lot of emails can be sent back and forth (That’s a lot of information!), so the last thing someone wants to read is a huge block of text. Organizing your text into smaller paragraphs will allow your audience to better digest what you have to say. Additionally, using italics for light emphasis and bold for strong emphasis can aid in expressing yourself. Before sending out your next email, think about how you want your audience to read the information.
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Be aware of Context
Furthermore, be mindful of how messages can be interpreted and be aware of context. It is important to know your audience’s location, cultural norms and native language, especially in written communication, in order to avoid misunderstandings.
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Be mindful of your virtual body language
An important aspect of communication that we often miss out on in remote working is nonverbal cues such as body language, so it is important to be aware of your virtual body language over video calls. Make sure to look into the camera when speaking and sit up straight whether you are presenting information or listening to others. According to PsychologyToday, our posture can influence how we feel about ourselves which shapes how we think; and in turn, our thoughts and feelings have an impact on our ability to connect with others.