Keeping up Communication in Distributed Teams

Many of you have heard me say in workshops and webinars that for years I didn’t realise that people struggled with effective communication when they weren’t in the same room. I even read a post recently from someone who said that teams are just showing up and doing the work in the times of the pandemic, but that he really welcomed when offices reopened so they could get back to the business of being a cohesive team. Well, as you can imagine, I had a few things to say.

I propose this description of the actual scenario instead. When we were in the office, accidental connections happened because we had to look at each other when we went to the water cooler. It would be rude not to, and of course we had to throw out pleasantries; because that is what is expected in polite society. And then one day we suddenly all got sent home and poof...we became disconnected.

Teams, no matter where they are, require work.

I would suggest that offices make it easy to get into bad habits and false routines that don’t necessarily add value, but can create a supposed environment of connection. Now, before anyone leaves angry comments on my newsfeed, I am not suggesting that every interaction in an office is false, or that people are always fake. I am not suggesting that genuine connections and friendships are not forged in the office environment. 

However, they remind me a bit of a business networking event where your job requires you to socialise, but when you leave you know you will never have to see those people again - or not until the next event.

So why do some people feel that distributed teams are just fine and others think they are the bane of a team’s existence? Firstly, many people are very extroverted and need that human interaction in person. In fact, on the post I referred to in the beginning, one of the issues was not being able to see a facial expression or have contact (that is a whole different article) any time it was needed or warranted. 

Secondly, teams, no matter where they are, require work. I will use this comparison. Personal relationships, whether friends, family, or love interests, require an effort. How far would a friendship go if you never actually called or messaged each other, and waited until you saw that person randomly going into the supermarket? It would dwindle, if it ever got started at all. 

The same is true for teams. They require nurturing. The members of the team need to learn about each other, and find their own footing as the team relationship evolves.

If the team's only personal connections are via online tools, those take the same amount of time and effort as it does to maintain a friendship with people in other countries. Those who make the effort keep the friendship. Those who don’t, lose touch. The same applies to a team. As a leader or coach, it is your responsibility to create the environment where voices are heard, differences are accepted (and I would say even needed), and where interactions extend beyond calendar invites and meetings.

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About the Author:

INDRA A. BOOKS

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