Telework Communication
Managers need to be able to stay in constant contact, promote frequent communication within their team and be ready to resolve conflict when necessary. To help you communicate with team working from home, this page has some helpful links.
- Communication tools
- Ways to stay connected
- General Etiquette
One of the challenges of working remotely is that, unike in the office, you can’t see if your coworkers are available. The Key is Communication. Develop a system to communicate information and set expectations for response times.
Tool |
Primary Use |
Expectation |
Pros / Cons |
For non-urgent requests and information sharing |
Respond within 24 hours |
Pro – Great for announcements or summaries. |
|
Text |
Rapid response needed |
Respond within 90 minutes |
Pro – Works well for real-time conversations. |
Phone |
Discussion or quick meetings that don't require video conferencing |
Urgent need or pre-arranged meeting |
Pro – Real time, personal interaction and ability to pick up on verbal cues. |
Video conferencing |
Meetings, rapport building, and general collaborations that need screen sharing functionality |
Pre-arranged meetings and weekly check-ins |
Pro – Real time, ability to see body language and verbal cues. |
- To facilitate seamless communication with your team, explore approved technology options such as video conferencing, IM, and Microsoft Teams. (See Tools page)
- Stay connected to your workplace and team members by being available and responsive (answer calls and respond to emails promptly).
- Share your calendar with your team members.
- Let colleagues, managers, and customers know how to reach you, where and when you are working and when you are available for meetings.
- To use email effectively, use the subject line to alert the reader to the topic, the level of urgency, and the required action.
- Use Instant Messaging (IM), or other similar tools supported at your agency, as a means for quick questions and answers. Despite the informal nature of IM, always begin with a greeting and remain courteous and professional.
- Choose the most effective communication channels based on the context. For a complex or potentially difficult conversation, have it in person or using a webcam.
- Establish a common expectation with your team members for responding to queries and emails. Agree to communication guidelines.
- Decide with your manager and team if it would be helpful to designate core hours or days when team members are in the office or available for meetings and conference calls.
- Keep your calendar up to date to avoid confusion and breakdown in communication.
- Regularly give and receive feedback. Consider if it is specific, constructive and empathetic. Use your feedback to discuss outcomes and actions.