When COVID-19 sent shockwaves worldwide, executives in business had to reassess how to
institutionalize change and prepare for the unpredictable future.
For today’s leaders, the most challenging aspect is to continue doing business as usual. It will be
necessary for even the most progressive companies to adapt to the realities of the post-pandemic era.
Physical presence in an office is no longer necessary for employees. The “new world” post-pandemic will be neither wholly distant nor entirely in person. Instead, it could be a hybrid environment where individuals foster connections and create teams. So, maintaining effective communication is the key.
Here today, we’ll discuss how to communicate effectively in a post-pandemic workplace. So,
let’s get started.
How to Communicate Effectively in a Post-Pandemic Workplace
Remove Obstacles to Effective Communication
It is crucial to eliminate obstacles like hierarchy limitations and alleged fraternization that
inhibit effective communication as a first step. In particular, those who work remotely must
be able to communicate anytime, anywhere.
Trusted relationships exist because you trust the other person; they know you, and they are
unlikely to do something to jeopardize the relationship. Digital copies of their messages to
keep both parties informed and in the loop. We rely upon our internet and intranet as a
valuable source of exchanging information and sharing ideas. Developing a trusted rapport
removes unnecessary barriers to communicate effectively.
Keep Everyone Informed
Transparency is key to communicating effectively, particularly post pandemic. Please make
a practice of sharing what you know, and more importantly, also admitting that you don’t
have all the answers, but are making concerted efforts towards finding them. This type of
vulnerability goes a long way towards optimal engagement, trust and realness. Only
reporting good information is not the best idea. People want and need to be informed,
particularly in times of volatility. It’ll be a lot easier (and more credible) to simply state the
facts, based on what’s real, and in timely fashion. Informing your organization, team,
customers minimize casualties, in fact it prevents misinformation and offers damage control.
People can tell when you’re withholding the truth or hiding information. Pretending they
don’t or can’t understand what’s happening (or not), is insulting their intelligence, and if
they suspect it, it will reduce their trust in you. To avoid this, you must be open, honest and
transparent. Something along the lines of “here’s what we know for sure, here’s what
we’re prepared to do, here’s what we want you to do, and here’s what we don’t quite yet
know, but as soon as we become aware, we will inform you with an update….”.
Regularly Collect Comments
You can send an email to your employees asking what their thoughts are about internal
communication. If you look at your present communications, this will help determine what
works and what doesn’t so that you can make deliberate adjustments to them for your
hybrid workforce. Engage workers in increasing employee engagement with your internal
communications plan.
Listening Is Essential
Listening has become a lost art form. Most individuals are so preoccupied with trying to be
heard that they may miss what other people have to say.
No one will be heard if two or more persons try to speak at the same time. You must pause
in order for others to communicate. It would be just as easy to quit the meeting and claim
that you “lost connection” as it would be to lose it due to the sudden technological demand
for bandwidth. Best course of action is to practice listening, allow another person to share,
then speak. It’s a valuable tool to achieve optimal communication and courtesy in our busy
overly communicated world.
Communicate Internally Using Software
If you do not already have it, implement internal communications software. Implementing
an internal communications plan is easier and more efficient. Internal communications
software can provide you with communication data and analytics so you can identify which
messages are most effective and adjust them if necessary. Each group in your hybrid
workforce has its own communication channels. You can decide which channels are most
suitable in each case.
Prioritize One-on-One and Small-team Meeting
Supervisors and employees should have at least two meetings per month. These informal
check-ins are a great way of finding out how employees feel about their jobs, their progress
on individual and team goals, and their needs for assistance. Everyone’s expectations will
change after the pandemic, so they’ll have to adjust to new working standards. The
supervisors of all employees are likely to need assistance adjusting to the unique situation.
Meetings related to remote workers, on-site workers, and hybrid workers are excellent for
ensuring effective communication between the three.
To Wrap Up
After the Covid-19 pandemic, returning to work will not be an easy transition for us. We will
need to alter how we interact with coworkers and what we need at work because of the
pandemic. Most organizations will have to recalibrate their internal communications to
facilitate this change. As hybrid workers, they will need to prioritize their requirements. This
process may help everyone adjust to the post-pandemic environment and enable many firms
to prosper by producing solid and well-connected workforces.
If you or your team is interested in learning more about communicating effectively after the
pandemic, feel free to reach out to me via linked at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisapbishop/.