June 3, 2020
With more and more companies moving their business online and relocating their workforce to operate virtually from remote locations, using the available technology to stay connected and productive is more important than ever. Video conferencing is a vital tool during this unprecedented time of remote work - it can be used to improve employee productivity, motivation, engagement, and attendance, among other things. The following are just some of the ways in which video conferencing can support a remote workforce:
It can be all too easy to let the isolation of working from home get to you and with more employees working remotely in the midst of lockdowns, loneliness and feeling disconnected are a real problem.
Luckily, with virtual conferencing you can quickly get in touch with your co-workers and remain engaged and involved with the team and the work you are doing.
Video calls can be used for casual conversation, too, which can help keep workers feeling connected to each other, their work, and their company. It is important to use these tools to encourage communication, transparency, feedback, and interpersonal connection, as this will all contribute to building and maintaining an effective remote workforce.
Employees have to adjust to their new virtual work environment, and videoconferencing provides the much-needed social aspect of the workday.
Keeping employees updated on news, project deadlines, assignments, and events is easier than ever with video conferencing technology.
Inviting and including as many remote workers as necessary to a call is quick and easy, so you can make sure everyone is caught up and on the same page.
Video conferences will enable employees to feel more connected and 'in-the-loop", encouraging them to stay motivated, focused, and productive.
Communicating via email can often lead to miscommunications and time-consuming work - by utilizing video conferencing, employees will be able to quickly and clearly communicate with their co-workers in a more efficient way.
Many of these virtual programs also facilitate file sharing and screen sharing, so discussing, reviewing, and sending documents is easier than ever.
Video meetings are also much more time-efficient, as calls are started instantly with the click of a button and the need for on-going email conversations is reduced.
Virtual and remote teams are able to stay connected and up-to-date with video conferencing - this will, in turn, strengthen your team by helping workers to integrate with others into the group. In doing so, your team will become more productive, effective, and engaged as their personal and professional relationships with their team-members are stronger than ever.
Video conferencing will allow any number of business interactions and processes to become more efficient even while functioning remotely and from a range of physical geographical locations.
On-going training and education is a significant part of supporting remote and virtual employees - online training opportunities can be improved and facilitated by video conferencing and other virtual technologies.
Paige Barker, an HR expert at Draftbeyond and Researchpapersuk, says: Management and/or HR can easily send out information to any number of employees in any location through video calls, while still maintaining valuable face-to-face interactions.
Video conferencing allows employees to be trained in new protocols, policies, software, or business processes quickly and efficiently.
By removing the issue of locations or logistics for attending work, employees will be better able to partake in meetings and events through virtual means.
Using video conferencing removes this access barrier and also opens up other possibilities, such as recording meetings or presentations for later viewing and easy sharing.
Sam Fitzgerald, a business writer at Writinity and Lastminutewriting, adds: Further, employees who would otherwise take the day off due to sickness, mental health, or injury may still be able to tune in to a video call or live presentation without fear of spreading an illness or having to navigate transportation, for example.
These kinds of accomodations are especially helpful for anyone wanting to maintain social distancing, or who may be experiencing symptoms of the coronavirus and doesn't want to risk infecting others.
Engagement and retention are also likely to be boosted by offering video conferences in place of in-person meetings, as employees will be better able to balance their work with their personal lives, as well as eliminating challenges and concerns regarding transportation and access.
Ashley Halsey is a professional writer at Luckyassignments.com and Gumessays.com who has been involved in countless projects with businesses throughout the country. Ashley is a mother of two children and in her spare time she enjoys traveling, reading, and attending business training courses.
