How to Make People Feel Valued in a Hybrid or Remote Workplace

Remote and hybrid workplaces have become more and more mainstream. How can you translate a firm handshake and warm tone of voice in this tech-centric age? Experts from TED say that paying attention to digital cues and signals can help your team feel valued and keep them engaged.

In today’s digital workplace, it is more important now than ever to show the people we work with that we respect and appreciate them.

Read carefully
We comprehend less when reading on a screen than when reading on paper. And we devote less time to reading an onscreen passage. Combat this by slowing down and fully reading that email. Show you’ve read another person’s message by addressing their relevant points and answering their questions in your response.

Write clearly
Don’t be afraid to ask a clarifying question. It saves time and creates better work than confusing emails back and forth when you aren’t on the same page.

Proofread your emails. Sending clean, unambiguous communications shows your team member that you value their time. And when in doubt, request a phone or video meeting.

Recognize everyone who’s at a meeting
If it is a hybrid meeting, be sure to make your virtual counterparts feel included. Ask them to share questions first or to lead parts of the meeting.

Make space for introverts
Extroverts can drown out introverts in video meetings. One way to address this is to ask your team to email you with any questions or suggestions they may have. This allows introverts to communicate with you directly without competition from louder voices.

The end goal is to make people feel seen and appreciated. It is easy to lose touch with human connection when surrounded by technology – making this kind of recognition extremely important.

Read the full article from TED here.