Loud Thinking

Prioritize Good Communication on Your Global Team

Global virtual teams are becoming more common. And because it’s harder to keep people in different regions of the world on track, you need to make sure that people are communicating as effectively as possible. Here are some ideas to try:

Make email a priority. Instant messaging relies on everyone being there at the same time. Email, on the other hand, can be totally asynchronous as it fits time zone differences and keeps teams in rhythm together.

Be intentionally positive. It’s easy for things to sound negative in an email. Sarcasm and humor can come across the wrong way, but being friendly and approachable is always welcome…even if it means using emoticons.

Offer suggestions, not critiques. “I don’t get it” can steer the conversation into a dead end. People should always suggest an alternative instead of simply sharing their dislike for an idea.

Adapted from “Communication Tips for Global Virtual Teams” by Paul Berry.