Praise, recognition and gratitude: do it better with Video
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels
This article was originally posted on LinkedIn on 27th Apr 2022.
We know communications matter in remote work, so how we reach out to people in special moments is really important! Have you considered using short video messages to acknowledge, celebrate and show gratitude to your team and virtual network? It is really the best way to communicate! Read on to understand how and why.
I always try to be sincere and thoughtful, it is part of nature and personality. So how do I bridge the gaps that might exist when I am not in the same room as someone and I want to thank, acknowledge or celebrate with them virtually, in a remote environment? It involves more effort and time, but is worthwhile and shows the true emotion you feel to the person who needs to hear and read it in your expression!
Communicating with intention - Even though we might not be physically sitting next to a teammate or client, we can still communicate with emphasis and meaning. Especially when we want to boost morale and convey human emotion, expression and meaning, which adds more impact. In a world full of multiple channels that overwhelm and overload, taking the time to record a personalised message (using a tool like Loom) to send to someone is as near as it gets to being together and saying it in person.
Use richer channels of communication - Do you need to cut through the millions of messages and communicate better, with more meaning? Then move away from written and often shorthand messages: use video, audio and images; richer communication channels, methods and ways to communicate supplement the aim of our message and bring it to life!
Video recording supports asynchronous working - Recording a video is NOT (another) live meeting and therefore supports you in your time zone and work routine, meaning the recipient can watch when they want at their convenience. In a remote-first environment which is supporting asynchronous work, video is a key part of the daily toolkit.
Ways to use video messaging to foster morale
Recognising key dates and milestones - Similar to the theme of gratitude, recognising key dates and achievements can bolster and underpin business relationships and foster morale. I use a Loom video in this example and screen share an image which has a sentimental memory associated with it for one of my teammates. Check out the sample video here for an illustration:
Work Anniversary - 2 years - Lorna Lacey - 27 April 2022
Welcoming warmly - Video can be used extensively for remote team onboarding, from doing a company introduction to introducing members of the team or departments, check out this article from Hubstaff for a full overview.
Expressing gratitude - Do you want to boost motivation and morale? Show a client or vendor their efforts are valued and appreciated by making a customised video showing and expressing your gratitude.
Skip that Zoom, make a Loom! - There are many other reasons to use video to support better team relationships and to improve the way you do business. From sharing screens to describe something in more detail to perhaps wishing someone luck when they go for an internal promotion. Check out this extensive list here from Loom.
Conclusion - Up until a few years ago, business communication meant being physically together in an office with your colleagues to hammer out a business plan. But today’s world is different. Business communication today, is more than simply reaching across the table —it’s reaching across the city, state and time zones. Furthermore, the bonds that colleagues create go way beyond simply working together on a project: when people spend a lot of time together, they develop feelings of respect, sympathy and belonging.
How do you convey these feelings in a remote and asynchronous world? A written message isn’t simply going to cut it.
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This article was originally posted on LinkedIn on 27th Apr 2022.