Communication makes the world go round.
Without an efficient means of communication in place, businesses that employ
field representatives run the risk of having high employee turnover, customer dissatisfaction, and project failure.
Effective communications practices within an organization will empower employees to tackle any challenge that comes
their way. The following tips are examples of how managers can improve their
communications practices with remote field teams.
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1. Strive For Message Simplicity and
Consistency
It can be difficult for managers to
connect with employees who do not report to a central office location every
day. It is crucial that messages from management are easily digestible for
field reps who are busy traveling to various work sites, meeting with clients,
and collecting data. Managers should aim to deliver messages that use simple, actionable language, especially since field reps do
not have the luxury of interpreting nonverbal that are apparent during a
face-to-face conversation. Managers should also consider the importance of
consistency when crafting messages that are being relayed to their field teams.
It is best to create messages that use the same language in every
iteration. Consistency also means reinforcing company culture and objectives in
your messages, which can help to foster a sense of camaraderie amongst remote
field teams.
2. Provide Feedback
Another common communications issue
faced by managers is the lack of feedback (positive or negative) that is
received by field reps. Providing feedback keeps employees both engaged and
accountable. Recognizing employees for the work they have done will boost morale and make it easier for them to see how their
accomplishments make a difference in the long-term goals of the organization. It
is also important to let employees know when there is room for improvement in
their work. Some Field Activity Management software solutions allow reps to
keep themselves in check by viewing the tasks they have accomplished and have
yet to accomplish on a given day using their mobile devices. Similarly,
managers can monitor field reps’ activities in real-time from the back office.
Employees will feel more connected to their work and organization if they
are aware of and recognized for their performance.
3. Be Sincere
Employees can easily differentiate between when a manager is
communicating with them genuinely and when he or she is being insincere. Similar
to feedback, sincerity lets employees know that they are valued and therefore
drives up engagement levels. Honest and open communication between managers and
field reps is key to fostering trust throughout an organization. Managers
should make an effort to verbally communicate with field reps individually to
discuss the status of current projects as well as future goals. Sincerity from
managers is critical for remote employees to feel connected to the larger
organization they are a part of.
Strong communication practices are
fundamental for remote field teams and their managers. If managers and reps are
able to converse with each other well, productivity increases and customer
service capabilities improve. Businesses should consider implementing
technologies that streamline day-to-day communication. Doing so will keep
employees engaged, which is an invaluable attribute for any healthy business to
have.
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