Remote work, whether occasional or full-time, is now commonplace in our workforce. A recent employment trends report from the World Economic Forum called it, “one of the biggest drivers of transformation of business models.” The report noted that flexible arrangements, including virtual teams, challenge today’s employers to respond to the changing nature of work in a way that benefits everyone.
It follows that a top line concern for managers is supporting smooth communication and connection for seamless productivity. This certainly applies to remote teams. However, it also applies to in-house staff who are immersed in projects at their desks and are more effective with an uninterrupted workflow.
Digital communication and collaboration tools (including email, text, instant messaging, and file-sharing) have all gone a long way to keep coworkers connected and productive. Still employees agree there’s no substitute for face-to-face communication. The Harvard Business Review reports that 87% of employees feel more connected through videoconferencing.
Nowadays, it’s easy to communicate via video from almost anywhere using almost any device. People are not only used to video calls and chats in their personal lives, but they’ve become ubiquitous as business tools as well.
With all of this in mind, here are four ways video chat improves teamwork and individual employee performance alike:
Nonverbal Communication Adds Depth and Nuance
It’s been said that 55% of communication is conveyed through body language, 38% comes through the tone of voice, and only 7% represents the words that are actually spoken. While these numbers may vary in different situations, it’s obvious that non-verbal cues convey empathy, understanding, and emotions. All of these are critical for high-level engagement and communication.
Team Bonding is Easier
The old expression about how important it is to put a face to a name is actually scientifically proven. Research shows that face-to-face dialog actually creates a neurological synchronization. In other words, it’s a more personal and conversational exchange. It also opens the door to talk about non-work topics, which allows co-workers to discover shared interests and make more casual connections.
Remote Real-Time Collaboration is a Reality
Video isn’t just about showing up on camera. It also allows you to easily share your screen, work on the same files simultaneously, and share a visual experience, as if you were sitting in the same room.
Key Moments Can Be Preserved
Video chats can easily be recorded so nobody has to miss out on important meetings, impromptu brainstorms, or other situations where notes alone won’t convey the full message.
In the past, video may have been a nice extra feature to include in your suite of office tools, but today it’s a must-have. Bringing your employees together with video chat ensures that everyone feels and sees how much they truly are a part of your team.
