Challenges in teleworking and communication

At a global level, we are faced with a scenario in which the social and economic effects of the emergency caused by Covid-19 are imposing on organizations a change of pace to face one of the strongest “system crises” since the period. postwar period.

Beyond the need for change, the pandemic is further highlighting the importance of achieving digital transformation, in favor of public administration and companies.

According to the ManpowerGroup observatory, there are no immune sectors, since the organizations had to review all their traditional processes in a limited time, to manage the effects on their operations and, consequently, throughout their value chain.

In this sense, the pandemic has triggered an accelerated testing exercise for remote work, on a scale that would have previously been unthinkable.

In order for us to adapt to a new and unexpected modality, technology plays a predominant role and offers us innumerable advantages.

When we analyze the growing power and usefulness of digitization, we usually base ourselves on whether or not it, accompanied by infrastructure, is capable of handling the increase in demand, or enough to transfer the work we do on a daily basis to new formats. .

However, there is another not less factor: the nuances of communication crucial for productivity at a distance, in the absence of body language.

Because textual exchange or issues such as response delays between messages may be left for free interpretation, remote teams demand new collaboration skills.

In this sense, and in order to promote affinity, it is key to reinforce remote communications through regular video calls, or to design virtual work rituals that allow members to interact regularly and not only in written form.

Making sure they are clear, avoiding using code texts or abbreviations, and without abusing the different communication channels, become fundamental questions.

As long as we continue under such a complex scenario and in need of digitalizing our interactions, we will surely continue to experience different forms of miscommunication and misunderstanding.

It is important, then, to emphasize that the solution will not come from new technologies (although, undoubtedly, the developers will continue to work on this), but rather the challenge lies in understanding the new rules of engagement and in building a set of communication that reflects the demands of our digital age.

* Director of Talent Solutions and Human Capital of ManpowerGroup Argentina