Whether you’re working remotely, in the office or a hybrid, many of your clients and colleagues will be working a different schedule or format. With networking events and conferences also impacted by the addition of virtual options, here’s how to make sure you’re making the most of virtual connections.
1. Adjust expectations
Connecting virtually—whether at an online conference, with your co-workers, or when you meet a new client—can be just as effective as connecting in person. After all, people have been doing it for decades! But if you bring your expectations of real-world encounters to the remote table, you might be disappointed. It will take more work and intention to create the building blocks of a relationship, especially when trying to build rapport with remote co-workers.
If you’re an employer, the traditional criteria you’ve used for evaluations might also need to shift. According to a 2019 Deloitte workplace report, 28% of organizations use team outcomes to determine performance rewards. Re-assessing your criteria for evaluations to fairly reward performance in a remote or hybrid setting is key for maintaining morale.
2. Be distraction free
Multi-tasking in remote meetings is common. As tempting as it is, giving your full attention makes the best impression on your team, your clients, and any presenters or leaders of online events you attend. That’s not to say distractions and emergencies don’t happen. We’re all human. But setting yourself up to be able to give your full attention will stand out.
3. Pay attention to communication preferences
We have many ways to communicate available at our fingertips, but not every method is desirable. People are quick to side with their own preferred communication method. If you’re a traditional, it’s important to remember that not everyone wants to regularly communicate by phone. If you prefer email, sometimes a phone call is a quicker, more streamlined way to accomplish what you need. Don’t hesitate to ask about preferences and when certain communication mediums are most appropriate.
4. Give feedback
Feedback is an important part of work and professional growth. In a remote environment, team members are removed from the informal places they typically receive feedback, making it easy to feel like you’re working in an isolated silo.
Make a concerted effort to provide positive and constructive feedback, especially for those you oversee. Compliment other colleagues with whom you interact. A simple message on Teams or a short email can go a long way.
5. Follow-up
People are often distracted with messages coming at them from an abundance of sources. It’s understandable if someone's attention wanes or they momentarily miss something. Try following up after a meeting with an email summary of the conversation to make sure everyone is on the same page. That way there’s a documented exchange, clients are spared the embarrassment of admitting they missed something in the conversation, and the door to communication is open.
6. Reinvent the water cooler
Employees who take time to connect socially with peers are known to boost their performance by up to 20%. Creating virtual “water cooler” spaces like Slack channels can boost morale and give individuals an opportunity for the informal engagement important for building relationships. Other opportunities for connection include having virtual coffee date hours, book clubs or informal check-ins that give space to talk about things other than work. Just because team members might be remote doesn’t mean culture is no longer a factor in their overall workplace happiness.
7. Be a participant.
Virtual networking events are likely to stick around, and for good reason: there’s no travel time, you can access an expanded network, and, unless it’s a large conference-style event, there’s a lower cost. If you’re normally introverted or don’t like being the center of attention, the remote setting can also work to your advantage by removing some of the pressure off of approaching someone.
The drawback? It’s easy to not be as engaged in a virtual event as you would be if it was in person. To make the most of networking virtually, set goals for engagement at each event, like asking at least one question or adding thoughts in the chat section.
It’s also good to develop a game plan for action after the event is over. Identify people you’d like to reach out to and send a quick email or a LinkedIn connection. Be sure to make the messaging personal by bringing up specific things you liked that they said or asking a follow-up question. Give it a little personality to make sure it sticks out, feels genuine and opens the door to authentic connection.
Looking for opportunities to connect and learn? Add these upcoming conferences to your calendar.