Master the Art of Remote Communication

The Strategy Most Remote Leaders Miss: Part 3 of 5 in Our Remote Leadership Challenge

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TL;DR:

• Remote communication requires three times more intention than in-person

• What feels like overcommunication to you feels just right to your team

• The Rule of 3x3 ensures your message reaches everyone effectively

• Today’s challenge: Apply the 3x3 rule to your next important team update

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Welcome to Day 3 of our Remote Leadership Challenge! Yesterday, we explored how to measure remote performance effectively. Today, we’re tackling the foundation of successful remote leadership: intentional communication.

As a reminder, here’s what you can expect throughout the 5-day challenge:

• Day 1: Building Trust and Accountability from Afar

• Day 2: Measuring Productivity and Performance in Remote Teams

• Day 3: Communicating Effectively in a Remote or Hybrid Workplace (You Are Here)

• Day 4: Handling Conflict and Difficult Conversations Remotely

• Day 5: Avoiding Burnout and Overwork in Remote Teams

The Hidden Cost of Distance

Let me paint a familiar picture: You’ve just announced an important update in your team meeting. Everyone nodded along on Zoom, so you assume the message landed. But three days later, you realize half your team missed a key detail, two people interpreted it differently, and someone was out sick and missed it entirely.

Sound familiar?

Here’s what’s happening: In an office, information travels in multiple ways simultaneously. When you make an announcement, your team processes:

• Your words

• Your tone and body language

• The immediate reactions of colleagues

• The informal discussions that follow

Plus, there are natural reminders and reinforcement through hallway conversations and visual cues around the office.

In remote work, all of these layers vanish. Your message has to work harder to get through.

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