How do you innovate and experiment with new virtual work communication methods and strategies?

The piece of this step that's crucial and the most challenging is accessing needs in advance. If you are thinking about the current method, you may have yet to see some signs indicating a need. I recommend caution at this point because I've experienced the fallout from poorly planned or executed fixes that create many unintended secondary and tertiary effects: knowledge gaps, a disjointed flow of information, and stalls in production. For example, an organization I worked with changed from a Legacy recruiting structure to Small Unit Recruiting, and the implementation was rushed. Years later, young leaders who had only held a few positions within the team trying to lead needed to learn the whole process. Not a virtual situation, but...

Start by creating a clear communication strategy that aligns with your objectives, audience, and industry standards. This will serve as a roadmap for selecting the most effective tools and techniques to enhance your virtual work.

In our team, we innovate and experiment with new virtual communication methods by regularly trying out different tools and strategies. We gather feedback from everyone involved and collaborate across teams to refine our approach.

Prioritize selecting communication tools and platforms that not only align with your needs and goals but also offer the necessary security measures and accessibility for your audience. Don't hesitate to seek recommendations and feedback from your colleagues and clients to make informed choices that benefit your virtual work.

Don't be afraid to try different ways of communicating virtually. Use various styles, formats, and media to see what works best. Ask for feedback from your audience through surveys or polls, and be willing to learn and adapt from your experiences.

Start small. Experiment with new tools and methodologies. Scale successful practices. Empower team members to contribute to the innovation process. Embrace incremental change to transform your virtual work environment. I’ve had my best luck introducing new communication methods by creating a proof of concept with features that most often remedy a recognized pain point, then I introduce it to a key user or project team for use on their project.

After trying out new communication approaches, it's important to assess their impact. Gather data and feedback to see how well your strategies are working. You can measure this using things like response rates, satisfaction scores, or engagement levels. Additionally, consider getting opinions through interviews or reviews. Analyze all this information to find the best methods and lessons learned from your experiments.

Innovation and experimentation should be ongoing efforts. Regularly check and adapt your communication methods as audience needs and industry trends evolve. Learn from both your successes and mistakes, and always search for fresh ways to communicate in virtual work. Encourage a culture of innovation and experimentation in your team, promoting collaboration, feedback, and recognition among members.

As strange and sad as it is in our current working world, if you're working remotely, you're one of the innovators and early adopters. You may not see yourself that way and it may not feel like it, but in a conservative, backwards "back to the office" mentality that many companies are stuck in right now, you are one of the few who are trying out new things. For this reason, I can only recommend that you simply try out everything new that comes along. Keep your finger on the pulse and try out everything new. Drop it just as quickly if you realize it's not for you. The important thing is to train your skills: Don't be afraid of new things!