Fostering Meaningful Connections in a Global Workplace
Leaders can create access and community for their employees through thoughtful communication
According to the U.S. Career Institute, about 26% of U.S. households currently include one person who works remotely at least one day a week. This method of working offers employees several benefits — from saving time and money to allowing flexibility in working hours — but also presents challenges for organizations' abilities to ensure employee engagement and equal opportunities.
Several Georgia Tech experts note that despite geographic distance or varying time zones, there are ways employers and managers can help create access and community for their employees — both in-person and virtually.
Joyelle "Joy" Harris, the director of undergraduate transformative learning initiatives at Georgia Tech, says that helping employees feel connected to their workplace can positively influence their organization's success.
"It's important for the bottom line," she says. "All the research shows that the companies with a more diverse workforce produce a better product, and ultimately, they lead to more profitable companies."
Enhancing Collaboration in Meetings
One of the main ways organizations keep their employees connected is through meetings, which now can be delivered virtually, in person — or a combination of both.
“One [idea is] to have an all-virtual meeting so that even if some people are physically on a campus and other people are physically away from a campus, everyone is on a level playing field in a virtual space,” Harris, who instructs the Inclusive Excellence through Diversity and Inclusion certificate, suggests that holding in-person meetings or company retreats, when financially viable, can also help build relationships among workers.
It's important to recognize that a global workplace may consist of individuals with different linguistic abilities. Ensuring everyone understands company news or expectations is crucial to its overall success.
Katherine Samford, director of the Georgia Tech Language Institute, highlights the importance of noting the many different voices that make up your workplace.
"Treat every team as a culturally or linguistically diverse team. We don’t always know what backgrounds, experience, or expertise our team members bring. Our world is so increasingly global that diversity has fast become the default rather than the exception," she says. "Approaching every team as a diverse team will bring a consciousness of inclusivity to your attention, interaction, and communication."
During meetings, Samford suggests proactively seeking immediate feedback to clarify oral communication with questions like, “Does that make sense?” or “Is that clear?” or simply, “Do you have any questions (so far)?”
She also suggests immediately using synonyms for words that might be more technical or complex. "For example, 'Today we're going to discuss how to scaffold — or increasingly support — our students in the classroom.' This is an effective yet subtle way to ensure that your communication reaches all members," she says.
Engaging the Power of the Written Word
Organizations can also benefit by disseminating information in multiple ways. Creating a consistent and clear way of messaging with your team, especially in written form, is a valuable way to keep people abreast of your company's activities and updates, and it doesn't have to be a huge lift — even a biweekly newsletter can be helpful.
"A biweekly newsletter is such an easy way to keep people in the loop," Harris suggests, "because you read it when you have time. You know you can always go back to it, so if you missed [information] in a webinar or conference call, it's there."
Academic Program Director for Project Management and Professor of the Practice Chris Carter agrees with Harris on the importance of written messaging.
"It is key in high-pressure scenarios to ensure clarity of goals, purpose, and intent. Communicate with simple, direct, and neutral objective written formal or informal communication modes," says Carter. "If it is a serious matter, then it deserves to be documented so there is an accurate record and to ensure a common ground is established. The key point is not to rely only on verbal communication. Especially for global teams, we must consider language and cultural barriers that potentially exist."
When focusing on written communication, it is important to remember that the acceleration of AI has made creating and sharing written updates and meeting recaps more efficient and impactful than ever.
"Tools like AI-driven meeting recap generators and translation services ensure team members across the globe receive consistent, accessible, and culturally sensitive updates," says Tim Brown, director of professional education for AI. "By leveraging these technologies, organizations can enhance clarity, foster inclusivity, and ensure alignment, even in the most complex global workplaces."
Remember Communication Goes Two Ways
When communicating with a global team — something seen in the financial sector regularly — Academic Program Director of FinTech Amy Corn says leaders should remember that everyone has different communication preferences.
"Culturally, communication happens in various ways, so it's important to have that sensitivity and understanding of how each individual, regardless of where they are in this world, prefers to be communicated with," she says. "And I say, 'communicated with,' I didn't say, 'communicated to' because it's a two-way street."
Additionally, when meeting with employees — regardless of format — she notes the importance of listening and staying engaged, especially in a field that is evolving rapidly, like the financial sector.
"Listen to employees," Corn says. "Their perspectives are important in building products and services that address everyone along the financial spectrum and provide access."
Encouraging clear communication and fostering an inclusive environment is vital in today’s global workspace. By engaging employees through thoughtful strategies, leaders can build community across virtual and in-person spaces, and organizations can drive connection, innovation, and productivity — ensuring their relevance in a constantly changing world.
Scott Cardinal - Digging Data Analytics
