Remote work has challenged most of us to learn new ways of communicating. But it’s a steep learning curve, and many workplaces are still on the upswing. As SHRM notes, trends like “quiet quitting” and “quiet firing” are really a signal of a larger breakdown in communication that’s still ongoing in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Getting communication right can be a huge strategic advantage, particularly in a landscape where so many firms are still figuring it out. Here, we’ll break down three common communication challenges for remote accounting firms, and what you can do to solve them.

1. Data silos that obscure important information

When your employees need to look for information, how many steps does it take them to find it? If important information takes several steps to access, chances are you have a data silo problem – in other words, important information that’s isolated from the rest of your firm. 

Data silos can be more of an issue on remote teams, where it’s no longer possible to just ask the person sitting next to you where something is. One study found that employees spend up to 12 extra hours per week looking for hidden data. That’s a lot of time that they could otherwise spend helping clients and working on projects.

The solution: choose one source of truth for important information and create clear paths to that information across your firm:

• Limit the number of apps you’re using to a few key tools so data is as interconnected as possible.
• Encourage asynchronous communication styles that create a record of communications accessible across the entire organization.
• Create an onboarding strategy that clearly outlines where employees can access all the information they need.

When employees know exactly where they can access the information they need, they’ll spend way less time hunting it down.

2. Asynchronous communication challenges

In spite of its usefulness for eliminating data silos, asynchronous communication can come with its own challenges if it’s not done right. Because it’s a new way of working, old approaches to communication (like relying on meetings for important communications) won’t work.

Employers that applied old communication standards to new ways of working created zoom fatigue and even more data silos than they started with. This has resulted in a push back to in-person work, in spite of the fact that many employees prefer to work remotely.

GitLab has embraced fully-remote, asynchronous work since 2015. In their remote handbook, they note that asynchronous work can boost autonomy and encourage more intentional communication, but communication on async teams must be managed intentionally as well.

The solution: create clear expectations for asynchronous communications with an eye towards getting the most out of this new way of working. For example:

• Set expectations for a minimum response time, with allowances for time zone differences and flexibility.
• Encourage the use of loom videos and whiteboarding tools for communications that need video or visuals.
• Build a system for status updates into your remote workflow, and make deadlines visible across the organization.

Teams relying on asynchronous communication need tools that make communications more visible and integrated into workflows. Setting clear expectations on when and how to use these tools will create more clarity across your firm.

3. Misaligned teams that don’t collaborate

Misaligned teams might be communicative, but not collaborative. Communication is the foundation on which collaboration is built, but without alignment on strategic goals across the organization, employees will be left butting heads as they work on their own goals.

This can also happen on remote teams when there’s an overly competitive culture and not enough team cohesion. Re-creating the camaraderie that happens with in-person teams is possible, but it requires a bit more of an intentional approach.

The solution: nurture a collaborative environment by setting the tone for communications from the top down, and encouraging employees to interact:

• Create remote spaces for informal communication so employees can get to know each other.
• Set top-down examples of collaborative communication by embracing difficult but necessary conversations.
• Reduce “organizational noise” – in other words, unrelated or excessive information that obscures the core issue.

You’ll never be able to eliminate conflict from a team, but actively fostering collaborative communication can help conflict stay healthy.

Remote communication needs remote strategies

Fostering healthy communication on remote teams requires different strategies than on in-person teams. With the right tools and approaches, remote teams can have the best of both worlds: the same great communication and camaraderie they get from an in-person team, with the added autonomy and freedom that remote work offers.

ProCharted can help you make deadlines clear, centralize communication, and embed status updates into your workflows effortlessly. Try out ProCharted free for 30 days to see how it can help your remote team work together more efficiently.