Effective and active communication is one of the important key for better results especially when you need to work with teams stationed globally or even if in the same premise. Irrespective of location, we should feel connected with our teams at all the time.

There are several easy and known ways to remain connected, but thanks to our busy schedule we don’t notice and use them. Here is a well-known and easily available list of techniques which we can use as checklist to connect with teams whether remotely or within same office.

1. Stick to meeting scheduler and avoid unplanned meetings till its super urgent. Manage and update the schedule regularly.

2. Prepare the meeting Agenda and RACI in advance. It will allow each participant to know their role in meeting and help them to engage actively.

3. Keep the meeting agenda light, don’t cram it and give team a chance to connect and breathe.

4. Before you meet or start any meeting, send all the required assets in advance so that others can follow the agenda.

5. In remote session, Always ask for the inputs in FIFI way as in First In & First Input and then pull in others quickly before they feel left out of discussion.

6. Plenty of online tools are there to connect with remote teams visually, such as Skype, GoToMeeting, Google Hangouts etc.

7. Motivate all the team members to participate in electronic calls if you are managing a specific team instead of sticking to one point of contact – it gives sense of responsibility to all members of the team and also make them feel that you are a good leader who thinks of everyone.

8. Organize team building programs in every 3-6 months, it will help cross functional teams to improvise their bonds.

9. Never forget special days related to your team – imagine how you feel if your boss shouts at you on your birthday without wishing you?

10. Break the ice with team if they are nervous with light discussion. Don’t carry your title to meeting, keep it open for all. After all it’s your team which delivers the project, not your title or tag.

11. Appreciate the good work, you can either walk to the person & congratulate or send quick note over an email/chat or just a small hand written note will also do.

12. Maintain free flow of communication, involve team in discussions and maintain transparency on decisions so that team can learn to work together.