Tips in Giving Instructions to Employees Online
Even if you have excellent communication skills, miscommunication is still possible. There are different factors that affect how you relay information to your employees. It’s even worse if you start giving instructions online. There might be technical issues that will hinder your ability to send a clear message. These tips will help you in offering instructions to your employees.
Be clear and specific
There’s nothing wrong in placing room for creativity. Some leaders decide to be more vague in delivering instructions to allow their employees to think for themselves. The problem is that others have a hard time moving forward without the clear instruction. They would rather get everything in detail before working. It also helps to be on the same page with your employees. They might interpret your instructions differently because of how vague they are. Once they turn over the results, you will complain because they’re not what you expected. If you don’t want it to happen, you should be more specific in giving instructions.
Ask your employees to repeat what you said
You can also check if your employees understood what you said by asking them to repeat your instructions. If you’re talking through virtual platforms, there might be some technical issues. If you ask them to repeat what you said, you will know if they understood the instructions correctly. If there are questions or you didn’t have the same understanding, you can repeat the instructions.
Write the instructions
It’s even better if you put the instructions on a shared file. In doing so, you can ask your employees to write questions or clarifications. Since it’s a shared file, it’s easier to make changes or respond to the questions.
Be patient
When you provide instructions to a group, it’s even more challenging. You have to ensure that everyone understood what you said. If you have to repeat the details several times, you should do it. It’s better than pretending that everyone already understood what you said. Otherwise, you might have to repeat the instructions later. Since you’re dealing with a group, everyone might have an opinion about the tasks. Allow your employees to speak up as early as possible to avoid delays.
Create an open line of communication
After you already gave the instructions, it’s not yet open. You still have to ensure that everyone finishes the tasks on time. There are instances when your employees feel confused about what they have to do. Instead of asking you again, they will pretend that they already know what to do. They’re afraid that asking you will make you angry. It helps if you allow an open line of communication so that they can go back and ask any time.
Even when things get better and you don’t have to work online, you should maintain the right attitude in giving instructions. It’s the best way to guarantee that everyone becomes productive.
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