Remote Communications and Management

Navigating Remote Communication in the Video Era

May 27, 2025 By Tom Mungavan Leave a Comment

How to strengthen connection, avoid digital misfires, and lead effectively in a hybrid world

Remote Team Communication – Issues and Opportunities

Remote work is here to stay—with it comes powerful tools and persistent pitfalls.

In a recent survey of leaders navigating hybrid and remote teams, three recurring challenges emerged:

Loss of personal connection due to over-reliance on digital channels
“E-missiles”—emails or chats that come off as rude, vague, or aggressive, causing unnecessary conflict
The 24/7 trap—blurred boundaries that erode productivity and personal time

While tools like email, Slack, Zoom, and Teams are designed to boost efficiency, they can also amplify misunderstanding, isolation, and fatigue—mainly when used without intention.

Common Communication Frustrations:

Over-copying on emails, flooding inboxes with unnecessary noise.
Poor writing: vague messages, grammar slip-ups, and no clear ask.
Unmuted chaos: background noise in meetings (dogs, dishes, toilets—yes, really).
Agenda-less video calls where no one knows why they’re there or what’s next.
Low-quality tech: choppy video, echoing audio, or awkward delays that kill engagement.
Some people do not turn their camera on during videoconferences.

Best Practices That Work (and Matter More Than Ever):

One timeless truth stands out: Remote communication works best after making a personal connection. Leaders who invest in building rapport in person or virtually create a foundation that makes digital communication far more effective.

Humanize the Experience

Schedule virtual coffee chats that have nothing to do with work. Replicate those “walk to the breakroom” conversations in a structured, informal way.

Be Mindful of the Medium

If a hallway conversation affects your remote team members, loop them in via message, summary, or quick call. Inclusion builds trust.

Build in Connection, Not Just Check-Ins

Don’t let digital communication become purely transactional. Make time for relationship maintenance. Cycle through your team intentionally to keep engagement strong.

Respect Boundaries

Encourage team norms that protect personal time. Silence isn’t laziness—it’s recovery. Sustainable performance depends on it. If you have a wide range of time zone differences, rotate group meeting schedules to spread the inconveniences.

Today’s challenge isn’t just using technology—it’s using it well.

It Works

June 9, 2020 By Carol Keers Leave a Comment

A very short time ago, most medicine was practiced 95% face to face – now 90% of primary care clinics are using telemedicine.

That’s the same experience we’ve had – it’s why Change Masters has pivoted to a fully remote coaching experience. It’s working so well and helps us to bring clients to a new level of remote executive presence!
Being fluid is what has kept us in business for 33 years!

Executive presence tip – Carol Keers

What Office?

June 4, 2020 By Tom Mungavan Leave a Comment

A survey by Twin City Business Magazine confirmed what our clients have been sharing about working at home and returning to the office. The nature of the work highly impacts the effectiveness of working from home. Some feel they are more productive at home and they save the commute time. Others feel hampered from doing their work when they are not in the office or work setting.

Most leaders do not see ever returning to what was status quo office environments a few months ago. The investment in collaborative open offices changes the options available for return. Fortunately, many people prefer working at home at least some of the time. Open spaces allow the distribution of those who are in the office.

A mix of office and remote work can also ease the adjustment to the pandemic. Allowing social distancing with fewer people in the office makes adjustment more realistic. Closing kitchens and limiting elevator access is a bigger challenge for most.

Creativity is at it’s best when there are large challenges. We will look back at this time and say, “Remember when most of used to worked in offices all the time and …”

Masking Facial Recognition

May 10, 2020 By Tom Mungavan Leave a Comment

Humans make so many assessments based on facial recognition. Knowing if someone is happy or angry goes back to self-preservation at some level. In regular communication, we each give off many micro-communications that impact meaning and trust.

If you look at our book, “Seeing Yourself as Others Do – Authentic Executive Presence …,” it is built on those subtle messages that give meaning.

At the most basic level, we all can better understand what someone is saying by reading their lips. Those who are hard-of-hearing rely on seeing the mouth even more.

Masking of Nonverbal Cues

All of a sudden, this vital form of ongoing communication is covered up by a protective mask. Many stores have put up protective plexiglass windows to allow the cashiers to function with a lower danger of contamination. Sterilization is everywhere. Families are visiting loved ones in senior living locations by talking through a window. We are all adapting.

Effective communication becomes even more critical to make up for these missing cues. Giving context to the content is more important.

Remote Videoconferencing

“Zoom” went from oblivion to a household word for “Videoconferencing.” School children are conferencing with teachers, friends are meeting remotely over a beverage of choice, and working from home is the norm for many, many people. My principal strategic technologist reported that school teachers have done a fantastic job of learning how to use the same technology that they avoided before.

Virtual Executive Presence

I have been an advocate for the power of remote video for over a decade. In a matter of months, it has become a standard tool for most business people. I’m sad it took a pandemic to for adoption. I do believe it will be one of the benefits gained from adversity.

The coaching we do at Change Masters requires seeing facial communication in both directions. Coaching wearing a mask does not work. Fortunately, a quality videoconference provides a close to in-person experience without the need to wear a mask.

Our experience with teaching remote executive presence had intersected with today’s technology to make one-on-one coaching a powerful tool over video. Plus, the time and cost of travel eliminated. The experience allows our clients to learn even more about how to be productive remotely. Building the skills needed for the decade ahead is now easier than it has ever been. We can go there together.