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Rethinking Employee Communication and Collaboration in a Tech-Driven World of Work

Sean D’Arcy
11 hours ago
3 min read

Technology has dramatically reshaped the way employees communicate and work together, from the enduring presence of hybrid and virtual meetings to the increasing use of AI to write professional emails. Digitization of team communication can open many new opportunities—such as including more diverse voices across geographies and boosting efficiency and productivity—but as workplace leaders know all too well, it can also heighten the risk of employees disengaging.

To some extent, leaders are right to be concerned: employees have named virtual and hybrid meetings as the #1 place they mentally disconnect while working, according to a Workplace Culture Report. On the other hand, it can also simply be the lack of response and immediate feedback from employees in digital communication that makes leaders anxious. A leader may host a video conference, deliver a presentation, or send an update to their team on their messaging platform, and wonder: Do our employees really understand the key points? Are they engaged, or tuned out? Do they have helpful feedback or ideas that we’re missing?

As workforces become more distributed and connect with customers, partners, and investors globally, getting digital communication right is business critical. A workforce’s ability to innovate, be productive, retain talent, and more depends on it. How can organizations start to create a culture of collaboration and effective communication that can thrive both in-person and online?

Here are four key strategies to set up your organization for success:

1. Don’t try to recreate in-person experiences. Reimagine them.

One of the most obvious, but often overlooked, points to remember about digital communication is that the tools we usually rely on to connect with people face-to-face (eye contact, body language, tone of voice, etc.) may not be available digitally. This is especially true when employees keep their webcams off in video meetings or message team members through text. Without these subtle but important communication tools, meetings, presentations, and team communication can often feel lacking when made virtual without updating their format.

Organizations need to think instead about the unique ways people interact and connect in the digital space to build a new toolbox. After all, technology available today offers so much more than instant messaging and video calls. By harnessing technology strategically, teams can create digital experiences that are even more engaging and collaborative than traditional in-person communication.

2. Be proactive about prompting communication and collaboration

When people are meeting face-to-face, the awkwardness of a silent room is usually enough to encourage people to speak up. In a digital space, however, it’s much easier to stay quiet. Many leaders in fact request that employees mute themselves when not speaking in a video meeting, leading to the ubiquitous, “You’re on mute” moments. Lack of non-verbal cues may also mean employees don’t know where they can jump in, or if feedback is even wanted.

The good news is: often, all it takes is simply asking. Start weaving opportunities for communication and collaboration throughout meetings, presentations, events, and even text-based messages. Add quiz questions, run polls to gather feedback, ask for brainstormed ideas, and create space for employees to ask their own questions. With technology, it’s now easy to make any digital experience interactive, but it’s also a mindset shift. Active participation starts with active prompting.

3. Power social connection and engagement with gamification

Friendly competition has always brought people together, from playground games to sports, cards, chess, and everything in between. It’s no surprise that gaming is also one of the most popular ways people connect digitally. It can quickly break the ice, spark teamwork and camaraderie, and even give people a shared sense of purpose and accomplishment—all within a structured experience. This has made gamification a successful strategy for employee communication and collaboration in organizations worldwide.

Friendly competition—especially team-based or cooperative challenges—can break down barriers and foster social trust and team cohesion, essential for communicating and working together effectively. At the same time, integrating gamification and creating a culture of friendly competition can boost overall employee engagement. When employees are more tuned in and connected to their work, as well as to coworkers, they’re more likely to have great ideas or insights and contribute. This begins a positive feedback loop, making communication a rewarding experience and encouraging employees to stay engaged with their team.

The challenges of working together in the digital age can feel daunting, but we’ve also never been better equipped to create a truly collaborative digital work environment. By understanding employees’ very human motivations and needs and leveraging technology creatively, organizations can unlock their workforce’s potential, whether they’re communicating across an office or across the globe.