Telecommuting, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, is now a mainstay for many organizations. Yet some large companies, such as Amazon, are advocating a return to the office, highlighting the limits of remote working for team cohesion and innovation. Despite this trend, telecommuting remains a strong expectation among employees, particularly executives. According to a recent study by APEC (March 2024), almost 45% of executives say they would resign if access to telecommuting were withdrawn, a figure that rises to 57% for executives under 35.
In this context, video is a strategic tool for maintaining communication and teamcommitment at a distance. From training to the integration of new employees, and from strengthening cohesion, video helps tohumanize exchanges despite the distance. This article explores how HR video can support managers and help them consolidate group dynamics in a hybrid or dematerialized work environment.
The challenges of remote management
Maintaining communication and team cohesion
Managing remote employees presents major challenges in terms of communication and cohesion. When telecommuting, it is essential to maintain regular exchanges to prevent employees from becomingisolated. Video, whether in the form of videoconferencing or recorded messages, plays a key role in this. It enables a more fluid and transparent exchange, reinforcing interaction and the creation of links. This way of doing things maintains the feeling of closeness despite the geographical distance. The "Manager Go" website also provides some best practices and insight in this article.
Building confidence and motivation
If it's sometimes difficult tosupport and challenge your teams in the office, it's just as hard to do it via the screen. Thanks to regular telephone or video check-ins, managers can monitor their teammates' objectives in a structured way, and offer personalized feedback to encourage them to improve. In this way, mutual trust can also be built up, as this article from "Culture RH" explains. At the same time, setting up interdepartmental meetings using videoconferencing helps maintain a group dynamic.
Everyone needs to feel that they have a place in an overall company project, whether it's developing a product, designing a service offering or achieving sales targets. Encouraging a group spirit helps capitalize on everyone's investment, and helps convey a positive employer brand image, despite the miles that separate each employee.
Technological challenges
Effective use of new information and communication technologies(NICT) is a sine qua non for efficient remote management. Without it, it's impossible to liaise with departments, or even to manage projects smoothly. Instant messaging, e-mail, task management tools and videoconferencing platforms facilitate everyone's work and ensure successful remote collaboration.
The different types of HR videos
Video feedback and management of objectives
Video enables managers to provide constructive feedback to their team-mates, and to ensure that their assignments are properly monitored, even from a distance. Structuring these videos in a clear and concise way helps maintain productivity. Each video should be structured around a few key elements: a reminder of objectives, a discussion of strengths and areas for improvement, and a definition of concrete actions for the next stage. These videos create a close relationship between manager and employee, boosting motivation while clarifying expectations.
Team building video
Building long-distance affinity can be encouraged with team building videos. Games, challenges or virtual activities can be produced in video form to engage employees. For example, quiz sessions or videos of sporting or creative challenges, in which each employee records his or her participation, encourage group spirit. These videos help to recreate moments of conviviality, essential for maintaining social ties between geographically dispersed employees.
Onboarding video for new employees
Welcoming a new remote employee can be a challenge, but onboarding videos make the process easier. These videos should not only introduce the members of the department, but also share the company's history, values and procedures. An induction video creates a warm welcome experience, while helping new employees to better understand their working environment. This reinforces the feeling of belonging from day one. In the spirit of reciprocity, the new recruit can also take part in an introductory video to help him or her connect more easily with colleagues.
Video training and e-learning
Videos are also an excellent medium for ongoing training when employees are telecommuting or working "full remote". From tutorials on new tools to learning modules on specific skills, video-based e-learning enables knowledge to be tailored to individual needs. Employees can upgrade their skills at their own pace, while becoming a little more efficient in their jobs.
Tools and technologies for paperless team management
The trifecta: Zoom, Teams & Google Meet
Videoconferencing tools have become essential for remote management, offering simple solutions for organizing quality meetings. Zoom, Teams and Google Meet enable visual and audio exchanges to be maintained in real time, promoting transparent communication. These tools enable you to recreate inter-departmental exchanges and informal discussions, essential to the development of a close-knit team. What's more, their screen-sharing anddiscussion-recording functions make it easier to keep track of files and manage objectives.
Project management and file sharing tools
To keep track of theorganization and milestones of a remote project, tools such as Asana, Monday, Trello or Google Drive are invaluable allies. These platforms make it possible to centralize all information relating to a file and assign specific tasks to each collaborator. Thanks to the integration of video into project management, briefings, training or performance feedback can be shared in video form, reinforcing clarity and cohesion between collaborators.
Tomorrow, even more virtual?
NICTs are constantly evolving and shaping the future of remote management. While videoconferencing tools such as Teams and Zoom are essential today, the future is taking shape with more immersive technologies. The metaverse is emerging as a revolutionary solution for organizing virtual meetings in 3D, where participants meet as avatars. Companies such as Meta (with Meta Horizon Workooms) and Microsoft (with Mesh for Teams) are investing in these interactive digital spaces, enabling teams to collaborate in a more engaging way. Halfway between gamification and productivity, these innovations promise to improve the remote working experience while strengthening the collective bond.
Best practices for successful video management
Clarity and structure of videos
Video communication must be clear and concise. A poorly structured video can quickly lose the attention of employees. That's why it's important to create well-defined sections when editing. This is especially true for training videos. The introduction should set the context and objective, while the body of the video should be fluid, with key points that are easy to understand. Finally, don't forget to include a call to action to encourage employees to interact or ask questions.
Frequency and regularity
Too many videos can quickly become an overload for your teams. Finding the right balance is essential to maintain commitment. Short, regular videos, sent once a week or at key moments (end of project, quarterly review), help maintain a connection without overwhelming employees. The aim is to offer a constant presence, without being intrusive. In this article, the "Momen" website also highlights the importance of video in asynchronous exchanges, when collaborators work in different time zones.
Personalization and authenticity
Videos should be human and authentic. Use a warm, informal tone to enhance engagement. Using first names, incorporating anecdotes or mentioning individual team successes adds a personal touch and makes the content more appealing. This helps reduce the digital barrier, making each video more relatable and less "corporate".
Creating an environment of trust
Last but not least, video is an excellent way of building confidence in remote working. By providing a framework where communication is open and regular, you demonstrate your availability and support. Videos also help to demonstrate transparency, whether it's sharing company objectives or discussing difficulties encountered. This helps reinforce the sense of belonging and cohesion in a virtual team.
Case studies and concrete examples
Some companies have exploited video to maintain effective management of their remote teams. Orange, for example, has set up a series of feedback and team-building videos to strengthen ties between its employees spread over several countries. By structuring regular meetings via videoconferencing platforms, accompanied by short, high-impact videos, Orange was able to maintain fluid, motivating communication.
Other organizations, such as Renault, have opted for induction videos to welcome their new employees remotely. These videos include a presentation of the brand's values, employee testimonials and training on digital tools. This helps new employees to integrate better and quickly understand expectations.
Ready to get started?
As you will have gathered by now, video plays an essential role in the management of employees working remotely. Not only does it help to maintain communication and cohesion within teams based here and there, but it also reinforces corporate culture and effectively monitors objectives. By integrating feedback, training and team-building videos, managers can improveemployee commitment and sense of belonging.
While the metaverse offers some tempting possibilities, this still somewhat thorny subject still raises many questions, particularly from an ethical and legal point of view. And what about employees' mental health? Thearticle by Jérémy Lamri, co-founder of Lab RH, and theanalysis by Caroline Diard (teacher-researcher) both raise these complex questions.
So if you want to rely on what works for now, and opt for innovative HR and management solutions, switch to video. Need help producing quality content? tydeo is here to help. Contact us today!
