Communication in firms has changed dramatically over the past year. As remote working becomes commonplace, leaders find themselves in front of an array of different channels that need to be managed, and informal comms channels are a big part of that.
In our conversation with Robert May from The May Firmon The Rankings Podcast, we discussed the importance of adding informal channels to Slack. These act as a kind of 'virtual water cooler' where employees can share news and chat off-topic. However, there's always the risk of gossip and rumors spreading in these unofficial modes of conversation. So, how should law firms approach informal comms in 2021?
How To Make The Most Of Your Virtual Water Cooler!
Informal communications channels can provide a little levity to the working day - something we all need in these tricky times! Management should actively encourage their teams to engage in informal conversation. Getting to know one another is paramount for collaboration further down the line.
To facilitate this, try creating specific Slack channels with different themes, and encourage your team members to create their own! Ideas include:
- Podcasts & movies - where everyone shares their recommendations for the lockdown months!
- Fitness - for health and wellbeing suggestions, tips, and even recipes!
- Weekend Photos - encourage your employees to share some photos of what they got up to over the weekend! This channel is particularly effective at getting team members who might not normally cross paths to engage in conversation.
The possibilities are endless, but having categories really helps to focus the conversation. Do it right, and you'll boost team morale, encourage company culture, and possibly create new powerhouse working relationships!
