How to stay connected to global employees during COVID-19

Communicating with a global workforce is a real challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Teams are disrupted and many meetings that would have happened in person are now moving to virtual platforms. Social cues that might have helped bridge cultural divides are more tenuous than ever.

However, with a little preparation and savvy, communicators can help close the gaps between different cultures during this global event.

We caught up with Dean Foster, founder of DFA Intercultural Global Solutions and executive strategic consultant for Dwellworks Intercultural, to get his insights on how to navigate the pitfalls of digital, global communications during the COVID-19 crisis.

Here are some of his takeaways:

Ragan: Why is it important to use video and audio in virtual meetings?

Foster: From a cultural perspective, it’s important to understand that cultures can have very different communication styles, decision-making styles, negotiation styles, etc., all of which are revealed during meetings, both face-to-face and virtual.