Video is everywhere.
For years, communication experts discussed the potential of video as the new central form of communication. Video brings additional depth to human connection in a digital world, and it’s of the closest alternatives to face-to-face communication we can access.
Although many organisations have been exploring video for some time, 2020 was a significant turning point for the medium. Around 30% of worldwide organisations started using web conferencing solutions for the first time during the pandemic. What’s more, around 66% of executive view things like video conferencing as crucial parts of day-to-day communication.
Of course, there’s a big difference between simply enabling video in your business landscape, and creating an environment where video comes first.
Why Embrace Video-First Communication?
We know now, more than ever that good communication is key to the success of any business environment. The number of tools that employees have to stay connected is expanding, from emails to instant chat solutions. However, in the age of remote work, some communication methods are more effective than others. For instance, when the average employee receives 94 emails a day, it’s easy to miss important messages.
Video also has the added benefit of creating emotional connections between team members. In the new age of hybrid work, video is one of the best ways to maintain intimate interactions that mimic face-to-face conversations.
According to some studies, employees are up to 67% better at completing tasks when they’re given visual information alongside audio or text – making video a more compelling way to assign projects. Human beings also absorb information up to 7% faster through video.
So, how do you switch to a video-first model?
1. Setting Communication Guidelines
First, provide your employees with insights into how they should be communicating. A video-first culture doesn’t have to mean that you use video for every message or meeting. However, it does mean that video often comes before an audio call.
Offer team members tips and instructions on how to use video solutions. For instance, if someone just wants to let their supervisor know that they’re nearly done with a project, they can send a quick message. If they want to discuss what’s happening within the project, and what they’ve accomplished so far, they switch to video. Your policy should include information like:
- Which video tools to use: Keeping everyone in a shared environment will make communication much easier. Let your employees know which video tools are safe to use, and which they should avoid. This may involve delivering software subscriptions to members of hybrid staff, such as Microsoft Teams accounts, or Zoom credentials
- Implementing the right hardware: Ensure that all your team members have the right hardware to get involved with video conferencing. Your remote workers shouldn’t be left out of the experience because they don’t have a webcam or the right microphone available
- Provide best practice guidance: Offer employees tips and guidance on how to use video effectively. Information on how to share screens, or make sure that they’re using a VPN for a meeting will be helpful to your teams
Additionally, it will be crucial to think about how you can add video to your existing environment in the most seamless way possible. Integrations with existing UCaaS and contact centre tools will make it much easier for teams to jump onto videos as a natural part of the workday.
