If you’re managing a remote workforce, you know the importance of effective communication and collaboration. It’s the key to getting projects completed on time and keeping clients happy. However, remote work situations present a handful of challenges that aren’t seen in a traditional office setting. With the exception of phone calls, communication typically happens over the internet, which requires a little more work to be effective.
One powerful tool that helps remote teams with communication is screen recording. Unlike emails or text messages, screen recordings provide a clear, visual way to explain ideas and share important information without the need for in-person meetings. In the last several years, screen recording has become one of the most widely used tools for enhancing productivity.
Here’s why you’ll benefit from using it in your business.
Screen recording can convey complex ideas visually
Complex ideas are more effectively conveyed visually; using a screen recorder enables you to illustrate concepts in a way that can’t be done with plain text. For example, say you want to create some training videos demonstrating how to use the company’s employee portal. You can record your computer screen as you log in and perform a series of tasks inside the application. Having a visual of where to click and how to move around will help employees learn the system faster than they would on their own.
When you need to present complex information that can’t be contained within one application, screen recording allows you to move back and forth between different apps. For example, you can begin by screen recording a PowerPoint presentation, and then switch to a browser tab to play a short video clip before returning to record the rest. A traditional PowerPoint presentation can be directly exported to video, but sometimes that’s not enough. You have far more possibilities with a screen recording.
Screen recording creates consistency
With a remote team, you need one main source of materials to ensure the same information is delivered to everyone. This mostly applies to things like company best practices, policies and procedures, and training manuals. By using screen recordings to convey information, you’ll reduce the risk of miscommunications that can happen when you assign different people to conduct training sessions and explain things to new hires.
Screen recordings make cost-effective reference material
Creating a knowledge base using screen recordings is a cost-effective way to make reference material available. The software is affordable, and even if you don’t have a budget, you can make basic recordings for free with QuickTime. Most people prefer to access self-help resources over interacting with a live support agent, so your employees are probably going to feel more comfortable searching through a reference database than calling you with certain questions. In fact, 91% of people say they’d use a knowledge base if it met their needs.
One of the most useful ways to use screen recordings is to capture video conferences and store them in a repository for your team to review when needed. This ensures important conversations can be accessed at any time with ease.
Screen recordings support on-demand training
Training is essential, but it’s often one of the hardest aspects of running a business. Since remote teams can’t participate in live training sessions, and time differences make virtual sessions difficult, the answer is to create an on-demand training program.
Screen recordings offer the following benefits when integrated into a training program:
- Standardized content. Pre-recorded training ensures everyone receives the same information, instructions, and methods. This leads to consistency.
- Reusable materials. Once a session is recorded, it’s good forever – until your company decides to replace it with new, updated information. You only have to create each piece of content once.
- Scalability. If you’re planning on expanding your business, having a digital training repository means you’ll be able to distribute your training materials to a large audience easily.
- Smooth communication. Sometimes trainers struggle to explain complex topics and scenarios to new hires. A repository full of screen recordings allows remote employees to access everything there is to know about those additional situations.
Screen recordings are invaluable for remote teams
If you haven’t yet, start adding relevant screen recordings to your training programs and knowledge base. Then, encourage your team to review the materials as needed. Give your employees the flexibility to access information on their own time, and you’ll build a more connected, informed, and productive remote team.
