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Last updated on Dec 22, 2024
  1. All
  2. Soft Skills
  3. Emotional Intelligence

Your remote coworker misinterprets your intentions. How can you rebuild trust and understanding?

Miscommunications are inevitable in remote work, but rebuilding trust is crucial for team harmony. Here's how you can mend the relationship:

  • Address the issue directly: Initiate a private conversation to clarify misunderstandings and express your genuine intentions.

  • Use clear, empathetic communication: Be concise and considerate in your explanations, ensuring your coworker feels heard and respected.

  • Follow up consistently: Check in regularly to reinforce mutual understanding and rebuild rapport over time.

What strategies have worked for you in similar situations?

Emotional Intelligence Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence

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Last updated on Dec 22, 2024
  1. All
  2. Soft Skills
  3. Emotional Intelligence

Your remote coworker misinterprets your intentions. How can you rebuild trust and understanding?

Miscommunications are inevitable in remote work, but rebuilding trust is crucial for team harmony. Here's how you can mend the relationship:

  • Address the issue directly: Initiate a private conversation to clarify misunderstandings and express your genuine intentions.

  • Use clear, empathetic communication: Be concise and considerate in your explanations, ensuring your coworker feels heard and respected.

  • Follow up consistently: Check in regularly to reinforce mutual understanding and rebuild rapport over time.

What strategies have worked for you in similar situations?

Add your perspective
Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
13 answers
  • Contributor profile photo
    Contributor profile photo
    Robert Lienhard

    Lead Global SAP Talent Attraction🌐Servant Leadership & EI/EQ Advocate🌱Passionate about human-centered AI and Industry 5.0🤝Mentor & Coach🎯Convinced Humanist & Libertarian⚖️🌍🕊️

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    REBUILD TRUST WITH CLEAR COMMUNICATION AND EMPATHY To address a misinterpretation with a remote coworker, I would initiate a private and open conversation to clarify my intentions. Actively listening to their perspective and acknowledging their feelings helps to understand the root of the misunderstanding and demonstrates my commitment to resolving the issue. By using explicit language and confirming mutual understanding, I would ensure that future communications are clear and transparent. Establishing regular check-ins and fostering an environment of trust and respect can prevent future misinterpretations, thereby strengthening our professional relationship and collaboration.

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    Dr. Seema Shah

    From Overwhelmed to Empowered | Training Professionals & students to Lead Confident, Purposeful Lives

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    Acknowledge the misunderstanding and clarify your intentions with empathy. Use direct yet respectful communication to address concerns. Actively listen, validate their perspective, and find common ground. Strengthen trust through consistent actions, transparency, and regular check-ins. Building rapport takes time, but openness fosters mutual understanding.

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    Dr Kalyani Kamble

    Firewalk Facilitator | Leadership Coach | Master NLP Practitioner | Breakthrough Trainer | Author | Image Consultant President at All Ladies League Women Enterpreneurs- Mumbai Chapter

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    Rebuilding trust starts with clarity and empathy. Acknowledge the misunderstanding: "I sense there may have been a misinterpretation, and I want to clarify my intent." Approach with curiosity, not defensiveness—invite their perspective: "How did my message come across to you?" Listen actively and validate their feelings. Reframe your communication for better alignment: "I appreciate your patience as we work through this." Moving forward, prioritize transparency and tone awareness in remote interactions. Trust strengthens when you address concerns openly and reinforce mutual respect.

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    6
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    INFLUENTIAL KENYA

    Igniting Brands with quick-witted Strategies | Crafting Compelling Online Narratives | Your ideal partner for brand,product and service promotion -email us : branding@influentialke.com

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    Clarify your intentions by openly addressing the misunderstanding, using clear and empathetic communication to ensure your coworker feels heard and valued. Follow up with consistent actions that reinforce transparency and collaboration, such as regular check-ins and active listening. Finally, foster a culture of trust by encouraging open dialogue, setting clear expectations, and demonstrating reliability in your interactions.

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    Muriel Cristina Toloto Payne

    Mestranda em Sustentabilidade e Coordenadora de Programas In-company no ISE Business School

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    Buscar uma conversa síncrona via telefone ou chamada de vídeo pode ser uma boa estratégia para construir um diálogo rápido e fluido, permitindo que dúvidas e intenções sejam esclarecidas e demonstrando boa fé e transparência. É fundamental que, ao ocorrerem mal-entendidos, procuremos esclarecer os fatos e evidenciar nosso desejo em agir corretamente, com a mente aberta e vontade de acertar.

    Translated
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    Ama Annika GROBECKER

    Helping (Future) Leaders Regulate Emotions - Theirs and Others'.🔹 Emotional Intelligence🔹Trilingual Consultant & Trainer🔹 Science-Based Tools & Strategies🔹 Highly Sensitive Introvert🔹Former HR Pro

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    Clarify your message with emotional transparency - acknowledge their perspective and express your intent openly. Use nonverbal cues (e.g. eye contact with the camera, open body language, exposed torso, exposed palm gestures, etc) in video calls to reinforce sincerity and build trust. Check in regularly to prevent further misunderstandings.

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    Ishan Goel

    Founder & Educator @ Thinking Bell | Simplifying Statistics for Experimenters | Built the Stats Engine at VWO

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    Immanuel Kant states that people should not be used as means to an end because they have dreams, desires and ambitions on their own. We should work with people in an area where both of our needs and desires overlap. However, more often than not this gets compromised in work scenarios (especially when one person is senior). I think before acting upon the argument, you need to decide one out of the two. 1. If you have to utilize that person for your own ends without aligning to their own, then you need the tools of manipulation. 2. If you have to resolve the misunderstandings by trying to find the overlap where the two of you can work together, then entirely different tools of empathy and solution finding are needed.

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    Toni Shereé Joslyn Williams DeVol, MPH, PMI-PMOCP, PMP

    Sr PM, TMO | NSHSS Fellow | MSU EMG - Trainee | Ramstein ‘08 | Cal Poly Pomona BS ‘12 | Drexel MPH ‘16 | Air Force Brat 🇺🇸🦅💎 | 🫶🏾💚🌳

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    Trust eroded that quickly over one thing! Okay. I’m gonna answer my own way because this question is so…fun. I’m going to assume my intentions were “good” over several occasions either with my coworker (or others) and the same thing has happened. Trust was questioned. I would ask myself “why do I feel the need to meddle in others business?” If I got stuck in the reflection, I would ask for help from a trusted friend, mentor, or coach. Trust doesn’t simply erode from intentions. Trust erodes from lack of action.

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    Dr Kalyani Kamble

    Firewalk Facilitator | Leadership Coach | Master NLP Practitioner | Breakthrough Trainer | Author | Image Consultant President at All Ladies League Women Enterpreneurs- Mumbai Chapter

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    When a remote coworker misinterprets your intentions, rebuilding trust and understanding involves clear communication and empathy. Initiate a conversation to address the misunderstanding promptly, expressing your perspective calmly and respectfully. Listen actively to their concerns, validating their feelings without becoming defensive. Clarify your intentions, ensuring your message is conveyed accurately. In future communications, be mindful of tone and clarity, as written messages can often be misconstrued. Regular check-ins can help maintain open lines of communication and prevent future misunderstandings. By demonstrating empathy and a commitment to clear communication, you can rebuild trust and strengthen your working relationship.

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    Ronny Croymans

    Production supervisor | Continuous improvement | ISO Auditor | (HSE) Advisor | Acting Purchase Officer

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    When dealing with miscommunications, it’s essential to address the issue promptly and privately. I start by acknowledging the misunderstanding, then explain my intentions clearly while being open to hearing their perspective. Active listening is key being empathetic and patient helps ensure they feel understood. I also make an effort to keep the conversation open by following up and checking in periodically, which helps rebuild trust over time. Maintaining transparency and showing a willingness to collaborate often goes a long way in re-establishing a positive working relationship.

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