How to Effectively Work Remotely
The current pandemic crisis has drastically redefined many people's work environments and experiences. People once used to working in offices and meeting rooms have mostly been forced into isolation. In order to keep working, many of these workers and others in a similar bind have started working remotely. In modern times, many office jobs can be completed mostly or even completely remotely. Still, many companies have resisted such remote efforts, citing productivity issues. However, the current crisis has not only forced many company's hands, they've also demonstrated that remote work more often than not improves productivity rather than reduces it.
With so many people now working remotely who have not done so before, maintaining such levels of productivity might be a challenge. Even California Movers, a moving company, is working hard to make sure as many employees as possible are working away from the office to mitigate the spread of disease as much as possible. Still, it might be tricky for some to be productive in a remote environment. For those learning how to adapt to remote working, knowing how to stay productive can be an important aspect of their new employment situation.
Communicate Effectively
Effective communication is vital in any business enterprise. This is especially important in remote communication. As anyone familiar with digital communication will state, the inability to determine tone and difficulty in discerning intent during conversations not undertaken in person can be problematic. Though the professional atmosphere of business might mitigate this to an extent, miscommunication is still a real concern.
To maintain effective and clear communication when working remotely, look over your messages carefully before sending to ensure your tone and intent are clear and direct. The extra effort might seem daunting at first, but it's important to make sure the lines of conversation in the business stay open. The extra effort will be well worth it to prevent misunderstandings.
Stay Updated with the Team
Along with careful communication in general, direct and regular communication with any teams or groups you regularly work with in the office is also important. While you might be to avoid having your bosses leaning over your shoulder, you should make sure to stay in contact with your team, group, or department. This not only ensures a steady communication flow, it also prevents people from guessing on the current situation. Maintaining regular communication remotely is a bit more involved than just knocking on a door, but it keeps everyone in the know and the flow of work steady and productive.
Remember to Take a Break
One of the temptations of working remotely, especially if forced to work remotely at home for extended hours of the day and extended days at a time, is to keep working and not stop until the day's work is done. Just like working at the office, however, it's important to take breaks throughout the work day. Doing so helps the mind and body rest and recover from the strain of working. No matter how much you enjoy your work, breaks are essential in order to stay productive. Constant workflow inhibits creativity and will cause stress. Stress means reduced productivity, which creates more stress. Scheduled breaks are just as important when working remotely as they are in the office.
Maintain a Dedicated Workspace
Working from home can be a problem for those with families. With the current pandemic leaving the house to get work done can be difficult and even dangerous. One way to stay focused on work and not get distracted by family is to maintain a dedicated work area. This also prevents the work from overflowing into the home itself. Maintain a work-life balance is already nearly impossible, so making sure that the work stays where it belongs and doesn't interfere with family time is key. The seeping of family life into work might cause disruptions as well, which is why having a devoted work area will help keep everyone happy and productive.
Stick to Work Hours if Possible
For those adapting from the office at work to a home office, maintaining regular business hours is another good way to stay focused. This is especially true for those who are productive and efficient as long as the boss isn't skulking around. Since the rest of the company could very well be in the same boat, communication and organization of work should be doable during regular business hours even if everyone is working remotely. This also helps ensure the work doesn't escape into the home, a constant danger of remote work that must be curtailed whenever possible.
Trust Your Staff
For those higher up the chain of command, especially those who resisted remote work until the current crisis forced their hand, the desire to meddle and micromanage can be a strong one. This is despite the fact that more often than not the employees are more productive and better focused without such managers around. Trusting the employees to stay on task is one of the most effective signs of a good manager. A managers job is to control workflow and supervise difficult situations. A manager who doesn't trust his staff is a bad manager who needs to relax and let his employees get on with their work.
Constantly harassing them with phone calls and emails is the exact opposite of what they need to stay productive.
Working remotely can be a challenge for some, a blessing for others. Those who have gone to wrong extreme of the work life balance are now trapped at home and forced to face both sides of the spectrum at once. Those one the productive side of the balance face new challenges as they maintain the separation between work and family. Still others will excel as they can finally work productively and efficiently without constant distractions of the office. for all these types there are challenges to remote work. Understanding those challenges and knowing how to handle them is just another part of staying productive while working remotely. The team may be stuck at home, but thanks to the modern age its easier than ever to keep the workflow going strong. Keep communicating, stay focused, and don't lose sight of the importance of a work-life balance.
