In the past few years since the pandemic started, remote work has become one of the most sought-after workplace setups. And it is easy to see why: you get to set your schedule and work anywhere in the world.
Remote work is especially beneficial for those who live far from the company’s office and have families—not only can it be a money saver for employees and business owners. Working remotely is also a way for many employees to break free from the traditional 9-to-5 and spend more time with the people they love.
The transition to remote work allows businesses to hire workers without geographical boundaries. Companies are no longer limited to hiring skilled employees who live within commuting distance of their headquarters. Although working remotely sounds more convenient than the traditional office environment, there is a bit of a learning curve.
So read on for some helpful tips and other things to consider for a smooth transition to remote work, whether you are an employee, a freelancer, or a business owner.
Prepare for Remote Work
Moving your office to remote work can be exciting and challenging. It means you must develop ways to manage projects, assess remote teams, set boundaries to ensure employee productivity, etc. But it also means you must be prepared to provide proactive and productive remote work.
Working remotely has advantages and disadvantages that can be tricky to navigate, but here are some aspects you should note for a smooth transition process:
Communication
As companies continue hiring more remote workers, it is becoming increasingly important to focus on learning to communicate effectively with team members in a new remote environment. In an office setting, communication can be easy: you walk over to your colleague’s desk and talk to them. If a question arises or something goes wrong, it can be easy to solve any problems that might pop up.
Remote employees have no physical connection when working remotely, and the team mostly relies on digital communication tools. It can be challenging to continuously stay in touch with your team in a remote work environment, but ensuring that nobody misses key project information is necessary.
It is also crucial to encourage employees to engage in regular video calls during work hours to communicate important tasks or even have casual conversations with other remote workers so no one would feel disconnected.
Structure
One of the biggest challenges of transitioning to remote work is setting up the structure of responsibilities, processes, and culture of the remote workforce. Managing remote employees in a new setup can be challenging, but here are a few things to consider:
- Set up a schedule and develop a routine to share with the remote team.
- Make use of collaboration tools to keep employees connected.
- Create boundaries between work and home life.
- Ensure that employees feel motivated by organising work development programs.
Good structure in remote work means having clearly defined processes around communication, accountability, and ownership, including reporting requirements, giving feedback, and performance reviews.
Tools
Not long ago, remote work was considered an alternative career path, not the standard. But times have changed—and so has the modern workplace. The good news is that all the tools for remote working progressed significantly to boost productivity and ensure a systematic process to manage remote teams.
After all, if you are not using the right tools that make it easy to collaborate with your team or communicate with your clients, you will have a harder time doing your job efficiently. Here are some of the essential tools to consider when choosing the right tools for the needs of your company:
- performance management software
- time tracking software
- cloud services
- project management systems
- learning management systems
- communication software
These tools can be useful for business owners, managers, and freelancers to assess remote employees’ performances, project management, delegate to-do lists, keep employees engaged, and handle the processes of the remote team.
Conducive Working Space
If you work remotely, your workspace is a lot more than just a place to put your computer. It is where you do all of your work! When you do all your work in one place, that place needs to be conducive to getting the job done.
A key to staying motivated for remote employees is setting up a comfortable space at home that is far from any distractions during your working hours. One of your top priorities should be setting up an ergonomic set-up to help your posture and save you from daunting neck and back pains.
Finding a space in your house that creates a mental divide between work and home can help to kickstart your effectiveness. This could mean revamping an extra room or setting up a corner to create your small office.
Reliable Tech
Investing in reliable tech is a top priority when transitioning to remote work because it will be the main driver for employees working from home.
But investing in quality technology for remote work is vital for keeping things running smoothly. An unreliable internet connection and outdated hardware could result in lost productivity and time as you troubleshoot equipment problems.
If you are a business owner or a freelancer, you might consider skimping on quality technology with the idea that you will save more. But on the contrary, low-quality equipment might affect the performance and efficiency of you and your employees.
Security and Privacy
Remote working is a challenging transition because of all the technical and systematic aspects to be considered. However, one of the most overlooked factors for remote work transition is the security and privacy of both employees and business owners since most remote workers face a range of cybersecurity risks.
Employees working remotely use many digital tools and accounts to stay connected with clients and the team; therefore, it is important to ensure the security and privacy of each remote employee.
Protecting business processes and employees’ personal information confidentiality is crucial. Utilise password managers, set up two-factor authentication for shared company accounts, use VPN, and install internet security software at home.
On the other hand, if you are a remote worker or freelancer planning to set up a website to offer your services and put your marketing efforts on the web. It is necessary to consider the security of your website to ensure secure site usage and enhance the site navigation of prospective clients.
Tips for a Successful Transition
The idea of working remotely has its pros and cons. No one wants to feel like they are doing a bad job and are not contributing as much as they would if they were in a face-to-face office with everyone else.
But working remotely does not have to be scary! There are many proven ways to ensure that remote workers do not feel isolated or left out of the loop. Here are some tips to consider to transition to remote work successfully:
Stay Motivated
The 9-to-5 life isn’t for everyone, but neither is working from home. It is easy to feel like you are not giving your job your all—especially if you are used to the hustle and bustle of an office environment. It can be hard to feel motivated when you are not surrounded by coworkers and managers equally as motivated as you are.
But there are ways to keep you motivated and accountable, like getting dressed before you sit down to work and setting up a designated workspace far from household distractions. This way, you can create a routine to set you in a great mood to work.
Create a firm policy
Remote work gives employees the flexibility and autonomy to do their best work. But how do you ensure that working from home does not become a free-for-all? Here are some simple steps for creating a firm policy to ensure everybody stays on track.
- Manage expectations upfront so your team knows the goals and milestones of the company.
- Set clear limits but do not micromanage to allow your team to grow in their way.
- Take time to give feedback as managers to keep employees motivated and give their best at work.
Continuing communication
As you adjust to working from home, ensuring all lines of communication stay open is important. It is necessary to keep in touch with one another to do the best work.
Consider having regular check-ins with your managers or team leaders through video chat to keep them informed about project progress. Allow laid-back conversations during breaks to ensure that the team are on good terms with one another and that nobody feels isolated.
Have a remote team party
As more and more people settle into working from home, keeping your team engaged and connected is more important. One way to do this is to plan regular remote parties that are perfect in a pandemic where social distancing is necessary.
Remote parties are a great way to boost your team’s morale and foster a sense of belonging for employees who do not get the chance to see one another regularly. A remote party also allows the team to reconnect as humans and not just as workers on a team.
Take breaks
Make sure that you take breaks! Remote workers often feel guilty when they step away from their desks during the day, even without the managers around. But it is crucial to take breaks and make sure that you recharge—otherwise, continuous work may not be very efficient.
Work-life Balance
Transitioning to remote work means saying goodbye to the daunting corporate intrusion into your personal life—and it is not the only benefit. It also gives more flexibility in scheduling, allows every employee to work in their preferred environment, and allows everyone to become managers of their projects.
Remote employees have time for their hobbies, night classes, or a late-night date—whatever makes them happy outside of work hours. You can spend more time on your fitness or learn a new skill by taking classes during off-hours. You can cook dinner for yourself and your family or go grocery shopping without rushing out at lunchtime.
Whatever helps you feel relaxed and fulfilled outside of the office—a remote work setup means you have time to create a balanced lifestyle to avoid burnout and stress.
Common Mistakes to Avoid when Working Remotely
Working remotely has its challenges, and it’s important to know them before beginning this type of job. Here are some common mistakes of remote workers that can easily be avoided:
Lack of structure and time management
Without the traditional office environment, it’s easy to become disorganized and struggle with time management. Procrastination and difficulty prioritizing tasks can hinder productivity.
Overworking or underworking
Finding the right work-life balance can be challenging when working remotely. Some remote workers tend to overwork and struggle with setting boundaries. Difficulty in disconnecting from work-related responsibilities can lead to burnout. Conversely, others may struggle to stay motivated and productive, resulting in underperformance.
Distractions and lack of focus
Remote work environments can be filled with distractions like household chores, family members, or tempting entertainment options. Maintaining focus and avoiding these distractions is crucial for productivity.
Technology issues
Reliance on technology is inherent in remote work, and technical difficulties can hinder productivity and communication. Poor internet connections, software malfunctions, or insufficient knowledge of remote collaboration tools can lead to delays and frustration.
Having your backup essentials ready to quickly switch to an alternative device and minimise downtime is important.
Reduced visibility and career advancement opportunities
Remote workers may face challenges in gaining visibility and recognition within their organisations. They might miss out on impromptu discussions, networking opportunities, and chance encounters that can contribute to career advancement.
Remote workers must be proactive and ensure that their work is seen. Sharing successes, accomplishments, and interesting tidbits at team meetings, connecting with others, and engaging in conversations are all helpful strategies for staying visible when working remotely.
Not seeking help or support
Remote workers might hesitate to ask for help or support when facing challenges. This can lead to prolonged struggles, decreased productivity, and increased stress. It’s important to proactively seek assistance and collaborate with colleagues and managers when needed.
Things to Remember
The transition to remote work can be difficult if you are unprepared for it. While some companies may provide training, most rely on employees to prepare themselves before leaving the office. This guide is designed to help individuals navigate their transition from an office job to a remote working environment and ensure that the change is as seamless as possible.
