With the advancement of cloud-based technology and globalization, many companies and businesses are switching from traditional office to a virtual working environment.
In recent times, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many organizations around the world to adopt remote work policies. Although reopening measures are underway, many organizations are interested in adopting this method permanently.
The blueprint of remote working is different from the typical office work management to a large extent. Each worker of a remotely connected team has a dissimilar time zone, culture, style, location, and environment.
Even though there are numerous problems with remote team management like lack of team centralization, security breach, language barriers, a large number of people find this working practice much more productive, reliable and cost-efficient. All over the world, a significant number of companies are continuing their work swimmingly with the distant and offshore teams.
According to a survey of CBRE , more than 90 percent of employees and managers reported that they perceive working from home as “about the same” or more productive than working from the office.
The key to achieving the business goal successfully with a distant team is to shape an optimal structure by escaping the drawback that lies with this system.
Let’s have a pleasure reading for learning and mastering remote working strategies. These best practices are proven to form a standard scheme and a robust network that will help the workers of a virtual team to work efficiently.
1) Strong communication & collaboration
The communication gap is the #1 challenge that remote workers face. To run a company effectively in the field of remote work, there must be excellent communication and cooperation facilities. The lack of proper communication makes it difficult to complete any task efficiently and also mislead the workers.
For minimizing digital miscommunication connect with suitable communication tools and software. Personnel needs to convey their message and maintain meeting etiquette while doing video conferencing, audio meetings, or written chats. Constitute a collaborative virtual working environment where every employee will feel like an in-house team and can keep in touch with each other by ignoring the language and time zone barrier.
2) Adjusting with company culture
Positive company culture influences worker’s performance. Established remote working companies always strive to build and grow a positive culture within their team. All types of companies remote or physical office based have their very own way of operating their task that matches their value and principles.
Spreading company culture to a remote functioning team is much challenging. This is why managers need to pay attention and continue to monitor the company culture among the employees. Remote team members need to be trained up to adjust to the company culture. Getting wrong with corporation ethos is detrimental for achieving the long-term goal. Thus, workers should spontaneously cultivate the positive culture in them for the best results.
3)Utilize remote working tools & software
Remote team management technology simplifies the process of managing projects with a distributed team. The virtual staff has to relies on remote working tools and software to boost productivity and successful project completion. Cloud-based storage such as google drive is used for file sharing with the right people. For automating the workflow and tracking tasks across time tools like Gantt chart or monday.com are being used. Besides, there is time tracking software for keeping the record of time spent on each task or project.
By selecting and utilizing the best tools for project management, team collaboration, and time tracking every employee will be more engaged with work and feel more connected with the teammates despite staying in any part of the world.
4)Planning, scheduling & prioritize activities
Remote workers need to act as proactive people and master-mind planners. They have to plan their time using effective time management strategies.
Planning is the first and foremost activity to achieve desired goals. Planning the sequence of actions with precise scheduling will work as a roadmap. As a result, when following a plan, a person can see how much they are progressing towards their project goal and how far they are from their target. They can assess their productivity and can take steps for better approaches.
To thrive in the world of remote working it is also important to prioritize high-value tasks properly. Additionally, focusing deeply on a specific task to accomplish without distraction will help to avoid procrastination.
5) Have motivation, enthusiasm & fun
Remote workers don’t have to commute to the workplace and get plenty of time for themselves. Though there are possibilities of suffering from loneliness, monotony, fear of missing out phenomenon. Managerial level personnel should play a significant role to motivate the team and spread positivity among them.
While working only for the sake of fulfilling the responsibilities there will be a lack of dedication and enthusiasm. So, it is important to work with a passion for an optimized result. Communicating and having good relationships with teammates out-of-work can make you more productive and lively. Also, you will feel more connected with the teammates despite staying in any part of the world. By doing face time with colleagues and discussing any interest beyond the necessity of office work, you can enjoy the team spirit and unity.
6) Proper work-life balance
In the world of work-from-home or remote working, work-life balance refers to an employee’s ability to maintain a healthy balance between their work and their personal and family life.
Getting distracted by personal objects from work is one of the most challenging things about working remotely. On the other site, for working full-time from home you may experience stress for not ‘clocking out’ at a consistent time. It’s not easy for many people to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Create strict boundaries between personal and work-life. It is important to set a clear separation between the two for enhancing productivity.
If you stick to work all hours of the day you will lose productivity and it will hamper your both personal and work-life. Fix a clock-in and clock-out time for work otherwise you may feel never leave out. Make a habit of signing out of work after a fixed time and stay away from work for relieving yourself from continuous strain.
Do household chores once you’ve done with office-work. Remote personnel have full-freedom for working without the direct supervision of authorities. but you have to be loyal to your employers for continuing your journey to achieve the career goal. You have to protect yourself from digital distractions like the TV, phone, video game systems also.
An optimized work-life balance will avail you to get more time to do what you love, meanwhile you can have a decent professional life.
7) Have a dedicated refreshing workplace
Work-from-home-job facilitates remote employees with a distinct advantage to continue their professional journey from their very personal place. It also brings some inconvenience in terms of different perspectives. You need a certain dedicated space where you can work without distraction and a stable high-speed internet connection for running work smoothly.
Fulfilling parenting responsibilities while working from home can be a challenge for those who have kids. Organizing the day with proper structure may help them to overcome it.
It is very important to have an appealing pleasant working environment to work with concentration and attention. Placing some home plants at a corner can enliven your home-office environment. Plants also help to purify the air and remove toxins. Plus, Adequate lighting and a comfortable seating arrangement are needed.
If you’re not eligible to have a dedicated home office environment, you can rent the nearest coworking space. Coworking space also allows you to have a refreshing workspace with reliable internet connectivity, digital equipment, utilities and ready interior decoration.
8) Ensuring stability, transparency, and accountability
Keep yourself accountable for completing the designated task with a limited time frame. Check progress on a regular basis and keep regular updates on your every project for a transparent completion process. Maintaining stability will help you with being consistent and dependable. A stable routine gives your life structure and makes you feel in control. Remote businesses rely on employees who maintain a stable routine for progressing and completing works.
At the beginning it’s very normal for novice remote workers to not be 100% successful in this type of environment and it may not be a good experience at the first stages. Various challenges may arise when running a remote working team. However, staying focused and learning from the failure, and implementing the best practices will help you to get the most out of your remote team. Employers and employees both are integral parts of a company. Employers should master themselves in remote team leadership practice and develop themselves for a smooth management system. Also, employees should act as a self-starter to achieve goals.
Remote jobs are incredible for those who can maintain consistency but are terrible for those who fail to maintain a balanced life. However, research shows that remote workers are happier and more productive than on-site office workers. They prove themselves reliable as like the in-house team by battling with remote working challenges. Technology and the established working methodology make it possible to face difficulties. Therefore, off-site employees will definitely shine and flourish by minimizing and ignoring the shortcomings that are probable to happen amidst a remote working team.