The COVID-19 pandemic drastically altered the way remote teams collaborated, time was managed, and employee productivity was monitored. Although the transition was difficult at first, the right approach can help remote work prove to be a productive endeavor. In this article, we look at practical tips that would enable people to perform better in a remote setup.
Create a Workspace That Minimizes Distractions
Adequately separating personal spaces from work ones is a challenge, but a necessary one to tackle. Having a workstation somewhere in your home tells your brain that it is time to focus and lessens the chances of being distracted by house chores. Make sure to get ergonomic furniture, adequate lighting, and noise-canceling headphones if needed. This setup not only increases focus during the day, but also helps mentally ‘clock out’ at the end of the day.
For those living with family or roommates, make sure to let them know your schedule to minimize distractions. Having shared digital calendars where people can see others’ schedules, or having physical “do not disturb” signs are ways boundaries can be set too. This can be combined with other remote work tips and strategies, which is a great way to provide proven ways of changing approaches to work.
Use Digital Solutions to Improve Teamwork
Teams working remotely depend on various digital technologies. Communication tools that support instant messaging, such as Slack, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams, enable real-time conversations. Asana and Trello, on the other hand, help keep management issues organized on a single platform. The only issue remaining is how to monitor progress without resorting to micromanagement.
Here’s where Controlio and other custom solutions come in. As an example of software that watches over employees but does not infringe on their autonomy, Controlio offers activity tracking, goal setting, and monitoring. When used responsibly, these remote workforce tracking tools can be extremely useful for managers looking to facilitate productivity without being overly intrusive. Employees can also self-monitor their productivity through progress dashboards.
Develop a New Set of Habits
Time management is entirely up to the individual when there’s no corporate structure. Begin by choosing working hours that correspond with your peak productivity hours. If you are an early riser like many people, try to make the most of your productive morning hours and leave the more low-grade work, such as meetings or administrative tasks, for the afternoon.
Employ the Pomodoro technique (25 minutes of work followed by a 5-minute break) to schedule breaks to minimize burnout. Services, such as Focus@Will and Serene, deliver a deeply engaging ambient sound while keeping the user focused by employing timed sessions. In addition to that, frequently repeating behaviors helps teams in different time zones work better together.
Mental Health and Socialisation are Equally Important
Loneliness and isolation are two of the biggest challenges that come with working from home. Turn the feeling of working in isolation into a group experience by organizing virtual team-building exercises. Programs like Donut (which works with Slack) serve the purpose of randomly selecting coworkers for casual conversations, which promotes socialization. Furthermore, meditation or yoga exercises can be helpful in easing stress.
In this scenario, businesses need to provide employees with mental support options like counseling services or subscriptions to applications like Headspace. Disabling employees from working after hours and suggesting that they take vacation days also helps prevent burnout. A mentally supported team is certainly a productive team!
Encourage Clear and Precise Communication
The absence of non-verbal communication relationships at a distance means that misunderstanding differs in magnitude and can increase a great deal in remote environments. Consider adopting an “over-communicate” approach that includes outlining action points after meetings and verifying if everyone is on the same page. Strong discussions should be held over video calls so as to capture the tone or facial expression of the speakers and what is being discussed.
Equally important is plain conversation. Using Google Drive or Dropbox to store and share files with other users is a great idea. A shared knowledge base can be built in Notion or Confluence. This approach helps to eliminate repetitive queries and wishes and ensures that aligned and relevant information is accessed by all. At uncertain times such as these, it is very easy to lose trust and confidence in the intentions and objectives described by managers, and using open communication regarding company goals and changes builds trust.
Prioritize Continuous Learning and Development
Working from home requires you to be flexible and willing to change how you go about your work. You can use the time saved from commuting to complete online courses (Coursera, LinkedIn Learning) or certifications related to your job. Acquiring new tools and other techniques adds value, which is beneficial for you and your company.
Organizations can also help by offering professional development stipends or sponsoring virtual classes. When skill building is combined with tracking tools that measure efficiency, employees can easily identify improvement areas.
Final Remarks: Establishing a Productive Remote Work Environment
The pandemic demonstrated that remote work is more than just a temporary solution; it is a long-term strategy. Focused environments combined with technological solutions like Controlio and a focus on well-being enable individuals and teams to achieve unprecedented productivity. Everyone has a unique style of processing information, making the understanding of structure and flexibility imperative when developing a routine or examining new tool sets.
For more tips, browse this guide on remote work tips and strategies, and learn how modern software is used to assist the distributed teams of progressive companies. The future of work is here and is looking brighter than ever with the right approach.