The pandemic has prompted a shift in company culture, with employees looking for flexible work arrangements that are not tied to the office. While it can be challenging for employers to get the most out of their remote workers, the benefits are clear. Be sure to celebrate your team’s successes, no matter where they occur. This will keep them motivated and help them to stay focused on their work.
Find a Co-Worker
One of the biggest issues with remote work is that it can be hard to keep up with a team. If you are working with a large number of people, it is important to make sure that everyone has something on their plate so that they can turn to someone else for assistance when needed. This may mean adjusting meetings to accommodate different schedules or working with a coworker asynchronously.
It is also important to find ways to build rapport with your remote colleagues. While there are no seltzer dispensers to gossip around or cafeterias to hang out in, there are still plenty of ways to get to know your team members. For example, try setting up casual calls where everyone can talk about the weekend or recommend a new movie to watch. This can be a great way to bond with your colleagues even though they may be a county or ocean away.
Another great way to build a strong culture with your remote workforce is to hire based on experience rather than solely relying on job qualifications. Many former in-office workers who were laid off during the pandemic are now back on the job market, and you can target them by promoting roles that include flexibility to work from home. This allows you to attract qualified candidates without sacrificing the company’s culture.
Get a Good Internet Connection
Having good internet is essential to remote work. Without it, video calls freeze up and file transfers crawl. You also won’t be able to download new software, stream your favorite movie, or chat with coworkers in the breakroom.
If your home internet isn’t up to par, it’s time to upgrade. There are many different Internet options available, so it’s important to understand your bandwidth needs before making a decision. This will ensure that you don’t overpay for a plan with more speed than you need or underpay for a plan that doesn’t meet your remote work requirements.
A good rule of thumb is to aim for a minimum of 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload speeds. This will ensure that you have enough bandwidth for your needs, and it will also help to reduce buffering and lag. Additionally, it’s a good idea to try to find a job that offsets your Internet costs, as this can save you quite a bit of money in the long run. Also, make sure to use an ethernet cable instead of WiFi whenever possible, as this will improve your Internet connection speed. Depending on where you live, your Internet may be slower at certain times of day, so it’s important to test your speed during off-peak hours.
Set Your Goals
Remote work is more than just about having a flexible schedule, it’s also about fostering productivity. This means setting clear goals and establishing accountability for the remote team.
The most important thing when it comes to goal setting is to make sure that the team understands the purpose of their project and how it contributes to the overall company vision. People tend to work harder when they know what’s at stake.
Similarly, it’s essential to have clear project objectives and fixed deadlines for every member of the team. This will prevent confusion and help the team focus on achieving their goals in a timely manner. Lastly, it’s important to document productivity so that each individual can track their progress.
Besides creating clear goals, remote workers should also create a support network. This can be a group of co-workers or mentors who can provide them with encouragement, guidance, and motivation. This network can also be a source of accountability in a new and often challenging working environment. When things don’t go as planned, the support network can remind the worker that there are many ways to overcome setbacks. It can also inspire them to take small steps toward their goals and plant the seeds for future success.
Get a Good Phone
Work from home is a hot trend and it’s here to stay. Many companies offer remote positions as a way to give employees the flexibility they need to work and live in ways that best suit their lives. Whether you’re at home in your cozy workspace, a café with good coffee, or on vacation in an exotic place, you can still complete important tasks and communicate with the rest of your team.
When you get a phone system, make sure that it offers toll-free, vanity, and international numbers and can integrate with your existing business systems. This will save you time and effort from having to keep track of different systems and accounts.
Get a Good Video Conferencing App
If you’re working from home or another remote location, a good video conference app can help keep you connected. These apps allow you to hold virtual meetings and presentations, share your screen, and communicate using voice or text. They can also record your meetings so you can review them later.
One of the key challenges for managing remote teams is keeping team members engaged during virtual meetings. Traditional one-sided virtual meetings that rely on screen sharing can feel like watching a slow movie, and it’s easy to fall asleep during them.
To avoid this, it’s important to use a free video conferencing app that offers high-quality audio and video and provides multiple ways for participants to participate. For example, Webex has a great audio quality and offers many features for participants including sticky notes, a whiteboard that automatically tidies up roughly-drawn shapes, and text-based brainstorming tools.
Another great option is Switchboard, which is a full-featured collaborative platform built for small remote teams. Unlike Google Meet or Zoom, which are great for straightforward meetings, Switchboard enables true collaboration and allows you to work side-by-side with your team, share more than just your screen, and has no time limit. It also integrates with Slack, so you can launch meetings quickly and easily with slash commands.
Get a Good Collaboration Tool
Remote work can bring its own challenges, which can be further tackled with information from Global Work Guide, such as difficulty in building company culture and keeping team members connected. But there are ways to improve communication and collaboration without needing to invest in a new workspace or even hire extra people.
One popular remote work tool is Slack, which allows teams to communicate in real-time through channels organized by project or topic. It also allows for file sharing, direct messaging, and integrations with a variety of apps. Another popular remote work tool is Jira, which is ideal for software project planning, tracking, and delivery. It also includes a virtual whiteboard and supports various programming languages, including JavaScript, PHP, and Python.
For teams that require a more structured approach, there are tools like Asana, which offers individual and team project boards and an option to create subtasks. It also tracks deadlines, prioritizes tasks, and notifies team members when a task is assigned or completed. And for designers, there are tools like Figma, which allows them to share designs, mockups, and wireframes with their team and exchange feedback quickly.
Get a Good Team App
Managing remote teams requires good tools to ensure everyone is on the same page and communicating effectively. These apps can help you build team camaraderie, keep project workflow synchronized, and get things done quickly.
Slack: Slack is a powerful messaging app that allows you to communicate with your teammates in a variety of ways. It can be used for 1-1 conversations or group chats and can be integrated with other apps like Trello and Google Docs. It also offers a range of collaborative tools such as gifs, video calls, and screen sharing.
Notion: Just like long-running TV shows have a bible, Notion is the digital equivalent for your company’s institutional knowledge. It operates as a secure online wiki and lets your team store, share, and refer to information in a structured way that prevents confusion.
Jumpshare: Jumpshare makes remote work easier by allowing you to quickly and easily share any part of your screen through instantly-shareable links. This can include GIFs, HD videos, and screenshots that can be annotated, as well as live sessions with coworkers.
CloudApp: Keep your remote team members on task with this cloud-based project management and collaboration tool. With a suite of essential tools including notes, databases, kanban boards, and a wiki, this can be a crucial addition to any remote work setup.
By following these tips and utilizing the right tools, you can ensure that your remote team is set up for success. Remember to prioritize communication, collaboration, and goal-setting to keep everyone motivated and on track. With the right approach, remote work can be a game-changer for your business.
