How To Adapt and Make Remote Working Successful For Your Organization

The State of Remote Work 2020 online survey found that out of 828 respondents, 36% of managers expect to continue working remotely full-time even after the COVID-19 crisis has passed, according to PR Newswire. As businesses start to reopen, employers are looking to combine remote and on-site work arrangements. There are many benefits linked to this work style, including increased access to talent, improved productivity, more flexibility, better employee experiences, and low operational costs.

However, preparing your team for remote working, while others continue to perform their duties on-site isn’t as easy as it might seem. Many employers lose focus on building shared trust and creating social cohesion and common culture when shifting to virtual-working. As a result, business productivity declines because employees feel isolated and unhappy. Fortunately, you can make remote working a success for your business by following some simple tips listed below.

Choose Your Remote Working Model Wisely

It’s easy to assume that remote work entails working from home only, but there are different types of virtual working models. You can choose between split, hybrid, and fully remote work structures based on your company’s needs. When you select split teams, it means you have workers from two or multiple departments working and collaborating remotely from the same or different regions. You may also have a hub for split teams in their respective locations.

A hybrid team is a mix of virtual and on-site working arrangements. Ideally, you’ll have most of your employees working from the office, while the rest work remotely. In a hybrid setup, remote workers might come in the workplace occasionally to collaborate with on-site employees. Meanwhile, having an entirely virtual team means workers work and collaborate remotely from home or any desired location. Since there is no office set up, team members never meet physically.

Set Clear Expectations With Remote Teams

As a business leader, you don’t want to worry or constantly check on workers to ensure they’re working. You also don’t want to assume employees are performing their duties, only to miss important deadlines. To make working remotely stress-free and successful, consider setting clear business goals and expectations. Make sure to set deadlines and have check-in milestones depending on the size of the project. Also, keep all lines of communication open. That way, employees can update you about any mishap in advance to avoid delays.

Make Time For Regular Virtual Meetings

Encouraging communication in remote work setup is crucial for business success. Therefore, have a plan that allows you to host regular meetings with your employees. Daily or weekly check-ins via video conference calls will help keep your remote teams on track. Remember, your live-chat sessions don’t have to be formal always. You need to encourage social connectivity in a virtual environment to create cohesion, build trust between team members, and foster a common culture. In this case, using simplified virtual event platform that promotes engagement should be a top priority. A simple live streaming tool provides quality live chats and break-out rooms where teams can interact and brainstorm ideas.

Invest In The Right Technology

Remote working reduces office and commuting costs. But without the right technologies, you are likely to spend more in your business because of low productivity. To enhance efficiency, invest in up-to-date collaboration and communication software. Think of Skype, Zoom, Trello, OneDrive, Slack, and Asana. These apps will help you monitor performance at the workplace without needing to ask employees for an explanation.

Creating opportunities for employees to work remotely can benefit your business in many ways. You’ll enjoy not only reduced costs but also access to a pool of talented employees. Remote working also improves flexibility and boosts productivity. However, you must prioritize effective communication, use the right tools, and manage time wisely to succeed.