{"id":30895,"date":"2020-05-27T14:11:01","date_gmt":"2020-05-27T12:11:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpkraken.io\/?p=30895"},"modified":"2020-05-27T14:11:01","modified_gmt":"2020-05-27T12:11:01","slug":"benefit-from-remote-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpkraken.io\/blog\/benefit-from-remote-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Remote Work: 10 Things You Can Do To Benefit From It"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With remote work taking over the world, you may feel confused or lost. Is your team doing their job? Will your business be okay or will the procrastination and laziness of your employees sink it down? A lot of companies have dived into this concept head-first a couple of months ago and while we may see a light at the end of that COVID-19 tunnel, there\u2019s a good chance the world as we knew came to an end in 2020. It\u2019s hard to say when the new regulations and limitations will be lifted (or if they\u2019ll ever be), and now, since we’ve tasted the remote work benefits<\/a>, it may be hard to go back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But you don\u2019t need to tear your hair out over this issue. Remote work is not a perfect concept, but its advantages are too precious to give up on<\/strong>. Maintaining the current model – even partially – can lead you to great results. Your current team will definitely thank you for it, and with Millenials and Gen Ys starting to dominate the workforce, you\u2019ll become a more attractive employee to them. 99% of those<\/a> who experienced home office claims they\u2019d like to have this option available for the rest of their careers. In the future, when home office will be a matter of sink or swim, you\u2019ll already be ahead of the competition.
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How Not To Lose Your Head When Managing A Team Working Remotely<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This time, we\u2019ll show you some smart moves you can take now to make your team happier and more satisfied with their job (and save yourself some heart attacks). It\u2019s not easy to go from zero to ninja on this, and mastering these techniques will definitely take some time. So why delaying what\u2019s inevitable?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"This<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You know you should have dipped your toe in this ocean before going head-in, but let\u2019s face it: if 2020 was the Titanic, we\u2019d be Jack and Rose holding on to that rail before hitting the water<\/strong>. No chance of going slow. That\u2019s why I encourage you to step back and take a look at the current state of your management<\/a>. There\u2019s always room for improvement (even a slight one). But before you implement new solutions, check if you\u2019re not making these mistakes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Business Is Not A Dictatorship<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After the coronavirus attack, many bosses have eventually agreed to send their teams to the home office, endlessly putting stress on the word \u2018temporary\u2019 and numerously highlighting that this is an extraordinary emergency. But what happened afterward was definitely not remote work. It seemed like good source material for the sequel to \u20181984\u2019 by George Orwell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Managers have turned the micromanaging mode on. It wasn\u2019t enough that most telecommuters struggle with work-life balance and can\u2019t seem to just \u2018unplug\u2019<\/a> at the end of their workday; a lot of bosses have established new business hours, forcing employees to stay online from early hours of the morning to late at night, being on their tiptoes non-stop. After all, they\u2019re at home, there\u2019s not much to do outside, so what else can they do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your work is your life, that\u2019s okay. It\u2019s your choice. But don\u2019t make the same decision for others. Scheduling round-the-clock meetings will probably backfire as your team will become more and more frustrated with the lack of free time. Not to mention that forcing everyone to be a phone call away 24\/7 is legally questionable.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Never<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Never ever set a virtual timer to see how fast your employee will react to your out-of-the-blue message. In the end, you may be your team\u2019s biggest distraction<\/strong>. If they have a heart attack every time you email them demanding an immediate answer, this will take a toll on their end-day results. And if you write them yet another lengthy email on how they\u2019ve failed because they didn\u2019t meet your expectations today, then well\u2026 you\u2019re asking for someone to hand in a notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve even heard of bosses tracking their employees\u2019 whereabouts via GPS tracking apps, using screen-logging devices, or stalking people on social media – let\u2019s just not go there, okay? It creates the narrative that you know <\/strong>they\u2019re guilty, you just need proof (for whatever reasons).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Make Your Business Thrive Thanks To Remote Work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When switching to the home office, you could stick to what Steve Glaveski calls level two of remote work<\/a> – it\u2019d still be a level-up from doing nothing to make a home office the same as \u2018regular\u2019 office experience. Level two is basically recreating the entire office setup online<\/strong>, including unnecessary meetings and real-time communication that can kick everyone out of their productivity zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Or you could learn how to adapt the new technologies to your advantage and reap the benefits for years<\/strong>! Read on to learn how to boost your company\u2019s benefits from remote work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn The Art Of Clear Communication<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Instead of recreating your entire pre-COVID-19 office calendar, try to reduce the number of meetings and the people attending them. Step away from using meetings as a way to communicate something that\u2019s already been established.<\/strong> Determine if you actually need a meeting to discuss something or an ad-hoc Slack conversation or an email will suffice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take advantage of the asynchronous communication and teach yourself and your team members the art of efficient messaging<\/strong> (one that includes sufficient details, clear action items, and expected outcomes with a due date and a path of recourse). Take yourself back in time and think how many of your requests were really that time-sensitive that you needed someone\u2019s assistance right this second. I agree that we can\u2019t predict everything and sometimes you really need to take care of something right away, but you don\u2019t keep a plumber at your house 24\/7 just in case there\u2019s a leak, do you? Thankfully, we live in an age when everyone is just a phone call away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Switch Your Focus To What\u2019s Truly Important<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some of the managers require notification from everyone at the beginning of their workday and an end-of-the-day report of things they\u2019ve worked on. The question of whether or not a manager can argue over the number of accomplished tasks is yet to be solved, but to be honest – it kinda smells like a dictatorship anyways. While it\u2019s understandable that you demand some kind of control, ask yourself: would you implement the same solutions at your headquarters<\/strong>? Would you feel like you\u2019re not trusted if you were asked to do the same by your boss?\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Security<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Instead of never-ending questions about your team\u2019s progress and \u201cbusyness\u201d<\/a>, go back to that art of efficient messaging and give your employees the time to actually finish what they\u2019ve started and then <\/strong>show you the results. I may sound like a broken record, but demanding a report at the end of each day is another task that eats precious time. Most people won\u2019t voluntarily stay after hours just to write a well-thought, excessive email with details of their day. This means that instead of working on an important project for 8 hours, they\u2019ll work for 7.5 – which quickly adds up to 2.5 hours per week!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your team works with a deadline, set it, and wait for the results to arrive then. Look for things that can be seen rather than measuring the progress with complicated equations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep Calm And Lead On<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t bite your nails just because you\u2019ve hit \u2018Send\u2019 a minute ago and still haven\u2019t received a reply. Your team is not a pack of Pavlov dogs. They might be in the middle of something important or are just taking a lunch break<\/a> (you did make it clear that they\u2019re still entitled to one at their preferred time, didn\u2019t you?).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step away from strict react time policies<\/strong> (unless you want to manage your team Industrial Revolution-style); this may sound harsh, but even if the sense of urgency comes from someone else, i.e. your client\/manager, they should understand that it may take more than a millisecond to sort something out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a reason some managers are called managers and others step up to be leaders<\/strong>. Learn the difference between the two and strive to become the second: focus on the big picture<\/a> instead of micromanaging every step your staff takes to achieve your common goal. Lead your team, but don\u2019t take them by the hand and watch carefully as they put one foot in front of the other. They\u2019re not two-year-olds (hopefully!), they\u2019ll be fine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Give<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Implement The Right Tools & Policies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This one is tricky as the line between management and controlling really is thin<\/strong>. If you hesitate whether a solution is acceptable or not, think if you\u2019d be comfortable with it as an employee. Or describe it to someone else – if it sounds a bit like an episode of Big Brother, better think twice before implementing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure your remote work policy is transparent and there are no misunderstandings. This may require setting up extra communication channels or maybe even some trial & error, but that\u2019s normal. Everyone learns from mistakes, so don\u2019t get mad if something doesn\u2019t work the first time around!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider Agile & Scrum Techniques<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Agile and Scrum<\/strong> are definitely the buzzwords of the modern era and while you might think these are good for IT startups full of Gen Y weirdos, they\u2019re actually easy to adapt to many types of businesses. Some\u2019d say they\u2019re that agile, but I\u2019m not a dad, so I won\u2019t go for that joke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scrum and other similar methods of running a project involve daily meetings that can be held in person, over the phone, or entirely online. Their goal is to make sure everyone on your team is in sync with the others and to create a place to express their ideas, concerns, and obstacles. If held properly, these resemble a friendly chat rather than a painful confession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Agile<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Get Out Of The 1800s<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My mother works as an accountant and I have to admit she\u2019s a very old-school one. She likes to have everything printed and stored away in binders that are easy to access\u2026 as long as she\u2019s at the office, of course. If she were to work remotely, even just for a day or two, she\u2019d probably have to rent a crane to take everything she needs to her third-floor-no-lift apartment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s 2020, the forests are suffering, and the technology is here to stay<\/strong>. If you still rely on printed documents by now, you should digitize whatever you can, no matter if you and your team will work remotely or not. It drastically reduces costs, storage space, and courier services, not to mention it\u2019s also the best way to secure your documents from disasters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Create An Online Chillout Area<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Taking a break while telecommuting will never be the same as relaxing for a second in an office. Many may think that your own home is actually the best place to take a breather – you comfy couch and everything you could think of are right there! But it can get quite lonely<\/a> after a while, as there\u2019s usually no one to interact with (or the only person to talk to is your same old partner).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure your team knows they still can take breaks (I truly hope you didn\u2019t think they don\u2019t need one when they\u2019re at home!) at their preferred time. During those, they should be able to relax and stay away from work activity. Consider setting up extra communication channels (like a separate one on Slack) purely for off-work chat. To take this even further, promote online coffee meetings between your employees. I know I may sound delusional, but if your team grows apart from each other, it may be tough to bring their morale back up. And actually, it may be a good idea for you to catch up with your team\u2019s joys and problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Create<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Remember To Motivate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When working away from the headquarters, it\u2019s easy to become unmotivated as you may lose track of some things<\/strong>. That\u2019s why it\u2019s utterly important to make sure everyone on your team is on the same page. Don\u2019t shy away from sharing the news – even if they may not be so optimistic. Be transparent and open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure your team members feel appreciated and they know where their hard work goes. If they don\u2019t see a point in making an effort, their motivation will drop, so remember to make sure they\u2019re on the same page with you and you don\u2019t hide anything from them. Recognize everyone\u2019s contribution, celebrate great results and don\u2019t hesitate to share your team\u2019s achievements with everyone. As a matter of fact, this is another move you should take regardless of your remote work plans – a positive workplace with happy employees is proven to be more productive and increase sales rate<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set Time Boundaries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Going back to that work-life balance: I hope you still remember not to make the \u2018all work, no life\u2019 decision for others. But even if you do, your team may struggle from time to time. Sometimes it\u2019s better to stay after hours to finish that task you\u2019re 85% done with, I\u2019ll agree with that. But don\u2019t let it become your new habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When working from home, a number of people may have second thoughts about logging off for the afternoon. After all, our laptop is right there in the other room, it wouldn\u2019t kill us to log in again for ten minutes and answer an email. And then you wake up three hours later, in the middle of an impromptu meeting you\u2019ve just had with your colleague to discuss something that has just come up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Make<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I told you, and I\u2019ll tell you once again: do not stalk your team. Give them some freedom<\/strong>. Still, if you see them working after hours, you should act. Let them know that the workday is over and they can finish tomorrow. Encourage them to take a breather, relax and load their batteries before the next day. And whatever you\u2019re up to – don\u2019t<\/strong> contact your employees after work. And if you simply must – don\u2019t make a habit out of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look For Extra Training<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Managing a remote team is a challenge. Luckily, many have done it before you and succeeded. It\u2019s never a bad idea to learn from others, so if you feel like you need more help to open yourself to the concept of home office, look for it! Workshops<\/a>, webinars, books, courses <\/a>– the knowledge is right there. Also, it definitely won\u2019t hurt you to talk to other leaders. Share your experience, express your troubles and concerns – this may lead to interesting results!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Future Remote Work Benefits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Home office is not a demon and an employee who requests it is not a \u2018problem\u2019. Sure, it may take a while to set everything up and make sure they\u2019re comfortable in their new workspace, but it\u2019s not the end of the world! Now that you\u2019ve dipped your big toe in this pond, hopefully, you\u2019ll be more eager to keep this concept alive after COVID-19 lockdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Implementing<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Remote work is not only beneficial to you and your team right now – it\u2019s also setting a course for the future. It\u2019s anticipated that by 2027, more people will work remotely than commuting to an office, and by 2028 more than 70% of all teams will include at least one remote worker. This means that changes are happening right now and the way we work will change tremendously in less than a decade – even more than it has changed since the beginning of 2020. Not to mention that reduced traffic and smaller utility bills are an eco-friendly and sustainable way of doing business<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So before we wrap up, let me remind you of some ground rules for healthy & rewarding home office:<\/p>\n\n\n\n