The current health conditions affecting both Australia and the world force us to adopt new mechanisms to continue meeting our work objectives. In this line, telecommuting is gaining strength as a measure that, if used in a transversal way within an organization, can yield excellent results in terms of production and can alleviate this new scenario to a great extent.
For most organizations, remote work is not part of the usual practices for carrying out objectives and tasks; can it be accomplished remotely as well? What about schedules? At home, with my family around me, will I be able to concentrate? these are the doubts that workers usually ask themselves in this modality.
Through this article, we want to explain to you these 6 tips for the culture of remote work that, considering the current conditions, will take even more strength during the next few years:
1. Get into “work mode”.
As a starting point, we begin with this recommendation that points toward the other people with whom we live in our homes since we must explain to them that, despite being at home, we are fulfilling schedules and office work, so concentration and respect for the workspace are needed. Within this, it is appropriate to add that just as in a normal working day, you should prepare yourself properly, i.e. get up, shower, and get dressed.
2. Define a suitable place to work at home.
This point is critical since it refers to the concentration and tranquility to develop your daily work. In this line, it is necessary to have a comfortable place, with good lighting, and connectivity, in which you feel at ease and establish it as the center of operations. There are better places to do it than the bed!
3. Establish work habits and routines
It is important to define agreements, tasks, and personal objectives according to order and priority with each worker, and discuss them with the rest of the team so that the information reaches everyone. The same with schedules and responsibilities; schedule goals and fulfill them. The correct organization of this point will mean an increase in the confidence and productivity of the group.
If we work remotely, it is important to establish certain rules that will add seriousness and communication to the group work, for example, always keep your camera on in meetings to be visible to others, it is proven that looking at each other’s faces in a conversation, has better results in terms of concentration and confidence for a defined period of time. Also, in group instances, in which more than four people participate, it is necessary to respect the order of the word (Do not speak all at once) and keep your microphone off if you are not talking (Avoid external noises intruding).
However, it is also important to build habits into your work routine that will keep you and the company you work for safe online. Nowadays, many companies are giving their employees laptops with Linux operating systems because Linux is one step ahead of Windows when it comes to online security. You can also consider using a VPN Linux to take your online security one step further. In fact, many companies already require the use of VPNs.
4. Define points of contact
It is necessary to establish periodic team meetings to know what they are doing, how they have progressed, and if they need help. Here it is recommended that leaders of the organization meet with each member and provide time for each one to receive feedback and be in tune with the objectives. Reinforce that good communication is key when working at a distance.
5. Control the time of the meetings
Permanent contact requires a large number of meetings with the team; in view of the time and the fulfillment of the objectives set, it is recommended not to extend beyond 45 minutes, understanding that other instances of shorter duration (15 or 20 minutes) are also held in cases where the information is more timely.
6. Make the most of technology!
Logically, since you are not in the office with the rest of your colleagues, the speed of communication and responses are not the same. Nowadays, technology allows us to overcome the barriers of remote work in a very effective way. Google Hangouts, Zoom, Skype, and Microsoft Teams are some of the most popular and effective tools for remote meetings and calls.
It is also recommended to use management platforms where everything is integrated into the same place; you can share files, and separate workgroups and be visibly connected and available to everyone in order to enhance collaborative work.