I get it—remote work can be tricky.
You’ve probably experimented with
different strategies to stay
productive, but maybe the results
haven’t quite matched your
expectations.
Don’t stress!
You’re in the perfect place to
turn things around.
In this
blog, we’ll dive into 12 powerful
practices designed to help you take
charge of your remote work setup and
hit those productivity goals you’ve
been chasing.
Why is it Important to Follow Best Practices for Remote Workers?
Boosts Productivity
When remote workers adopt good
practices like time
management, communication,
organizing things, etc. it helps to
concentrate and accomplish tasks
easily. It is not just about working
harder, but smarter!
The Gartner
survey found that 36% of
employees who have worked from home
more since January 2020 reported
higher productivity.
And who
doesn’t love achieving goals and
knocking out tasks without burning
out?
Enhances Collaboration
Remote teams must be on the same
page, even if they are thousands of
miles away. Practices such as daily
stand-ups, using communication
platforms, and having clear
expectations guarantee that everyone
is on the same page.
Imagine a
team that works like a well-oiled
machine, despite being in different
time zones- all thanks to best
practices.
Creates a Healthy Work-life Balance
Without the structure of an office,
lines between work and personal time
can blur. Following practices such
as setting boundaries, and taking
regular breaks ensures that remote
workers avoid burnout and stay
refreshed.
Happy
workers = better
performance.
Staff retention and loyalty
Employee satisfaction has a strong impact on whether employees will look for other employment. The provision of the opportunity to work from home by following best practices improves the work-life balance, which can make employees more willing to stay.
Fact: According to McKinsey, 30% of employees might search for a new job if their company returned to a fully on-site work environment after the pandemic.
Builds Trust and Accountability
Best practices make it clear that
work gets done on time, even without
a manager hovering over your
shoulder. It establishes a culture
of accountability, which not
only drives trust but also leads to
more independence and
confidence.
These are just a
few of the many benefits that come
from following best practices in
remote work.
What are the Challenges of Working Remotely?
Navigating the remote
work landscape presents
unique hurdles that challenge your
productivity and
collaboration.
Let’s have a
look at them:
Isolation
Remote work can lead to disconnection from the team and organizational culture. Lack of face-to-face communication can make employees feel isolated from co-workers, which can impact the cohesiveness and motivation of the workers.
Communication Issues
Remote work may involve the use of technology for communication, and this may cause misunderstandings or delayed responses. There is no direct communication, which may lead to misinterpretation of the tone and urgency of the message, and thus, hinder effective collaboration in a team.
Work-Life Balance
Lack of a physical office presence can be challenging for you to draw a line between work and personal life. This can lead to working more hours, inability to switch off from work-related tasks, and even increased likelihood of burnout.
Distractions
There are always many distractions at home, for example, cleaning, pets, or other family members. These interruptions can interfere with concentration and reduce the overall efficiency of work, which in turn makes it difficult to concentrate on work-related activities.
Technology Problems
Remote work relies on technology, and things like slow internet connection, technical problems, or software failure can slow down productivity and create stress. These problems can cause time wastage in completing tasks and impacts on efficiency.
12 Best Practices for Remote Work
As we’ve seen, the common challenges of remote workers. Below are 12 best practices that you as a remote employee should follow for successful results.
1. Plan Your Day with a Clear Routine
It is crucial to set a daily schedule
to ensure that you are productive
when working
from home. Start with the time
management by defining the
working hours of the day. Divide
your day according to tasks, include
time for meetings, and do not forget
about breaks.
A well-defined
routine not only makes work easier
but also helps to establish new
normalcy in your work-from-home.
2. Create Boundaries between Work and Personal Life
One of the challenges that are likely
to be experienced when working
remotely is the blurred
boundary between work and
personal time. You have to
ensure that work doesn’t interfere
with your time.
This can
involve setting certain hours for
work, refraining from work during
other hours, and informing the
family, friends, and co-workers of
these hours, etc. Work-life balance
helps to minimize stress and avoid
cases of burnout.
3. Create a Dedicated Workplace
It is important to have a specific
area for work to concentrate on the
tasks at hand. This could be a home
office, a corner of a room, or even
a separate desk for working.
The idea is to set up
conditions that would tell the
brain, ‘It’s time to work’ when you
are in the space. Try to make your
working area as comfortable as
possible to enhance
your productivity, but do
not make it too comfortable so that
you would not want to leave it.
4. Take Regular Breaks
Better to take breaks to refresh your
mind and body as well as to avoid
exhaustion. Take a break from your
work every hour and move around,
whether it could be stretching your
legs or get a drink.
Short
breaks are effective in rejuvenating
the mind from getting exhausted and
hence increasing
productivity. It is possible
to use such methods as the Pomodoro
Technique, etc. for better
productivity.
5. Connect with Your Co-workers
Working
remotely can be quite
lonely, it is important to remain in
touch with your co-workers for
effective cooperation and morale.
Set up weekly or bi-weekly phone or
video conferences to talk about work
and catch up on each other’s
progress.
Instant messaging
and video conferencing can also
mimic some of the social
interactions possible in an office
environment, which can help build
better team cohesiveness.
6. Be Accountable
Be accountable for what you are responsible for. Make sure to complete the tasks within the set deadline. When employers conduct weekly or bi-weekly audits, you should be able to present what you have done and able to discuss the plans for your work. This gives a clear picture for both you and your employer about the progress that you have made.
7. Maintain Clear Communication
To have a clear communication with
your colleagues, it is crucial to
employ tools such as Slack,
Microsoft Teams, or Zoom. These
platforms assist you to remain
informed and in synch. But do not
forget that technology isn’t perfect
and sometimes there may be some
problems too!
To prevent
misinterpretation, always confirm
the content of critical messages and
follow up if no response is received
within a short time.
8. Plan Your Tasks
Planning
your tasks becomes important
when you don’t have a physical
presence in the office. At times, it
becomes quite challenging to handle
situations due to factors such as
your environment or the people you
interact with.
With time
management techniques, you
can easily manage things that are on
your schedule. Research has shown
that effective time management leads
to productivity
and effectiveness at the
workplace regardless of the
employee’s position.
9. Be Active and Attentive While Working
Imagine you didn’t respond to an
important mail that you have been
waiting to receive for over a week.
When you are working remotely,
they might think you are chilling
and being unproductive.
To
avoid such misconceptions, it is
essential to stay visible by being
active and attentive during working
hours.
For instance, give quick
replies to messages, and comments,
and regularly connect with your
teammates, etc.
10. Experiment with Productivity
It is important to understand that
not all productivity methods are
suitable for everyone, so do not
hesitate to try.
Experiment
with methods such as time
boxing, time
blocking, Pomodoro technique
to find out which one is effective
for you. Always optimize your
workflow to the highest
level of efficiency.
11. Dress for Work
Although it is comfortable to work in pajamas, dressing for work can influence your attitude toward work in a big way. Wearing formal clothes as if you are going to work can assist in creating a work environment and culture. It can also help you to gain confidence and enhance your performance when attending virtual meetings. It is possible to be both comfortable and neat, so finding a balance between the two is achievable.
12. Keep Your Tech Reliable and Ready
Reliable technology is one of the
most important aspects of a
successful remote
work environment. Make sure
that you have a good connection to
the internet and update your
software and hardware regularly.
Always copy files that are
crucial to your work and have a
backup plan in case of technological
breakdowns. Dependable technology
reduces interruptions and ensures
efficiency in the working process.
Remote Work Best Practices for Employers
As an employer, you have a set of
best practices to ensure remote work
is successful and productive for
everyone involved.
Here’s how
they can support and enhance the
remote work experience.
1. Get Feedback
One of the most important things you
can do to support remote employees
is to ask for regular feedback. This
doesn’t have to be
complicated—simple surveys,
one-on-one meetings, or informal
check-ins can work wonders.
The goal is to understand
what’s working and what isn’t for
your team. Remote work comes with
its own set
of challenges, and the only
way to improve the experience is by
listening to your employees. When
they see that their input is valued
and acted upon, it fosters a culture
of trust and openness.
2. Be Open to Embrace Diversity
If you have employees working from home from different countries, it is crucial to know their work culture. Also, be receptive to their ideas and opinions as these can be beneficial to your business.
3. Understand Your Organization’s Remote Work Policy
You and your team must have a proper and well-established remote work policy. The policy must be fully understood by you as an employer and it should also be effectively communicated to the rest of the team. The policy also needs to be revised periodically as new technologies emerge or new issues come up. It is important to keep the guidelines clear so that everyone is on the same page and there is no misunderstanding.
4. Offer Training Opportunities
Yes! Remote employees also need
training as much as in-office
employees, so it is crucial not to
dismiss the training opportunities
as a result of remote work. Better
to invest in online learning
resources for remote workers.
For instance, digital
libraries, online learning
platforms, webinars, etc.
5. Recognize Success
It is crucial to recognize the
efforts and accomplishments of your
remote employees to ensure they
remain motivated and productive.
Since there is no direct interaction
in the office, achievements can be
overlooked.
Try to find ways
to reward and appreciate the efforts
made by the employees. This can be
done verbally during meetings,
through emails, or even by providing
incentives. Acknowledging
achievements, no matter how small,
not only increases the motivation
of employees but also the
unity of the team.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, it’s important for you to follow best practices for remote work to maintain your productivity, collaborate effectively, and achieve a healthy work-life balance. By creating a solid routine and keeping in regular contact with your team, you can overcome the difficulties associated with working remotely. These habits not only increase output but also foster a sense of teamwork and professional pleasure.
Boost your remote work productivity with Time Champ’s time tracking—start your free trial today!
Signup for FreeBook DemoFrequently Asked Questions
One of the difficulties of working remotely is to maintain motivation during large projects. To keep yourself motivated, it is advisable to subdivide the project into smaller tasks with achievable goals. It is important to look for ways to keep the momentum going by focusing on the small successes. You can also set personal rewards after each milestone, which can be a cup of coffee, a short walk, or something you enjoy.
To avoid being overwhelmed by technology, schedule certain periods when you will not be using your gadgets. For example, do not check your emails or work applications after working hours. You can also use “Do Not Disturb” modes to avoid notifications during focus time. Remember to engage in non-screen activities throughout the day, for example, exercise, reading a book, etc.
The first step towards enhancing your video call presence is to prepare adequately. Make sure that the environment you select for meetings is noise-free and has adequate lighting. Make sure to sit in front of the camera at eye level and wear proper clothes as it adds to the professional look. Pay attention during meetings and ensure that your non-verbal communication indicates that you are listening, for instance, nodding or maintaining eye contact.
Zoom fatigue is one of the biggest issues that people face when working remotely. Schedule some time gaps between the meetings for a short break to help the mind relax. Reduce the frequency of meetings and opt for other forms of communication such as emails or project management tools where possible. If meetings are unavoidable, prefer shorter and specific meetings rather than one-hour meetings.
