1. Interacting and contributing remotely
Ongoing remote working in the workplace provides opportunities to improve communication and share ideas. This allows you to interact with more people and creates more opportunities for impact, even if you’re working from home.
To make the most of remote work, consider using meetings to prompt dialogue. A weekly stand-up meeting where you and your team members contribute ideas and feedback can lead to a huge boost in motivation.
You could also hold weekly calls between teammates. Set a specific agenda for the call and spend 5-10 minutes discussing your current work. If a crucial issue arises, be ready to collaborate by switching to your private calendar and inviting your teammates to join you via Zoom. It’s not necessary for all teammates to attend each meeting. A simpler option is to set an easy agenda and share the topics that need discussing at the beginning of the weekly stand-up.
2. More time for flexible work
Remote work means fewer meetings. There’s less need to visit colleagues at their desks, and more chance for collaboration.
Communication doesn’t have to stop when you’re away from the office. You can even invite colleagues into the Slack group of the workspace to chat in real-time.
A few teams are even working asynchronously. Some organizations aren’t allowing people to communicate at all or are moving to an internal collaboration tool.
3. More time for progress
Remote work takes time to become an effective working style. The first few weeks of the new work setup can be tough. Focus on using the time for uninterrupted work.
Be sure to set aside time every day for collaboration. Get into a routine by scheduling it in the morning or on the weekend.
Think of times for talking about the current work and setting the vision of your team’s future. When possible, avoid discussing feedback and presentations in the context of remote work.
4. Greater transparency
During COVID-19 remote working, people are being forced to make choices about whether to interact with colleagues. You could have to decide whether to have a one-on-one with a colleague or meet with a team for a daily update.
By continuing to communicate online, you create the opportunity for people to contribute without interacting with their colleagues directly.
5. Free time to relax
Remote work is often perceived as unstructured. However, most people enjoy flexibility and don’t require hours in the office every day. You don’t need to burn out by working remotely forever.
With both family and workplace systems under pressure, the idea of having a side project or a freelance gig might seem very appealing.
Try something new. Create a time to focus on personal interests and relax. Consider joining or starting an initiative on platforms like Slack or a group in Facebook.
What about you? Have you been managing remotely? What challenges or benefits have you encountered?
