How Remote Working Became A Part Of D&I And What We Learned
One of the most challenging, but also one of the best decisions we ever made was going remote. For us, it was a choice, but for others now it became a must. Because of this pandemic, many things changed around us, and so did the way we work. Companies found themselves forced to take the next steps into the remote working world.
The first time we heard about working remotely, we thought it would be fun. We wouldn't have to wake up early to get to the office, we would save on gas money, we could stay in our pajamas the entire day, and no one would know. But, working remotely does give you those benefits, but it also comes with challenges.
Over the past two decades, working remotely went from a crazy idea to a reality for employees across the globe. Millennials enjoy the flexibility and started the discussion of Remote working being the "future of work."
WHAT: KEEPING YOUR TEAM MOTIVATED AND PRODUCTIVE
Getting your team on board is easy but keeping them motivated and productive is the challenge. Do you remember those unplanned kitchen conversations with colleagues or being able to walk to each other's desk to ask a question that turns into a whole office discussion? Those were important parts of the workday that had a direct impact on an employee's performance. Nowadays, managers often worry about remote employees working less, or multitasking, mixing personal responsibilities with work. They also have concerns that working remotely could decrease communication and collaboration among coworkers and might constrain the informal learning that typically happens in the office. The question after this statement is: how will we mimic those office benefits virtually?
HOW: TO KEEP YOUR TEAM MOTIVATED AND PRODUCTIVE
Get the infrastructure right.
Give people the right technology or access to it? Check who has a laptop or not. Set up a list of software that your employees need to get their work done. Make sure that every employee has full access to everything, so no one feels left behind.
Trust your employees
Set clear expectations in terms of performance level, project prioritization, and how much work to do. Another aspect of trust is to give positive feedback. Remote workers can feel out of the loop and undervalued—unless you let them know that you recognize and appreciate their talents. By allowing workers to work remotely, and to work flexible hours as long as they meet deadlines, companies aren't permitting laziness—they're allowing autonomy. They're telling the people they hired that they trust them to do their job and to do it well.
A flexible schedule is the most significant advantage of remote work
Walking the dogs instead of commuting, that mid-morning gym session, the freedom to catch up with friends, and not having to schedule time off for appointments. These are just some of the ways remote workers can enjoy a flexible schedule. Forty percent of respondents rate this is the most significant benefit of remote work. And it turns out that this flexibility made employees work a true full shift (or more).
To conclude, teams can experiment and adapt. It is also possible for teams to freeze under pressure and fall back. But with the right tools and team support, focusing on achieving exceptional levels of growth and productivity as a remote team, you will watch your team flourish. This will be a challenge that will keep you energized and experimenting long after this crisis is behind us.
