Remote Working - Tips and Best Practices

RALEIGH, N.C. - March 27, 2020 - PRLog -- At first, making the switch to working from home - and learning how to manage remote workers as a supervisor - can feel a bit jarring. There is a misconception that employees may be less motivated and less productive when first making the switch to remote work. However, recent studies have actually shown that 77% of remote employees say they're more productive when working from home (CoSo Cloud (https://www.cosocloud.com/press-releases/connectsolutions-survey-shows-working-remotely-benefits-employers-and-employees)).

Here are a few simple tips you and your team can follow to ensure you're just as productive working remotely as you would be in a physical office:

• 1. Start your day as if you were going into the office. Set your alarm, wear the same clothes you normally would, or even meal prep the same meals as if you were bringing your lunch to the office. This will help jump-start your day and transition your brain to work mode.
• 2. Be vocal about the hours you will be online and available. You should be working the same hours from home as you would be if you were in the office. Make sure you've discussed these expectations with your manager and team members.
• 3. Test your technology. Make sure your equipment (phones, computers, VPN, video-conferencing tools) is working correctly, and notify your manager or IT department if any complications arise.
• 4. Designate your work space. Ideally you want to pick an area that is quiet, clean and allows you to focus. This will help you transition to the right state of mind when you start your day.
• 5. Provide structure and organization to your day. Set a schedule and specific goals for your day and week of the projects you will work on and tasks that you will accomplish.
• 6. Take breaks. Be sure to take breaks and stretch your legs as you normally would if you were in the office to keep your brain from burning out. Go outside, take a quick walk, grab coffee - anything that gets you out of the work mindset for a short time.
• 7. Communicate, communicate, communicate! Check in with your team members often and make sure you're all staying on top of your work. Pick a communication channel that works best for your team, whether that's Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts, etc. As a manager, make sure you're hosting regular meetings with your team to keep everyone in the loop and on track.