The pandemic keeps companies on the alert. Although some things are returning to normal, others have changed forever. Remote work is one of them.
Between Upwork’s estimates, By the end of 2021, 26% of Americans will work remotely And their predictions By 2025, approximately 22% of people will still work remotelyObviously, at least one in five Americans actually like to work from home.This is not surprising, considering the freedom and flexibility it brings, the time and money saved on commuting, and mental health are beneficial to some experiences, because a better experience Work-life balance.
Not everyone likes working remotely, so physical offices won’t be outdated anytime soon, but Ability to work remotely full-time or part-time Yes Quickly became a requirement of many job seekersAs the shortage of workers continues, they are in positions of power.
Attracting future employees is not the only reason to consider adjusting your job requirements to include some remote options-remote working is also good for employers.
How remote work can benefit your business:
- Better retention and recruitment of employees. Happy employees It is the employees who remain, and flexibility can attract more job vacancies (and higher quality because the network can be spread more widely).
- Lower overhead. Of course, you may need Keep office space For those employees who like to come in and/or meet with customers, but working remotely can still reduce your expenses in terms of square footage, utilities, and equipment.In addition, if you stay away completely, you can rent a flexible space in a shared office company and save even more-this is why Nearly 70 companies including well-known companies such as Microsoft and Facebook have decided to permanently accept remote work after the pandemic is over.
- Improve employee productivity. So you are worried that if you leave them to their own equipment, your Employees will slack off or otherwise reduce productivity? Well, the statistics there are not good for you: In a study by the University of Chicago, 30% of respondents said more Productivity when working remotely, And the 2020 FlexJobs survey found that 51% of people work from home more efficiently during the pandemic, Due to factors such as less distractions and disturbances, a quieter environment, and less office drama.
If you are considering virtualizing your business and offering remote work on a full-time or part-time basis, please don’t let this process frighten you. We provide you with important tips for the transition to telecommuting.
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Equip your business with the right tools
Find and rely on The right technique Probably the most important first step you can take, because good technology is the foundation of any successful remote business. To help solve this problem, here are just some of our favorites:
- Skyrocket — This is a classic epidemic tool, and for some reason has become the star of many memes and SNL skits, but you also have Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, BlueJeans and many others Virtual meeting options over there.
- BenchmarkONE — Look, you need a marketing automation software to integrate all your sales and marketing work in one place.We think our products are the best in the industry, but you can decide for yourself Free account.
- buffer – yours Social media strategy A centralized control room is also needed, and Buffer is an excellent choice for scheduling posts and asynchronous team work in advance.
- relaxation — Speaking of asynchrony, Slack is a great way to keep communication channels open between different work schedules and time zones. Also, for all those emojis that you want to agree to do an annoying task without actually saying something passionate (thumbs up and tick are your friends).
- Benchmark email — Your marketing team will love you for this, trust us. How do you plan to create a cohesive email strategy with a consistent voice and effective positioning from different locations across the country?One Email marketing Tools can save a lot of time and are a great way to ensure that your outreach stays consistent, even if your business changes.
- Google Workspace — If you have not used a virtual document management system like Google Docs/Sheets, then you will need one. These tools allow different team members to collaborate on the same document in real time or asynchronously, and have features such as suggestions and comments to ensure that everything is in order.
These are must-haves, but there are even better Tools to help you work remotely On our blog! Most importantly, you need the technology that suits you, which makes remote work easier rather than harder.
Communicate often and clearly
When you work remotely or with remote employees and teams, communication is a key part of building trust.Use all Digital tools You can stay informed about what is happening at any time, hold meetings (only those that cannot be sent by email), and keep in touch throughout the day.
Be careful with written communication, especially email. Although it is great for relaying and receiving logistical and tactical information, project updates, quick questions, and data sharing, it is easy to create a network of long email chains, which can cause tasks and documents to be lost in chaos.Instead, try to use Project management tools Like Slack or Basecamp, let everyone complete tasks and keep your email inbox clean.
Moreover, if the problem you are dealing with is complicated, you should pick up the phone. If your team needs guidance or feedback when dealing with challenges, then video conferencing can work well. It is important not to assume that you will be contacted when something goes wrong-check regularly to avoid chasing the ball when it starts to roll down the hill.
Set expectations and goals
Set clear goals and expectations for remote workers (including yourself).
Lay out how will you Support remote employees, How and when to check in. If your employees spend more time outside the office than in the office, make sure you schedule phone calls or video conferences with them on a regular basis. Start the week with a set goal-sign in with your remote worker to discuss what will be done this week, and when and how you will contact to get the latest information on their work progress.
As a business owner, if you prefer to work remotely, you must set specific goals and expectations for yourself, and decide what to do every day, every week, and every month. Whether you work in an office or remotely, you should have ever-changing short-term goals and more stable long-term goals.
You can also help you stay on track by contacting someone (your business partner, board member or coach). You will call them every few days or every week to ensure you achieve your goals and stay focused.
Asking questions-a lot
If you receive a confusing, frustrating, or shocking email or voicemail from an employee or your manager, don’t complicate things with a sudden or equally confusing response.
Take a moment to ask some clarification questions, and be clear, because you can’t just run to the person’s office in the lobby and get a better explanation or explain their facial expressions or tone of voice. Try to copy and paste the exact part of their email that bothers you and ask specific questions about it. The same technique applies to the phone-repeat what you don’t understand, and then ask sharp questions.
Define indicators
If you have sales representatives and other types of employees working remotely, make sure you Track sales metrics And regularly monitor their numbers during the week. Numbers tell a story, and if they don’t seem right, you can quickly solve developing problems by finding out if there are deeper problems with individuals or businesses.
Numbers are also a way of knowing how well an employee or team member is doing well, and you want to show recognition and support for it. If someone working remotely is trying to complete a task without a digital goal, create project milestones so that less specific employees have a way to measure and account for their progress and success.
Don’t treat remote employees like contractors or freelancers
Your remote employees still have professional ambitions and are interested in growing with the company. Put them in your sight-even if they are not in actual sight-for new projects and additional responsibilities.
By fostering independence and rewarding their self-discipline and motivation through interesting new projects and more responsibilities, you will build lasting loyalty among your employees. If you are working remotely, remember to act in the same way. You are still running a business, so stay professional.
As more and more employees require remote work, more and more companies agree that telecommuting is good for everyone involved. It is clear that virtual work has nowhere to go.
With clear communication, the right tools, and a positive attitude, telecommuting is not necessarily a struggle—it may be exactly what your business needs!
