Remote Working

Posted on 16 August, 2021 at 11:57

The corona-virus has changed the business landscape significantly. Many firm leaders, who were once reluctant to allow employees to work from home or other locations, now realize the value of a remote workforce, especially when it comes to recruiting and retaining talent. But working remotely can also create challenges, such as communicating with and managing employees, setting up necessary technology, and establishing and enforcing processes and policies for a virtual working environment.

Other challenges include feeling isolated, tired, or lonely; lacking motivation; dealing with distractions, often from children or barking dogs; and cohabitation with family, all day, every day. The dynamic of being together 24/7 is a big shift for a lot of people and has caused a lot of struggles.

The future of work, will be a hybrid of remote and in-office work, and thus it’s imperative that people know what it takes to flourish in a remote environment. Below are just tips of how we can improve working remotely

Be flexible of communication styles: Adapt your communication style to the person you are connecting to. Be very flexible in the way you communication style or channels. Determine which method gets the quickest response, and use that mode for that specific person. Be aware of the potential for misunderstanding in digital communications, and address them through a personal conversation instead of solely relying on email

Embrace technology and learn how to be effective: It’s very important for organizations to set up policies that govern in-home technology setups. Focusing first on tasks such as “password management, VPN usage, encryption, and what can and can’t be on your personal devices.” From there, move on to more firm-specific policies that address equipment ownership, internet speed requirements, and minimum-security practices. “Then move on to education and safe usage practices with every employee.

Refine your routine: It’s inappropriate to start your day reading email for hours, because your day can quickly unravel. When you wake up, centre yourself, do deep breathing, and think about what your priorities for the day are going to be. If you still want to check email first thing during your morning cup of coffee, then cap it to an hour.

Be candid: Always be ready to accept the noise that children, dogs, or the weed-whacking gardener can occur when you’re working remotely, but be truthful about other things that could impact a video or phone chat. “If I had bad Wi-Fi, I will tell what I’m doing and not try to hide it, and normally it creates a more positive spin on the conversation.

Be punctual: Meetings start on time and end on time, and this always results effective communication and make sure the issues are addressed early and set expectations. I’ve found working remotely emphasizes more respect for people’s time

By Passmore Muringai
Finance and Administration Manager
KFM Consultants
www.kfmconsultants.com