6 Tips for Effective Remote Working
Remote working should be something that all organisations offer regardless of whether there is the possibility of a pandemic or not. Family commitments, medical appointments and home deliveries are all part of our lives so being able to offer flexibility is something that all people-focused companies should do.
Every now and then we’ll also have large-scale issues, such as we are facing now with coronavirus, that will require extra measures to be taken.
The spread of the coronavirus has seen events like South by Southwest and the Atlassian Summit in Vegas (where I was due to speak) cancelled, football matches postponed or played behind closed doors. This past weekend the Pope delivered his Angelus prayer via video to an empty St Peter’s Square; elsewhere people were fighting in supermarket aisles over toilet paper.
Whilst travel is being kept to a minimum it’s still unavoidable for many people and those people face the prospect of having to potentially self isolate.
In cases such as these where medical advice stipulates that a person stay inside, every organisation has to remember that they have a duty of care towards their people and ensure that they’re paid and looked after during the period of isolation.
They can also ensure - where possible - that staff are set up to work remotely with a minimum of fuss, thus reducing the need for travel and possible exposure or else to provide different alternatives to coming into the office.
It’s never been easier to work remotely thanks to fast internet connections (Australia excepted!), collaboration tools and a more relaxed view of when people need to be in the office. Cisco is one such organisation that values this.
Almost 90% of their employees telecommute once a week. This saves over 3 million hours of commuting, providing them with $270m more productive time and stopping over 47,000 tons of carbon from being pumped into the atmosphere. The numbers for remote working certainly stack up.
Having a well-defined culture provides the foundation for great remote working. Agreement on the six pillars of culture - personality and communication, vision, values, behaviour, collaboration and innovation - ensure that everyone understands what’s expected of them at all times and keeps them both physically and emotionally connected.
If your organisation has yet to do this work, then here are six tips - three for the organisation, three for the individual - for more effective remote working.
FOR THE ORGANISATION
1. Trust your people
It seems ridiculous to start with this point, but I still think that many organisations see trust as something that needs to be ‘earned’ rather than ‘assumed’. Indeed one survey found that 78% of people don’t fully trust their workmates! If you’ve taken the time and effort to hire people that have the technical and emotional skills to do the job, then do point number 3 really well and let them get on with it. If you expect the worst of people then it’s likely that you’ll get it.
2. Invest in collaboration tools
There are literally hundreds of tools that you can use to stay connected which you should be using regardless of whether people are working remotely or not, in order to cut down on the amount of email sent. It’s important that you pick one, ensure that everyone is trained on how to use it properly, that it is used consistently and evolves over time to stay relevant.
3. Set expectations well
By far the biggest issue with remote working is the fact that expectations are neither set or managed well. Expectations around how the individual sets themselves up for success (see below), about when they should be on and offline or simply about the quality of their deliverables. When expectations are set and managed well, the work gets done.
FOR THE INDIVIDUAL
1. Set up your workspace
Just because you’re not in the office doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t set up your workspace properly. To work from home effectively you need a good internet connection, a laptop or PC with all of the right applications installed and preferably a light space in which to work in. You also need to remove all distractions to allow you to focus on the job at hand.
2. Establish your routines
No lounging around in your PJs all day, let’s deal with that one first. Whilst you don’t have to get dressed in office attire, you still have to get dressed, unless your surname is Lebowski! Your attitude has to be right and you can’t be putting the washing on or popping to the shops. The simple rule when working from home is to ask yourself ‘Would I do this if I was in the office?’ If the answer is ‘no’, then it can wait until you finish for the day.
3. Stay in constant contact
Working remotely can be a lonely business, so it’s critically important that you stay in touch. Chat tools can definitely help, but it’s also nice to see another face or speak to someone on the phone. Video conferencing is so simple to use these days that it’s a mistake not to use it. Oh and when people dial you in for meetings, you have to remain focused, you can’t be tapping away on your laptop or nipping to get a drink. Don’t forget the simple rule from point number 2!
With a little bit of trust, preparation and discipline, working remotely can be just as effective as being in the office. It’s not the future, it’s here now. What are you doing to set yourself up for success?
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