Six Tips to Help You (And Your Team) Succeed at Remote Work
With clear expectations, empathetic leadership, and a few work-from-home tips, HR teams can help employees thrive in the remote and hybrid workplace.
More than a quarter of U.S. employees work remotely with #WFH opportunities hitting the job boards every day. At the height of the pandemic, as many as 40% of workers took advantage of remote opportunities. Post-pandemic hybrid work, offering the best of both worlds, outranks other arrangements as the top preferred option, expected to takeover 55% of all remote-capable jobs.
Limiting exasperating commutes and putting gas and lunch money back into peoples’ pockets, remote and hybrid work isn’t just another trend. It’s the future of work. Offering remote options can save employees on average $5,000 per year. Plus, employers with large remote workforces will also find overhead savings—up to $11,000 annually that can be invested back into employees with the latest software, equipment, and training opportunities.
Remote work and collaboration technologies are connecting top talent from all over the world and transforming the livelihood of employees. Seeking greater work-life balance and autonomy, a number of employees are switching to work-from-home positions. Is your organization prepared to keep up?
Tap into remote best practices to balance flexibility and productivity.
Many office environments ask all workers to adhere to a single work style. Remote work lets employees experiment and discover how and when they are most effective.
Some people choose to do their high-focus tasks in the morning, while others conversely prefer to group their meetings together in the morning. People may want to get a workout in at a specific time or need to pick their children up from school.
To get the most out of flexibly work, especially during times of transition, leverage these best practices.
1. Establish a morning routine.
Although more casual than a couple years ago, it’s still important to put in the effort to look your best and let that energy carry throughout the day. Having a routine task, or at least identifying what needs to be accomplished at the start of your morning, makes it that much easier to find momentum while solo.
2. Define what success looks like.
Even when working in-person, you know communication and collaboration tools are only as effective as their users. Especially in the virtual workplace, it’s important to take time to set clear expectations. Let me ask you, when was the last time someone over-communicated?
3. Fill your calendar.
Don’t let the social isolation build up. Make sure to stay connected with colleagues and friends outside of work. Not to mention, this practice also helps you stick to regular working hours. Many automated tools can help you put your most important projects and people on your calendar, so they don’t slip through the cracks.
4. Schedule breaks.
Taking time to walk or stretch for even 5-10 minutes a few times a day can keep creativity high. This practice is good for your mental and physical health. Plus, taking care of yourself in this manner can prevent burnout and boost creativity.
5. Keep your environment tidy.
To each their own, however for most of us, sunshine and organization does wonders for defeating procrastination and finding focus. For many working caregivers, it can be difficult to establish a work zone in the chaos of family life but having a sacred desk space can make a big difference. Some recommend a dedicated room, office, or co-working space separate from home life. The point being: Find what works for you and stay consistent.
6. Take advantage of remote team building.
All work and no play? No, thank you! Put those fun meetings and happy hours on your calendar. It’s too easy to let connection get lost in the virtual weeds. Even though the “water cooler” may no longer exist, group chats and GIFs can bring a smile to a coworker’s face and plant the seeds of friendships at work.
Embrace flexibility and asynchronous work with planning, trust, and clear expectations.
In 2023, most workers want flexibility. For remote workers, this is nonnegotiable. And some organizations are simply replicating the in-person work format, instead of taking the innovative path forward.
Powered by a deep trust for your people, leaders must embrace asynchronous work. When adequate planning and clear communication is paired with the latest collaboration technologies, employees can succeed while choosing to work how they prefer.
Employers who build seamless employee experiences and train their people to thrive in the new workplace, will see increases in job satisfaction, business growth, and retention.
Employees who feel supported or more likely to go above and beyond in their role. The last few years have proven that productivity is both a by-product of environment and organizational culture. Combining empathetic leadership with these remote work best practices will create an unstoppable workforce.
Our Workspace Anywhere philosophy guides our employee experience, and we’re honored to be named (for the second time) as one of America’s Best Midsize Employers by Forbes and Statista.
