Social distancing has been identified as a crucial method in order to help slow the spread and rate of infection during the current coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. As more of the global workforce continues to work from home in a bid to self-isolate and self-quarantine employees, many companies and employers have had to adapt to managing a remote workforce. As the world continues to wind down, with an increasing number of schools, transport systems and businesses scheduled to close, a study recently conducted by Instant Offices has investigated industries that are already prepared for complete remote working. We look at techniques these companies are using to help overcome the typical challenges of managing a remote team. Although three-quarters of companies worldwide have already switched to flexible working options, with 83% reporting a boost in productivity, constant remote working is something that many organisations have still not adequately developed infrastructure for. The results of the study indicate that only IT and Marketing sectors are currently geared up to leverage remote working.
Top 10 fields for remote working
- Information Technology (29.2%)
- Marketing (24.5%)
- Business Administration and Management (4.7%)
- Mobile App Development (4.5%)
- Shopping (3.9%)
- Other (3.5%)
- Education and Training (3.3%)
- Arts (3.3%)
- Human Services (3.2%)
- Correction and Security (2.9%)
Communication is key
For many workers, increased connectivity in personal and work lives has made the transition into remote working a relatively easy one. Faster and more reliable Wi-Fi and broadband, access to cloud systems and team collaboration tools mean ‘the office’ can be just about anywhere. By streamlining your work processes in this way, your team can be more professional, productive and efficient in the long run. Regardless of times of uncertainty, having a remote-working team can help reduce the stress of members of staff who want to self-isolate, which will also reduce the chance of in-office infection.
Overcoming key challenges
- Communication—getting people in different locations to work together for a common goal can be tricky. That said, the Internet has provided many powerful tools to assist with communication and collaboration in today’s modern workplace.
- Tracking activities, goals and productivity—not everyone can work effectively in a remote location. In remote settings, employees must know how to manage themselves and often wear different hats. It is, therefore, essential to ensure that team members are aware of the company’s long-term and short-term goals.
John Williams, Head of Marketing, The Instant Group, commented, “The uncertainty of the next few weeks will certainly see an increase in remote working, and as we have seen from our offices across APAC, business goes on, and work can be effectively carried out. With planning, open lines of communication and the right tech, there’s no reason why companies can’t run successful remote teams for short periods or even integrate more into their future approach on a permanent basis.”
Growing company culture remotely
Generally, co-located teams have an easier time building a company culture than remote teams. That said, there are some things organisations can do to create a positive company culture, even with remote teams:
- Choose tools that match your culture—because all communication and collaboration will be done using online tools, it is essential to choose apps and software that match the culture you are trying to create. If you want to create a fun, laid-back environment, choose tools that match this atmosphere. You also want to make it as easy as possible for your remote team to stay up-to-date. Be it via video conferencing tools, chat apps, or the comments section of your project management tool; you need to offer various ways to keep in touch and on top of the work.
- Team building—team building does wonders to foster communication, especially among remote workers who do not see each other on a daily basis. While people are self-isolating, it is still possible to be social with platforms such as Skype or Zoom for group messaging and video chats for a light-hearted catch-up to see how everyone is.
- Recognition—public recognition for a job well done is one of the most effective and most natural ways to motivate a remote team. Shout outs in a team chat, during meetings or any other way, will not only boost morale and motivation but set a standard for other team members to strive for.
Paul Arkwright
Publisher
