Although we’ve all read news about companies that demand their employees return to the office, remote work is here to stay. That’s why it’s so important to stay connected while working remotely, so that employees can work with transparency and there is no miscommunication.
Does working remotely have a positive impact on employees?
Working remotely has a positive impact on employees. A research study from Owl Labs found that remote and hybrid employees are 22% happier than workers in an office environment and stayed in their jobs longer. Also, remote workers had less stress, more focus and were more productive than when they were onsite. As it turns out, working remotely benefits employees both mentally and physically.
However, remote work still has its challenges. It can be difficult to maintain consistent communication with your team, which can increase feelings of loneliness and isolation. That's why it's important to take a proactive approach to stay connected with colleagues. Whether your team is entirely virtual or embracing hybrid work, these strategies will help.
What are the advantages of face to face meetings?
Business travel and in-person meetings build organizational strength and foster collaboration in a way virtual interactions cannot.
Working remotely has many benefits, but when the team meets in person, collaboration improves significantly. Although there are currently many collaboration tools, being in the same room allows for more direct communication. More factors come into play, such as non-verbal communication, and the immediacy is absolute.
This is why we need face to face meetings, and to organize meetings in the most effective way, there is a tool on the market that allows you to do it in just a few minutes: TROOP.
Why are virtual coffee breaks important?
Even though there isn’t a physical break room, employees working remotely are still taking breaks during the day. And if the team can have the break together, maybe having coffee or lunch, this encourages more discussion. Keep your virtual coffee break between 15 and 30 minutes and schedule virtual lunches with co-workers just like you would a face-to-face meeting.
Remote working collaboration software for connected working
According to a Stanford study, people who are encouraged to collaborate stick to a given task 64% longer than people who work alone. In addition, those same workers report higher engagement levels, less fatigue and higher success rates.
There are numerous examples of tools that allow collaboration in a simple and intuitive way, and during the pandemic they have multiplied. Examples such as Zoom, Teams, Slack, Miro or Figma are just some of them.
The best part is that every employee can contribute no matter where they're located.
How do I keep my colleagues updated when working from home?
Without seeing each other while we work, there can be a feeling that the team doesn't know what the employees are working on. That is why it is so important to let the rest of the team know what project you are working on and what status it is in.
Take a proactive approach to scheduling time with your manager—even if it's just a 15- or 30-minute weekly call to check in.
There are many tools on the market that also help to show visibility. You can also send regular updates via video or other tools to let your boss and co-workers know what you’re working on. This is very useful, so if any colleague doesn’t have time for a quick catch up, they can watch it when they can.
Adapting to the new world of work can be challenging in many ways, but following some tips and with the needed tools you can stay productive, motivated and connected!