The world has changed significantly in the past few years. And while the driving motivator for that may have been the unfortunate outbreak of COVID-19, one happy byproduct has been the adoption of remote-first working policies by a number of businesses.
Being allowed to work from whatever ‘office’ environment suits us best has been a game changer for many. Productivity is often heightened when the power is put back in the hands of the everyday employee, who feels trusted, empowered, and free to carry out their daily tasks however they best see fit.
But that doesn’t mean you have to lose the connection between your internal, or even wider team. There are a host of technical innovations which have made it easier than ever to stay in touch, collaborate, and ensure everyone is working as efficiently as possible. Here are three ways to help everyone stay on track with a remote-first approach.
- Regular virtual meeting spaces
It would have been hard at the turn of the century to imagine a reality where meetings weren’t attended in-person. Arguably the biggest shift in the day-to-day dynamic of the working world has been a move away from this more archaic process, in favour of video conference calls.
Google Meet, Teams, and Zoom have stood out from the crowd in this regard. In the case of Zoom alone, it’s been estimated that a total of 3.3 trillion minutes of meetings have been held since the pandemic. Currently, there are over 300 million users on the platform. These services allow workers to chat as often as they see fit, at the drop of a hat – or, rather, the click of a button.
- Make the most of file-sharing technology
Having a centralised hub for important documents can be a lifesaver when operating in a remote team. Cloud file sharing technology is arguably one of the most important tools in online collaboration, with services of this nature letting someone who has access to a document work on it from any location in the world. It also doubles up as a safe storage space, which workers can tap into when looking for past assignments, or educational tools to help them with the job at hand.
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- Make sure to take breaks
As fantastic as having round-the-clock access to your team can be, it’s also vital to ensure you’re striking a good balance between time spent working or communicating, and periods where employees are able to take a break from the screen. This can serve to boost morale, overall productivity, and keep energy levels high.
By allowing yourselves to temporarily switch off, you’ll do a good job keeping on track throughout the concentrated periods where you’re working. Your team may also trust you more, knowing that you rely on them to manage their own time.
Even better, encourage employees to take mental health days when they’re feeling particularly stressed or overwhelmed. These days off can be used to engage in restorative activities, such as hobbies, socialising or simply resting at home. Having this kind of extended break from work can be incredibly beneficial to employee wellbeing, ensuring that they can come back feeling refreshed.
Being remote doesn’t mean you have to lose connection with your team. Make sure to keep these handy factors in mind to heighten your out-of-office experience.
This post was supplied to HRTech247 and written by Simon Harrison
