03 Jun Adjusting to the world of remote working

Making remote productivity work for you

We’re in a new age of working environments – literally. Remote working, while not a new concept, has grown in popularity as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. And even with the deployment of vaccinations and a rise in wide-scale immunizations, a return to “normal” is a thing of the past. 

Given its accessibility and application, businesses will likely maintain remote working strategies for years to come. For that reason, adjustint can be a challenge. It’s different from a traditional office setup, where you’re in direct communication with other staff and management. In those scenarios, small things are easy to take for granted – like an immediate question you have about a policy, security query, or project.

With remote working, though, you can find yourself “on your own” for various tasks. Or, when you need help, getting assistance takes time. It’s for that reason we’ll jump into the first important tip:

Communication is Key

What plan or project has ever succeeded with poor communication? With remote working, it’s no different. Communication – or good communication – is absolutely essential to work success, management, and efficient project flows. 

There are, fortunately, numerous business communication tools widely available. But software tools are only a part of the equation, a method to manage, not the management itself. If you weren’t organized as a business before, or had lapses in communication strategies, that will become very apparent for basic and complex tasks.

Personal Focus and Organization

One of the biggest barriers to successfully navigating remote work is personal discipline, organization, and focus. It’s easy to get distracted when not in a typical office environment, and even in a normal setting, distractions were still plentiful. Translated to remote working, the problem expands. 

Remote working is not only challenging from a solo standpoint, but because a lot of the work comes down to individual efforts. Therefore, we have to make a point to mind distractions, keep ourselves in quiet environments, and above all treat a work space like such: for work. That’s not exactly a startling revelation, given you can apply it to almost anything. But it’s easy to forget with remote working strategies. 

Understanding Cyber Safety

That’s a big one, isn’t it? The nature and concept of cybersecurity as a whole can appear daunting. Every other day there’s a new breach reported or type of ransomware attack. How do you keep up? What do you do if something happens and there’s no IT expert around to assist?

The reality is, you don’t need the expertise of a cybersecurity based graduate to practice good defense strategies. In fact, a majority of malicious attacks which are successful, like phishing, simply rely on human error to succeed. Therefore, while it is important to have a good grasp of cybersecurity habits, you won’t need technical mastery to be a pro.

We’ve discussed good habits at Bytagig before, but a golden rule is to remain skeptical, especially in remote work environments. 

Enjoy the Flexibility

Despite its challenges, remote working does lead to increased productivity. The increased levels of comfort and low-stress environment are contributors to an improved workforce. For instance, a Stanford-conducted study over the course of nine months demonstrated a work performance increase of 13 percent!

Therefore, take advantage of the space you have set aside for remote work, including the comfort of your home. You’ll find it makes “coming to work” a pleasant experience rather than the mental drudgery of say, driving to work.

Remote working is still a new concept for many people, but with these tips you can make it a more efficient experience.

For additional questions and info, contact Bytagig!