Optimize remote working and make it work for everyone

I have written previously about how employees can make remote working arrangements work to their advantage and do so effectively. Now that remote working is the norm, it’s time to revisit the topic and offer advice for both employees and managers. 

For employees:

Dress appropriately. It can be tempting to roll out of bed and jump onto your Zoom call but don’t do that. You should prepare for your workday the same way you would if you were going into an office. Be sure that you’re dressing in a business casual manner, that your hair is combed, and you brush your teeth. I can’t believe that I have to tell people this, but I do.

Set up a specific workspace. Assuming that you have space, dedicate a portion of it to your workstation. Think of going to your workstation as going to the office. Avoid the temptation to sit on the couch with your laptop and allowing your work to seep into every corner of your life. 

Optimize your lighting. If you’re working primarily from home, invest a few dollars in a ring light or some other type of lighting that will flatter your appearance. 

Check what else may be in view. I was recently on a video call with a client who had a whiteboard behind him in his home office. On the whiteboard was written his 4th and 1st quarter revenue goals for his current company. I advised him to erase or cover the whiteboard. This type of information should not be available for public consumption. You could also consider using a custom background.

Don’t sweat the small stuff. Kids will interrupt, dogs will bark, and cats are bound to walk in front of your camera. All of this is unimportant and is not worth worrying about.

For managers:

Avoid the temptation to micromanage. Just because you cannot see your employees does not mean that they are not productive. Perhaps it takes your remote employees only 6.5 hours per day on average to complete their work. As long as there are results, don’t worry about the other 1.5 hours. 

Respect boundaries. Your employees may work from home, but that doesn’t mean that they are on call 24/7. For example, if your employee has young children who get home from school at 3:30, make an effort not to schedule meetings at that same time. 

Be clear. Your employees are not mind readers. And it can be very difficult to get a feel for body language and other unspoken communication when you’re only interacting with someone over video call or phone. Be specific and set clear expectations for your team. 

Time zones matter. It can be challenging to schedule meetings and calls when your team is disbursed across geographies. Do your best to try to be respectful of peoples’ time zones.

Speak with your reports individually and regularly. It is easy to default to email and messenger as forms of communication. Resist the urge to rely on electronic communications wholly. Have actual conversations with your employees.

Remote working isn’t going anywhere. We’ve had nearly 2 years to get used to this new normal. If you want to remain competitive, now is the time to up your game.