Many business owners are wary to the idea of their employees working from home. Many directors worry that remote workers would only end up sleeping or playing or watching movies or eating or browsing the internet and that productivity would suffer as a result. This is not surprising though as many people are still living in the past that workers who are not supervised physically would end up wasting company time and resources. The truth though is that with the advent of technology, companies and businesses should be looking into remote working. An article published by Inc.com based on a study by Nicholas Bloom from Stanford University suggests that the time is ripe for companies to be more open-minded when it comes to remote working because of the long list of benefits that can arise from it. For example, companies that offer their employees the option to work remotely can save money on office expenses. Similarly, working remotely eradicates commuting times, ensuring that employees have more energy. In order to offer working remotely and for it to be as productive as possible, we have summarized some key tips to ensure that working remotely is successful, yields good results and happy employees. Here are 10 tips that can be used to boost the productivity of remote workers.
Tip 1: Have a schedule and stick to it.
It is important that people who work remotely have and stick to, a schedule Having a routine allows them to become more motivated and more productive. It will set a schedule that will be all for work and the rest of the day will be for personal time. It also gives a remote worker the mindset that at a specific period, he or she will focus just on work.
Tip 2: Know your priorities.
Remote workers often have difficulty prioritizing tasks. That is why it is highly recommended that one sets the time to prioritize which tasks should be done first. This will help ensure a smooth workflow throughout the day. People who work remotely should also know how to have self-discipline as this trait will be his or her best friend while working at home.
Tip 3: Use the right tools.
To be a lot more productive, business owners should invest in the right tools that remote workers can use to boost their productivity. These tools would help them do their jobs much more efficiently and effectively. Aside from that, remote workers should also invest in having the right work equipment at home. A good laptop, a stable internet connection, and the right table and chair should be more than enough to keep the productivity going.
Tip 4: Know when it’s time for work, and when it’s time for play.
People who work remotely can be pretty comfortable because they are at home or anywhere that is comfortable for them. This can also make them become so focused on work that they would burn themselves out. This is not a good thing though because health is still wealth. This is why it is important for remote workers to understand that there is a time for work and a time for recreation. Some suggestions to make this happen would be to find a workspace that is not on the couch or the bed. One may also want to have their own “office space” at home so that they can put a delineation between work and life.
Tip 5: Care for yourself.
Because remote workers do not go out often, they tend to give a lot less focus on their health. It is important though that these remote workers continue to take care of their health and still be able to acknowledge their energy levels. Although telecommuters have a lot less chances of getting sick, it is still always best to prevent it from happening. Having some time for exercise would do wonders.
Tip 6: Try to get more video calls or conferences compared to emails.
Most communication done with remote workers is through emails. But getting to know other people at the other end would help remote workers get messages across and back a lot more easily. Emails tend to remove emotions while face-to-face communication can help clarify things better and get messages understood faster without getting more confusion into the picture. Take advantage of technology to have video calls or conferences. This is another tip that could be used by business owners who would like to know how to work remotely.
Tip 7: Find a schedule that coincides with the time your colleagues work.
Although many businesses do not require their remote workers to work specific hours, it will help remote workers with productivity if they find a schedule that overlaps with the hours that their colleagues work. That way, if there are any questions or any issues that need clarification, they can easily get their answers. Plus, this also helps the whole team work as one.
Tip 8: Go home even if you are already home.
When a person working in an office has finished his shift, he would turn off his computer and then go home to relax. This is what remote workers should also do – turn off their computer and enjoy the rest of the day relaxing. By doing this, they are able to put a line between work and personal life. It should also help one recharge and be ready for another day at work.
Tip 9: Take out any distractions.
Another way to boost productivity of remote workers would be to understand that there are distractions happening all around. There are some tools that can be of great use. There are apps and other tech that they can use to block out any distractions that come with using the computer. These apps can be set so that users would not have any access to social media sites and the like during work hours. Or if there is access, it would only be for a limited time.
Tip 10: Send weekly updates.
Remote workers may also start sending updates weekly to his manager or boss. That way, a remote worker can report what has been accomplished for the week and what other things need to be done in the coming week. It would also allow both remote workers and bosses to understand what is happening and be on the same level.
These 10 tips may be useful for some and not for others. It is important to try them out on a trial and error basis and see which ones work and which ones don’t to ensure maximum productivity and wellness for all involved.
published under Business Address Guides
