Companies that adopt a remote-first strategy will be able to free up a significant amount of money that would otherwise be allocated to fixed company expenditures, such as office space and employee perks, while also increasing team productivity.
There are mixed results, but approximately 90 percent of the employers who responded to this Stanford University survey reported that the productivity of their teams remained unchanged. Some improved compared to when they worked from an office. The ability to work from home can still provide the chance to assemble teams quickly from exceptional individuals from all around the globe.
The Stanford study also shows that for remote employees, digital collaboration tools play a vital role in maintaining productivity and connection. Video-conferencing platforms such as Teams, Webex, and Zoom enable real-time communication and foster a sense of presence despite physical distance. Slack keeps everyone on the same page, while also offering Cloud-based file-sharing, ensuring that documents are accessible, secure, and easy to collaborate on from anywhere. Combined with collaboration software, these tools create an integrated environment that supports teamwork, knowledge-sharing, and consistent alignment with the core team.
Employees who work remotely often claim that they have a greater opportunity to relax and maintain a work-life balance, as they have more freedom and flexibility in their schedules. This allows them to travel and establish a work-life balance that suits their needs. Other thoughts on work-life balance are that sometimes there are pressing issues that must be addressed on time — more promptly than you can reach your remote team. These issues have to be addressed early in the hiring process.
What’s next for remote meetings?
In theory, everything is lovely; however, for managers and sometimes the employee, things aren’t always that delightful in all actuality. If you are the CEO of a globally located remote-first firm, you must understand the challenges of assembling a team that spans multiple time zones, countries, and cultures.
Meanwhile, continue to communicate effectively and begin to establish meaningful, long-lasting bonds with your employees as you build your teams. Having the tough conversations early involves timeframes, expectations, and all the new business information that will be needed to keep everyone on the same page.
According to experts, here’s what specialists have learned from their experiences working remotely or managing a remote team over the past couple of years.
If you’re a CEO of a small firm, you will have the freedom and flexibility to work from any location at any time of day or night. In these situations, your basic plan serves as one of your primary means of communicating with others. You will all need to have the same Calendar and communicate daily until each new person is settled into the way things will run within your company. And most of all, just because a person is remote, it doesn’t mean they run the show — you do — and you have the right to run your company in the efficient way you need to. Make this clear from the start.
There is no other way to effectively communicate the times you will be available or focused on essential tasks within your company. Therefore, scheduling everything you do and keeping your calendar up to date is necessary. This will allow everyone to respect their colleagues’ time and ensure that schedules do not overlap. If you need to meet with someone, simply review their schedule to determine the best time for a meeting.
Tip: Make yourself accessible!
Let’s use the fact that we have phones and a lot of technology. Make short phone calls—no more than 30 minutes—and remind each other that you’re just a text (or Slack) message away. Although automation is a popular topic, you are still working with people rather than robots.
We are still human, and we need even a tiny amount of cohabitation with the individuals with whom we spend most of our time throughout the week. Remote work doesn’t mean being remote; it means being productive. To maintain a sense of togetherness, it’s essential to adapt and create activities that promote it. For example, monthly happy hours where you and your coworkers can talk about anything other than work while getting to know one another. That is to say, taking advantage of the opportunity to interact with people from different countries is beneficial.
Consider forming groups where your team members can relax and discuss their own experiences, interests, and ideas. It is possible for people who live in the same nation to come together and form local communities.
Encourage the formation of remote work teams, having a group with your in-office team.
Practical cooperation aids in the formation of bonds and the development of trust among team members. This is true. It is critical to create clearly defined teams since this establishes the expectation that individuals will work together, even when distance separates them. Individuals must understand where they fit in and to whom they are accountable to minimize misunderstanding.
Meet with your team frequently. Using video conferencing rather than an audio call is preferable. Connecting in this way helps foster a sense of community and familiarity. Moreover, it allows you to connect more effectively with your colleagues by analyzing their facial expressions and body language. It’s a remote work truism..
Make remote work endure as long as possible
Working from home does not imply being isolated. Even if the remainder of your team is worldwide, remote employees may still form meaningful bonds with one another. Keep in mind that maintaining and communicating across remote teams must be done consistently. When you overcome the difficulties, you will reap the benefits of managing a cohesive global team.
Invest in Virtual Team Building Activities and Social Events
Virtual team building activities and social events play a crucial role in fostering team cohesion and creating a positive work environment, despite the physical distance between team members. Firstly, these activities provide an opportunity for team members to connect on a personal level. By engaging in virtual team building activities, such as online games or virtual icebreakers, team members can break the ice, get to know each other, and build meaningful relationships beyond work-related interactions. This fosters trust and rapport within the team, resulting in enhanced collaboration and communication.
Secondly, virtual team building activities and social events help combat feelings of isolation and promote a sense of belonging. Remote work can be isolating, and team members may miss the interactions that naturally occur in a physical office environment. By organizing virtual social events, such as virtual happy hours, online team lunches, or themed virtual parties, team members have an opportunity to relax, have fun, and connect with colleagues in a more informal setting. This helps alleviate feelings of isolation and reinforces a sense of community and support.
Teamwork and Well Being
Virtual team-building activities can enhance teamwork and collaboration. Through interactive virtual challenges, problem-solving activities, or team-based games, team members can strengthen their ability to work together, communicate effectively, and leverage each other’s strengths. By engaging in collaborative virtual activities, team members learn to trust and rely on one another, fostering a sense of camaraderie and unity within the team.
Lastly, virtual team-building activities and social events contribute to employee engagement and overall well-being. These activities provide a break from work-related tasks, allowing team members to recharge, de-stress, and rejuvenate. By promoting a healthy work-life balance and creating opportunities for social connections, organizations demonstrate their commitment to employee well-being and job satisfaction. This, in turn, can lead to higher productivity, motivation, and overall team performance.
Image Credit: Pexels, Andrea Piacquadio; Thank You!
Angela Ruth
My name is Angela Ruth. I aim to help you learn how Calendar can help you manage your time, boost your productivity, and spend your days working on things that matter, both personally and professionally. Here's to improving all your calendars and becoming the person you are destined to become!