With the spread of Covid-19, a lot of companies are beginning to implement remote working strategies. At SMTP2GO, our team has been working remotely for years, so we’ve figured out how to make it work whether our colleagues are at home, in our office in New Zealand, or in a co-working space. Here are our top tips for making remote working work for you.
Communication is Key
The most crucial aspect of remote working is communication, particularly when moving from an environment where colleagues are used to interacting face-to-face. We use several different tools to allow for effective communication, especially taking into consideration our different time-zones. We use Skype daily for regular communication amongst the Support Team and Review Team. We have different channels for different chats. For example, we have channels for non-work related group chats and separate channels for important announcements. We also use Slack for communicating with our developers and the rest of our team in New Zealand.
Creating a Workspace
To work efficiently, it’s important to set up a space where you’re in a working frame of mind. Some of our colleagues attend co-working spaces while others work at home. Some have a home office, and others work from their kitchen table. Regardless of where you work, it’s important that you’ve got everything you need to hand. If you take calls, make sure that you have a good headset, and reliable internet is also important. If your WiFi isn’t reliable, try working with an ethernet cable to improve your connection. By creating your “office” (even if it’s just a laptop on the table), it makes it easier to step away from work when you log off. You have to think of your mental health and we all need to switch off sometimes.
When You’re Working, You’re Working
If you’re not used to remote working, it can be tempting to try and get things done around the house while you’re logged on. One thing leads to another, and suddenly you realize that it’s the end of the day and you’ve got nothing done. Set out a working schedule for yourself (if you haven’t got one already) and don’t forget to give yourself breaks. By sticking to a schedule you’ll be more productive.
Set Clear Goals
In offices, flexible timetables can be a point of contention. Some people believe that the work you do is reflected by the number of hours spent in the office, while others focus on the productivity of the work done. By deciding what your focus is (either individually or as a team) it can help you to reach your goals more effectively.
Dress for Success
Get up and get dressed. This seems like an obvious one, but it can be easy to get into a habit of staying in your pajamas all day Get yourself dressed for a normal day of work (although obviously, you can ditch the suit!) and it will be easier to get into the right mindset.
Don’t Forget the Coffee!
Need we say any more?
(All GIFs thanks to giphy.com)
