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Whether your business is new to telecommuting or is seasoned in remote work, staying current with strategies is vital now and in the years ahead.
Furthermore, strategies must focus on simplicity and usability.
To maximize productivity of your employees working from home and to prevent disruption in your company’s operations, the right tech-contingency strategies are vital.
In this way, you will be effective in dealing with your customers, employees and vendors. That’s important for healthy engagement and productivity with apps and platforms for email, mobile collaborations, virtual events and web conferencing.
Here are four strategies:
1. Lay a bedrock for telecommuting
Due diligence is important. Initially, you need to establish a remote-work policy that covers the following elements:
- Work requirements
- Remote working plan
- Effective communication
- Adequate budget
- Training
- Support
You must also have security. That means a virtual private network (VPN).
A VPN provides security for your internet activities, and should always be turned on when doing work. No work should be performed without using the VPN.
Remember an old but applicable marketing idiom: Test, test and test. The VPN must be checked to make certain it works reliably.
Caution: Many VPNs operate on central hubs which result in slow traffic during business hours.
Instead of user IDs and passwords, use a two-factor authentication to guarantee security.
Make certain your employees have a fast, dependable computer system — not just a smartphone. So, query your employees about how they would use your data.
They might need assistance in establishing mobile hot spots, or internet service for optimal bandwidth.
Typically, companies either invest in remote programs by purchasing, leasing or renting computing equipment for their employees or they allow their workers to use their own devices.
What’s basically needed: A computer or tablet, smartphone and internet access.
Naturally, it’s cheaper when employees use their own devices, but for security it’s also riskier. Not to mention if workers use their own devices, they’re often inclined to use unauthorized apps.
You should have a requirement for an authorized webcam with a minimum of 720p resolution for conferencing.
For clarity, also important is a quality headset or headphones with a microphone.
Workers living with families or roommates need to have an “on-air” sign to avoid communication being disturbed or interrupted. Or, at the minimum, they should post a “do not disturb” hanger or sign.
2. Use the right apps and tools
Bear in mind that remote workers are somewhat doing so under duress because they’re used to working in the office.
They should use the same business apps for collaboration and communication at home that they would use at your office. That includes using the cloud and mobile apps and it goes for documents, files, media and spreadsheets.
But continue to be on the lookout for new and better software and tools.
3. Develop skill sets for remote working
Working at home means the loss of social interaction – for instance, no office collaboration, lunchroom chatting nor hallway camaraderie.
Many workers feel disconnected.
Therefore, digital telecommuting requires a new workers’ mindset.
4. Propagate a remote culture
Everyone needs to know what’s possible in mass collaboration to accomplish using digital tools and how productivity can be enhanced for your organization’s welfare.
Again, many workers will feel the effects of isolation. So, create a supportive environment.
Remember that moving too quickly to a remote workplace and rigorously training disoriented workers on crowd sourcing and other software can present another problem.
In other words, this means sufficient time must be devoted to learning, teaching and training. In this regard, have a dedicated remote-work support team to engage and teach telecommuters.
And don’t forget about leadership in managing remote workers. You need to be visible to maintain communication and your culture.
From the Coach’s Corner, editor’s picks:
Tips to Make Your Telecommuters Feel Part of the Team – It’s important to develop and implement strategies for telecommuters to feel a strong connection with you and other onsite and offsite staff members. Here are suggestions.
Flexible Work Arrangements – The New Normal in HR? – Thanks largely to technology, some businesses have increasingly found it advantageous to allow their employees to work from home. But most employers probably aren’t enamored with the idea, especially if they feel they have a lot to lose in their competitive marketplaces. Here are the pros and cons.
Precautions for Your Workplace Coronavirus Plan – Be especially mindful of employees who have symptoms similar to acute respiratory ailments such cough, fever and shortness of breath.
“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”
-Albert Einstein
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