As more and more of us are starting to accept remote working as the new norm, it may still feel unnatural and difficult for those who have not experienced this before. Keep calm and carry on – Lineal are here to help.
Remote working out of the office or from home has increased by nearly a quarter of a million over a decade, according to the office of National Statistics.
We may have lost the face-to-face daily contact with our colleagues and friends, but this does not mean we cannot stay in touch easily and efficiently;
- Through phone calls
- Messaging
- Video calls
- Business platforms such as Teams
With the current global crisis, for most of us we may feel like we are in uncharted waters. A lot of people have had to adapt to working from home, with no planning and little time to prepare for the change. There are many questions:
- How do you set up a space where you can focus?
- How do you stay connected when you can’t meet face-to-face?
- Why does it feel like it’s never the right moment to take a break?
It’s inevitable that some employees will have questions and may struggle adapt.
So what have we learnt so far?
Microsoft’s article – Making the switch to remote work – is an interesting read, with 5 lessons on how they have approached working from home, and ideas of how best to overcome common hurdles. The current situation has compelled Microsoft to take a new look at everything from scheduling meetings to the way teams are managed.
In particular, protecting your employers and employees mental health is very important:
- Check in regularly with your team members
- Colleagues
- Customers
- Suppliers
Also check out: https://www.forbes.com/sites/onemind/2020/03/17/when-home-becomes-the-workplace-mental-health-and-remote-work/ to see what some of the experts in the industry highlight could be the key concerns and how to manage them.
So how do we make the most of working from home?
Routine is Key:
- Wake up at your normal time, but enjoy a little longer to get ready.
- Have some breakfast an extra cup of coffee, as you don’t have to face the stress of the daily commute – No traffic jams, public transport or queuing, bonus!
- Then structure your day like you would if you were in the office.
- Organise meetings, speak to your colleagues, call your customers and suppliers, adapt your ways of working.
Be productive and proactive, there are many solutions available to you, and Lineal are here to help, if you need us.
There are also various positives for remote working, both for the employee and the employer:
- Increased productivity – working remotely increases productivity work that needs focus by 16 per cent
- Higher morale – a study showed that those who work from home love their job more than those who work in an office.
- Higher employee retention
- Less stress – one in five employees say that juggling their work and personal lives is the main cause of stress
- Some of us may be lucky enough to have some four-legged furry colleagues keeping us company instead on a day to day basis.
Keep calm and carry on, and if you have any IT concerns please contact the Team here at Lineal Software Solutions Ltd.