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6 Tips on Organizing a Productive Remote Working Environment for Your Team
With remote work becoming a necessity for millions of employees globally, many managers have to ensure that remote workers are productive while working in a secure environment away from their offices. Not only do they have to handle infrastructural issues, but they also have to tackle issues such as alleviating the harmful repercussions of Zoom burnout. Here are some tips on organizing a productive remote working environment for your team.
1. Overcoming Low-Bandwidth Communication:
Communication methods like chat and email are considered low-bandwidth communication instead of high bandwidth communication such as face-to-face interactions that encompass non-verbal cues. High-bandwidth communication gets more work done. This is substantiated by a study that found that face-to-face and in-person requests were 34 times more successful than email requests. Remote work has led to a loss of in-person communication as most stakeholders depend on low-bandwidth communication methods. To increase productivity, it is essential to turn on video meetings that can, to a certain extent, supplement low-bandwidth communication methods like chat and email.
Businesses can also leverage remote desktop services, which allow for seamless collaboration and high-bandwidth communication. These services enable employees to share screens, work together on projects in real-time, and engage in face-to-face video meetings, fostering a more effective and productive remote work environment.
The right solution for low-bandwidth communication depends on your business needs and the nature of the work. Implementing managed DaaS services, which offer virtual desktops and applications as a service, can also greatly enhance high-bandwidth communication for remote teams. This will help ensure that your team is able to communicate and collaborate effectively, regardless of their location or internet connection.
2. Create a remote work policy
With cybersecurity threats increasing daily, it is crucial for employers to set down a remote work policy. The policy should enumerate clear rules that govern how your remote team works on official tasks. Important items to be covered are:
1) How to set up a secure internet setup while working remotely.
2) Can your remote team members use their personal devices for remote work?
3) Can your remote team members install non-work related apps and software on their devices?
4) A reporting structure and methodology to report suspected cyberattacks by your remote team members.
3. Use DFS to help your remote teams access internal files faster
Many remote workers use consumer-facing cloud storage solutions such as Google Drive, One Drive, and Dropbox to store official documents. However, such solutions come with their own cybersecurity risks. You should use DFS (Distributed File Systems), which lets you share files that are replicated across multiple locations and remote file servers. That helps reduce geography-related access issues and increases up-time. Your remote team can also access internal company files faster while staying secure.
4. Manage sensitive data in a secure manner
Company data is sensitive, and data breaches can cause data leakage resulting in potential financial losses. You should ensure that your remote team works properly with sensitive data. Ensure strict adherence to your company remote work policy with periodic training sessions that sensitive your remote team members on what they can and cannot do when working with sensitive data.
5. Ensure your remote team members use a VPN while working on official matters
Your remote team members must use a VPN for remote connections to company resources. It helps mitigate cyber threats like data sniffing and helps keep your remote team, business information, and sensitive customer data away from public networks.
6. Tackle mental health issues that may arise due to remote work
With millions of employees working remotely due to COVID-19, there have been heightened concerns about isolation, anxiety, stress, and other mental health issues.
According to a 2020 Buffer report on Remote Work, 20% of surveyed individuals felt lonely, and 18% were unable to unplug even after completing their work. During such trying times, as an employer, it is crucial for you to take appropriate steps to handle such issues. You should provide a digital helpdesk for your remote employees to contact if they feel overwhelmed due to their remote work. You can consider providing mental health support that your remote team members can access digitally. You can either provide remote access to mental health specialists or consider the use of online mental wellness platforms to assist your remote team.
In summary
Without the proper approach, remote work can be difficult to manage for employers. Follow the tips we’ve highlighted in this article to provide a productive work environment for your remote team.
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