Before the coronavirus pandemic, most people never imagined that the typical onsite work system in most organizations could transition into a permanent work from home.
However, since it became necessary to curb the spread of the ravaging virus through social distancing, working from home became critical to keeping companies functional, and employers scrambled to put in place work-from-home policies to fit into the new system.
Remote work kicked off with lots of uncertainties but allowed companies to keep doing their businesses in the wake of other predicaments such as natural disasters.
Right now, many employees have already ruled out the option of commuting daily to their offices out of their cards. In fact, companies like Facebook, Twitter, and several others have now committed to allowing employees to work from home if they want.
So, whether you are an employer or employee and you’d like to make this transition to permanent work from home, here’s how to go about it.
1. Use Effective Communication Tools
Communication is a critical factor in every organization. Employers will have to communicate often with their employees, employees with other employees, and the company with its customers. Hence, acquiring top-level communication tools and software is non-negotiable. Email, text messaging, landlines, smartphones, computers, social networking sites, video, and web conferencing tools are essential for effective communication.
2. Invest In Cyber Security software
Working from home means that you’ll be doing virtually everything via the internet. And with the high rate of attacks online, you must prioritize securing your personal data and sensitive information of your company and your customers.
In addition, you can utilize an enterprise VPN (virtual private network) tool to secure your company’s data and resources. This top-notch security solution provides a secure tunnel link between employees and the company’s resources on the network. With this in place, businesses have no cause to worry over any security threats or attacks on their network.
3. Do Not Mix Up Work With Your Personal Life
Transitioning from commuting to work to working from home will require some discipline in creating boundaries between work and family. If you cannot manage the blurred lines between both properly, you may burn out quickly and become less productive.
So, create strict work hours that will not meddle with home affairs. Communicate your boundaries with your family members, friends, and co-workers, and ensure you adhere to your closing hour.
4. Be Strategic With Video Meetings
Avoid unnecessary scheduling of video meetings. There have been increasing complaints of workers over video call fatigue—also referred to as “Zoom burnout.” You can avoid this issue by ensuring that every video meeting held has a well-defined purpose that is effectively communicated with other team members.
4. Create A Work Plan
Since you are unlikely to be under strict supervision in your remote work, you’ll need to be highly disciplined to get jobs done. Creating a work plan that can help you produce results from your efforts is of utmost importance. Have a plan and be wise with every moment you spend at work. By doing this, you’ll be able to get several things done while working from home.
5. Create A Dedicated Work Environment
To retain the mindset that you are actually going to work even though you’ll still be around your house requires that you create a dedicated work environment that will give you that feeling will step in.
Do your best to make your workspace look different from the remaining part of your house, even if you’ll only be having a separate desk with your computer located a few walk from the remaining part of the house. You can also add your favorite colors, mat, bookshelf, etc. Once you are done for the day, walk away from that space.
6. Communicate Regularly
Transitioning from physical to digital work might make communication lose some of its contexts. For instance, the nonverbal part of the communication and some significant nuances will be missing when it is done virtually. In essence, you’ll find it hard to move at the same level compared to communicating in person. There can also be issues when the tone of voice is misinterpreted or when a message is misread or assumed — and it can cause a rift at work.
Endeavor to constantly keep in touch with your team and make your message clearer and better seen from your point of view.
Conclusion
Several factors come to play when transitioning to permanent work from home. While the benefits will include flexibility of work hours, increased productivity, and lack of commute to the workplace, you must also be able to address possible isolation issues, the cost of a home office, family interference with work, and the physical disconnect from your team.
