A year into the pandemic and it is now clear as day that remote working is not a fad. Office spaces and cubicles have now been replaced with living rooms and dining rooms. Weekly meetings and reports have now moved to teleconference and video chats. Reporting for work in a sharp uniform has now been replaced with comfortable indoor clothing.
The big question to ask right now is “have businesses mastered remote working?” The answer will not come as a surprise to many. According to a survey conducted by TechPublic Premium
, ninety-six percent of respondents claim that their respective companies have either very successfully or successfully implemented a remote working strategy.
In this article, we take a nuanced analysis into whether remote working is overhyped or if there is true, long-term value in this set-up. We also analyze the definition of remote working and why it is practically married to a work-from-home scenario. We then add some strategies and approaches to create an effective remote working environment.
Examples of Remote Working and Key Benefits
Remote working is generally defined as executing work-related activities outside of the traditional office spaces – cubicles, conference rooms, company headquarters, and the like. Examples of remote working are the following:
Coworking – The utilization of a common physical space by numerous individuals, generally from different backgrounds, companies, and industries to cultivate a unique environment and thought bubble through open channels of communication and collaboration.
Hot desking – Assigning no permanent office space or enclosure to an employee and simply giving them desks or workspaces to work in. This kind of work can be done in hotels, rented establishments or facilities, and in other areas outside of the traditional workplace.
Working From Home – This is the most common form of remote work, especially during the pandemic as a result of health and safety regulations. Working from home is self-explanatory. It is an arrangement wherein employees conduct work in the comforts of their home.
Hybrid Workplace – This is a working format that entails a mix of work done in the traditional office setting and remote work. This type of remote work is commonly utilized by companies that are unable to commit to full remote working set-ups due to the nature of work or business or lack of tools or preparation to make the full transition.
Working from home is the best out of all these days. Millennials, a majority of the current workforce, see remote working as a major factor in making career-related choices. Remote work also makes teams better as it eliminates typical workplace inconveniences and roadblocks to productivity. Working from home can also save you thousands as it eliminates the need to regularly commute, purchase meals outside, and buy pricey office attire.
Why Remote Working is the Best Option
Remote working has proven to be what employees needed as long as the proper policies are established. It may require new, innovative ways of monitoring productivity, maintaining productivity, and managing workload, especially during the pandemic.
Undeniably, motivation and happiness are high for employees engaged in remote working. Most remote workers are inspired to do their best due to the flexibility and convenience of working remotely.
The reasons why working from anywhere or working remotely are endless, and it is a matter of improving on this effective business model that would lead to the best results.
In order to attain the best out of remote working, employers must be diligent when it comes to the following:
– Attracting the right remote workers
– Identifying the best remote jobs
– Transitioning from traditional workplace to remote working
– Maintaining morale and chemistry through team building activities
– Accepting that we are all in a “new normal”
– Developing the proper work culture through digital channels
Companies should truly consider remote working as a viable option. Employers should invest in researching and developing the right strategies to make sure execution is perfect.
The Future of Work is Remote Working
Not all companies can completely adopt the remote working set-up. The nature and variety of some forms of work demand physical presence and interaction, leading to doubts in some industries as to the longevity of remote working.
However, we can still see a majority of firms beefing up their digital infrastructure in preparation to make the full transition to working from anywhere. Employers now have their ears on the ground, carefully paying attention to global trends as well as the feedback of their employees.
In one of our videos, we interview Greg Lipper, founder and principal consultant of Lipper Solutions. We talk about how the future of working and how remote working will play a role in it as well as the operational excellence framework, a tool that companies can use to maximize employee productivity and morale, to the benefit of the customers or consumers. In this discussion, we analyze several things to consider for aspiring business owners, including:
– A global perspective of remote working
– Striving to deliver on customer expectations
– Testing different management styles and finding the proper balance
If you want to learn more about the pandemic’s impact on the future of remote working and are curious to learn more about the operational excellence framework, check out our video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB_tvE6ZadI
Should companies fully adopt a remote working business strategy?
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