Overcoming the Challenges of Remote Working
Published: 31/05/2020
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The challenges of remote working can no longer be ignored. Therefore, we wrote this article in the hope of helping business owners and managing directors overcome these issues. The hybrid model is predicted to persist beyond the pandemic, permanently changing the way we work. Thus, optimising the business for remote working conditions is in your best interests.
The recent pandemic forced office-based teams in the UK to work remotely for many weeks. While schools have now opened and shops soon followed, it is likely to take longer for offices to fully reopen. This is especially true for larger workspaces and office blocks where safety risks remain high. Consequently, many companies have adopted a hybrid work model that persists to this day. A hybrid working approach allows some employees to work from the office while the majority remain remote. Depending on the company's policies, employees on-site usually interchange.
At this point, your team might have settled into remote work, but that doesn't mean it comes without challenges. Over the weeks, you may have encountered some issues with what you assumed was a temporary setup. However, now that it’s likely a permanent change, it’s wise to address these concerns for good. Believe it or not, most barriers to remote work can be easily overcome. We’ll prove it to you in this article.
Like any working model, remote work presents its own set of challenges. Here are some key ones:
Time and productivity management;
Finding work-life balance;
Procrastination and distraction;
Lesser in-team communication;
Increased risk of burnout;
Lack of motivation to perform better.
Naturally, there are other challenges, but they tend to vary depending on the business, its objectives, and culture. The ones we listed are the most common and are also those we have observed in our experience. We won’t delve deeper into all of them today, only into those we have identified as the most problematic.
Most companies wouldn’t offer the benefit of remote work prior to the pandemic, fearing it would negatively impact productivity. This fear isn't entirely irrational, especially if there was no previous attempt at this approach. However, most employees tend to improve their performance when working remotely. Ultimately, success or failure largely depends on the mentality of the staff and the overall office culture, alignment, and communication.
The fear was initially reinforced. A small dip in productivity occurred when businesses, having never operated remotely before, were forced to transition to home offices. While this was expected, it was also predicted to be a short-term consequence of an adjustment period. For the most part, this prediction was accurate, and productivity numbers recovered, even reaching new heights as companies embraced remote working. However, if this doesn’t convince you to stay remote or hybrid, we will next delve deeper into common reservations to dismantle them.
At first glance, working from home may sound like bliss. Instead of waking up early, getting yourself to look smart, and spending time commuting, you get to sleep in and work straight from your bed. However, things aren’t as wonderful. In fact, remote working presents more challenges than going into the office. Lack of motivation, difficulty unwinding after work, endless distractions… and that’s just to name a few. This article could become very lengthy if we tried to analyse each challenge, so let’s focus on the most common and troublesome issues.
Remote working is notoriously more challenging for employees with families or busy households – it can hamper productivity. Although it may seem easier now that children are back at school, you shouldn’t overlook cases where a worker may need to care for an ill relative or similar. If an employee has confided in you about their difficulties, or if you’ve noticed changes in their work output, collaborate with them to find a solution. It’s important to be flexible. Consider options such as flexitime, split or reduced hours, or condensed working to help them achieve that balance.
Flexible working won’t add an extra burden for you or your HR team. There’s plenty of software to handle it for you. For example, Timesheet Portal has an automated flexitime management feature. It eliminates the need for complicated spreadsheets to manage your employees' working hours. You can also take advantage of its flexitime pool tracker, which will save extra hours worked and then subtract them from their pool when they work less.
Communication likely slipped a bit during the lockdown, but it remains as important as ever. If it hasn’t improved since the work-from-home rules were imposed, you’re in trouble. To fully embrace remote working, you must find a way to maintain good communication with your team and individual employees.
If a particular staff member has somewhat slipped off the radar, the first step is to speak with them. Check if they are coping well and if they need any additional support from you. Besides that, you could:
set up a weekly catch-up meeting over the video, using it as an opportunity to discuss work and address any queries;
communicate the importance of communication;
nominate an employee each week to share what they’ve been working on and any tips for successful remote working;
set up online channels where employees can share tips, and talk about projects but also have general catch-ups.
In other words, attempt to reestablish the line of communication. The most effective method is to seek digital alternatives to a physical office.
It’s very unlikely that businesses will return to operating fully on-site. A hybrid approach has proven to be highly effective as it offers significant flexibility. In fact, for most employees, removing remote work opportunities would be a deal breaker. Many report they would leave their job over it. Considering this, it’s evident that optimising the business for remote work is a worthwhile investment.
Setting goals is crucial as it gives us something to work towards and encourages us to manage our time effectively. It also holds us accountable, which some individuals find motivating. Do your employees have defined deliverables each week? If not, consider establishing some together, as this could be beneficial. Aim for the goals to be company-wide, team-wide, and individual. Ultimately, all the smaller personal goals should contribute to team goals, which will help achieve the overall company objectives.
Ensure that the goals are realistically achievable. Unrealistic goals can produce the opposite effect. We also recommend utilising the SMART goal framework, which will enable you to easily track progress, identify roadblocks, and recognise underperforming workers. Goals are a powerful business tool, as they foster team alignment - something that’s incredibly important in a remote working environment.
A lack of progression or opportunities for development can negatively impact motivation and productivity, especially among more ambitious employees. However, be wary; some employees are content in their positions and do not wish to advance further in their careers, and this is perfectly acceptable. It all begins with asking the question, “Do you feel fulfilled with the work that you are doing?” If their answer is “No, " you may face challenges. At that point, you should start considering ways to help them grow.
Discuss the skills the employee wants to develop and how they envision their role progressing. From there, identify how you will support them by directing them to useful resources or even offering to cover course costs. You could also suggest they find a mentor and guide them in how to choose a good one. This shows that you’re an employer who invests in their people, which can be a strong motivation booster. This approach may also help you build better rapport with employees who primarily work remotely.
Motivation might have slipped because team morale was lacking during the lockdown. To some, it may feel as though it’s not being restored, especially if remote working has become the new normal. An employee might miss the social aspect and camaraderie of being with colleagues. Therefore, consider ways to bring the team together – albeit digitally. Hold team quizzes (taking turns to be the host), arrange Friday night virtual drinks over Zoom, schedule a weekly lunch together, or involve everyone in little activities like fitness goal competitions in teams. A bit of team spirit can work wonders in boosting morale.
The importance of communication in a remote working environment extends far beyond team building and entertainment. To truly cultivate a team that is as strong working from anywhere as they would be while sitting in the office, it is essential to also have channels that promote teamwork and collaboration. Thankfully, the market is full of such solutions, commonly referred to as SaaS - Software-as-a-Service.
These software solutions are web-browser-based and are easily accessible across any device with internet connectivity. Furthermore, they can be used by multiple users simultaneously, allowing several people to work together on one document in real-time. From tracking history to exchanging commentary and streamlining task completion, SaaS technology is one of the key essentials for companies that wish to operate remotely.
Not long ago, remote working was a job perk many desired, yet very few received it. Starting in 2020, working remotely became mandatory, and businesses that were not equipped for it experienced some downfalls. However, as the months progressed, not only were the most capable of adjusting, but it was also discovered that a mix of remote and on-site working, also known as hybrid, is quite beneficial to both businesses and the well-being of staff.
The future is hybrid. Therefore, if you haven’t optimised your business to run successfully regardless of the location, you risk falling behind. From employee retention to improved productivity, remote working has proven to be much more effective than its stereotypes suggest. It all depends on how prepared you and your staff are. If you have the right communication channels, relevant software, and solid processes, remote working is not something you should fear. Instead, it is an opportunity that will help your business grow.
Are you prepared to welcome remote working as an integral part of your permanent strategy? Let us know, we have tips to share.