Top Tips for Successful Remote Working

Successful remote working is efficient, productive and enjoyable explains Carole Spiers

Remote working is now the norm due to the current pandemic, and, thankfully, today’s technology makes that viable. However, for many administrators, trainers and managers, there are issues that need to be taken into consideration to ensure that efficiency and productivity remain high within teams, and that the new way of working is as enjoyable as it can be.

For some, working from home will be a welcome opportunity that offers flexibility, but for others it can be challenging to remain focused and motivated. So, in your role as an administrative professional, ensuring a successful remote working experience for your team needs efficient management.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

It may be easy for team members to feel it’s a case of ‘out of sight, out of mind’ and, given the current uncertainty over the pandemic and its effects, people can feel isolated and unappreciated very quickly.

Although this is new territory for many, ensuring that you keep in touch and can mentor your team effectively is vital for dynamics and motivation.

Feeling isolated, lonely, having difficulty switching off, and experiencing an absence of social support can become a problem so preventative measures do need to be taken. Remote working can increase stress and reduce wellbeing, so having the right kind of communication should be a priority so that people feel they are still part of the team, even though they are not meeting physically.

Communicating Remotely

Knowing how to communicate with someone remotely may be a new skillset to be learned – it’s different from communicating face to face. However, you still need to be able to provide appropriate guidance and support, even though it might be difficult to simultaneously manage this new situation and the impact of the pandemic upon yourself. There has been little time – for many, no time – for specific training and guidelines to be written and put into practice.

The new circumstances cannot be avoided, however, so we must look at this new health threat as a challenge to be overcome eventually, as well as one that, in the meantime, must be treated with the utmost caution and respect.