Blog POST

Uncovering Your Remote Work Potential: A Step-by-Step Guide to Success

A comprehensive guide on how to create a successful remote work strategy that works for you and your team. From identifying the right tools and processes, to fostering a culture of trust and communication, the post covers all the essential steps to ensure a smooth and productive transition to remote work

While few places have actually become 100% remote, every company is feeling the pandemic-prompted shift in the workplace dynamic. This means that you need to not only evaluate strategies you previously developed but also how well you are able to implement them in this environment.

Here are a few things to consider when working on how to implement your strategic plan.

Sigmund via Unsplash

Find Your Company Remote Style

When people hear “remote-work,” the most common imagery is everyone at home. The truth is there are a few scenarios that can gain the remote-work title. In order to determine what will work best for you, you should consider things such as:

  • Your project deliverables — tasks that are primarily independent and do not rely heavily on consistent coordination are the most ideal for remote work. Projects that require high collaboration can obviously be successful in remote work but require the intentional building of systems and avenues for that collaboration to happen.
  • Your onboarding procedures — New employees or those recently promoted typically benefit from an initial period of time in the office, both to build relationships and to gain the implicit knowledge that can be more easily absorbed in the office environment. If the team is primarily remote, synchronous virtual orientation sessions or on-site retreats may be beneficial.
  • Team preferences — The narrative, memes, and videos around whether team members want to return to a traditional office setting or not has been happening for a few months. When finding your style, ask your team for their ideal situation. While remote work is popular, it is not a unanimous favorable opinion of all team members. This can be done easily in a survey format.

Address What HR Policies Will Need to Be Adjusted

The most obvious place you would want to revisit are your policies around how you recruit, onboard, and retain your team members across the entire company. You might want to consider things such as:

  • Benefits Package — Many companies include things such as commuting fees and other on-side perks. As you evaluate this, you might reimagine what things will be considered an additional benefit to a team working remotely. One company, for example, was able to work out a discount to a Peloton subscription package.
  • Recruiting Strategies — You might need to realign what competencies and skills you are looking for in a team member. While many focus on the tech side of this, you also may want to consider things such as self-motivation, initiative-taking, and effective virtual communication.
Good Faces via Unsplash

Revisit Your Training and Development Program

Companies are increasingly realizing that training in the social and relational aspects of remote work is at least as important as training in technology and company policies. A recent survey showed that 64% of executives plan to invest in training leaders to manage a more virtual workforce.

Think Rubix is prepared to partner with you in providing training on how to enhance remote work, including establishing working norms, building trust, effective virtual communication patterns, and incorporating social elements into virtual work relationships.

Revisit Your Remote Policies

With a shift to remote work, your policies should work to increase and maintain engagement, productivity, and accountability. Many teams created policies and procedures quickly to adjust to shutdown ordinances and health-safety concerns. The truth of the matter, though, is that the same drafted material may not work in the long term. This means managers and senior leadership need to have a concerted effort around making sure these plans have long-term sustainability.

These plans should address things like:

  • Availability
  • Response time
  • Virtual meeting space
  • And measuring productivity

These are only a few of the considerations your company will have to keep in mind to smoothly transition into the remote work future, but if you invest in doing it well the first time, you’ll be set up for success for years to come. Connect with our team today to see how we can help you build a tailor-made strategic plan that helps your organization take off.