Thanks to lock down remote working has become the norm for many businesses, but like anything it can be done well or really badly. We’ve put together 5 tips to help you do remote working successfully; enabling you to get the best returns from working from home (wfh), while keeping your workforce engaged and motivated.

1.       It all starts with some good collaboration software. This will enable a sense of team work and connection while working and can prevent employees feeling isolated. By using software like MS Team, Slack or Trello you can work collectively on documents, chat, and easily plan meetings and events. Which one you choose will depend on how you’re set up; whether you’re married to everything Microsoft or want one of the best branded tools there will be something that fits your needs.

2.       Clear communication is essential within the office environment but becomes paramount when wfh. Whether it’s making your expectations clear to employees or ensuring your manager has definitely received the latest report, when you’re not there in person it’s a must to ensure information is received loud and clear. Therefore it’s essential to know how the person receiving the information is wired; some people prefer a quick notification text while others expect all the details in an email. You need to know who you’re communicating with and how to get their ear.

3.       Well defined targets need to be measurable and achievable. Not being seen on a regular basis means you will be measured on output rather than attendance, so any goals set need to have fixed outcomes within the next few days or weeks, rather than months or quarters. Furthermore, people working in their own environment without the support of a team around them benefit from the motivation of hitting tangible and regular targets to know they are on track and achieving.

4.       Working from home won’t work without increased flexibility. There will need to be a change in work culture from 9-5 to an increasingly flexible model that works better for families and allows employees more autonomy in how they manage a home/work balance. Encouraging a healthier work/ life balance has been shown to boost employee mental health, productivity and motivation; trusted employees are keen to give back and become advocates for their employer.

5.       Important in or out of the office, automating repetitive tasks is essential for you to achieve more. As departments and employees will be increasingly measured on output, those who can do more work at a quicker rate will remain a valuable asset to their workplace in the face of any future cost-saving measures or restructuring. The overwhelming benefits of automation make it a worthwhile tool for any business with staff wfh, it ensures that repetitive, time consuming tasks are done instantly and accurately, increasing output and ensuring reliable data.

Innovate NP works for Non-Profit organisations to help them work at a higher standard, giving them access to technology and process management expertise. For more information on our services visit us at www.innovatenonprofit.com