With the current threat of COVID-19 pandemic, most companies have told their employees to continue working in the safety and comforts of their homes. With this new work setup, businesses worldwide should make sure they keep everything in check for the business to continue operating and generating income.
Read on and see different ways on how to effectively transition your company into a work-from-home setup.
- Build on what you currently have
Most organizations have a Business Plan set in place for any undesirable threat that may occur. Due to this pandemic, you will need to review and update this policy appropriately. Make sure it is clear and easy to read. This is to ensure the policy is understandable and expectations are clearly relayed to the employees.
- Agree on all protocols
Make sure that you have your team’s work protocols in place, and make them agree and follow these rules. Because of the WFH setup, you need to make everyone accountable for their actions. More importantly, your leaders or managers should model these right behaviors.
- Don't get distracted at home
A WFH setup can make you less productive because there are a lot of distractions at home, like your kids, your spouse, your pets or even just thinking about your household chores. It is recommended to establish a routine that works for you. Make sure you separate your time with work and household chores to lessen distractions. Find a spot in your house where you think there will be less distractions, and establish your work place there. As much as possible, you can try to replicate your workstation at the office. Or just look for a spot where there is enough lighting. This can also be a perfect opportunity for you to build new habits that can positively affect your personal growth.
- Use video conferencing
Set up virtual meetings for your team. This can help you feel more connected with them even from afar. You can encourage them to do a video call during team meetings, this can also make the meeting more productive. Schedule a weekly catch-up with the team just to share their current ideas and catch up on weekly goals.
- Know when to stop
Working in the office establishes clear boundaries of your work schedule. With remote work, it can blur the lines between work and personal life. Since there will be lesser time for you to travel from home to the workplace, this can lead to overwork. You can establish certain hours of the day for you to sit in your workspace and answer emails from work. It is important to allow yourself to not feel guilty if you did not answer back an email from work. Let your boss or manager know the hours that you prefer not to do any work-related tasks. This can improve your productivity over time as you are more motivated to finish a task in the allotted time and you can enjoy watching your favorite tv show during the night.
