Without having the built-in discipline of working from the office, working from home can be an awkward transition for some. The expectations are the same, but your environment is not. To help you make your remote environment more productive and keep to your tasks at hand, here are a few tips to help you make an easy transition.
1. Gather All of Your Needed Technology
For any successful remote work, you need to have all of your technology accessible. Don’t forget to bring home your work computer, charger, mouse or any cables that help recreate the same space you previously had at your office.
You also need your IT team to help you set up a plan for remote access at home. Are you receiving remote desktop access, a VPN, or direct application access? Do you need a security key to login? Can all of your applications be accessible from home? You need all of these questions answered before you even begin setting up.
2. Make Sure You Have Enough Bandwith
Once you’ve gained access to the files and applications you need to work remotely, you also need to understand more about your Internet access, especially if you plan on doing video conferencing.
Low bandwidth can make it hard to run certain applications at the speeds you need. If you’re trying to participate in a video conference with low bandwidth, try to close any programs or tabs that you don’t require at that time.
3. Set Up a Dedicated Work Space
Once you’ve figured out all of the needed technology and how you will be gaining remote access, it’s time to create a permanent workspace. Regardless of where your workspace happens to be (a spare bedroom or the kitchen table), this needs to be a space where you can commit to working every day. Make sure that your space is quiet and has few distractions so that you can keep
4. Create a Regular Schedule
Setting clear guidelines for when to work and when to call it a day can help help you separate work from life. But, remote work does afford some flexibility as well. With a schedule that’s accomodating, you can easily extend the day or start earlier when you need to.
5. Have a Separate Phone Number
To again, separate your business life from your personal life, setting up a business phone number can be beneficial. You don’t need to have a second landline or mobile phone, but you can try out using a VoIP service that may include Google Hangouts or Skype.
6. Discuss Expectations With Your Team
When your whole team is working remotely, it’s good to discuss with them what you can actually accomplish from home. Discuss with your manager what the priorities are, and how tasks can be completed.
You can also set up a project management tool to keep track of everything that is on the table and what has been completed. Remember to only use one dedicated system – using more than one can be too distracting and most of your tasks can get lost in translation.
Some popular project management tools you can try out:
7. Find a Collaboration Tool That Works for Your Team
During a time when your entire company may be working remotely, it’s good to have a collaboration tool that allows you to all stay on the same page.
Popular options for remote work can include:
Transitioning Your Company to Work Remotely?
When your company has decided to work remotely, we hope that these tips will help you create a workplace at home that’s both productive and collaborative. If you need help setting up remote access for your team, reach out to our IT professionals at CorCystems! Call our office today at: (203) 431-1341
