7 practical tips for successful remote work

Outside the office requires focus and strategy. Plus some element of the game. Today we will share with you the translation of an article from Maren Kate Donovan. Consider how to organize remote work for you and your employee.

When it comes to working remotely, most people react to it immediately and instinctively: many are worried, others, on the contrary, feel as though they have cast off their shackles and ghostly freedom loomed on the horizon. But whatever your beliefs about working outside the office , be aware that this is not something unknown. Many people work remotely and are not going to quit this business!

Having experience working outside the office environment since I was 18 years old, and currently managing a company with several hundred virtual employees, I have gained a deep understanding of the methods that make it possible to successfully and profitably organize remote work that can be fun.

1. Find the right job

This is one of the most important aspects of work in general that is often overlooked. Instead, people only look at the number of zeros in the job description or look for a sense of security and good health insurance. Do not get me wrong, a big salary and amazing medical insurance are factors that cannot be ignored, but the fact that if you do not like the job you will always feel unnecessary and devastated. On the other hand, if you love what you do, you will do it more and better.

“Correct” work is usually one in which there are three main components:

• What do you like to do
• What do you do best
• What is valuable to the organization

Strengthening your position in the workplace, which combines these three factors, you will get more job satisfaction, less stress and better productivity . Therefore, before you go to a strictly standardized work that will lead you to a psychological, emotional and spiritual impasse, allow yourself to conduct a real search for a job that will be right for you. Do you think this does not exist? I advise you to start with a 5-minute search on the Internet.

2. Get ready for success by lowering barriers

There are many ways to reduce barriers to success, but one of the main and most important is the introduction of organization systems in your workflow, which will prepare for high productivity.
Whether you work at home at a large oak table or in a cafe with free Wi-Fi, the organization of work is of paramount importance (in the drawers of your desk - to know exactly where the backup drive is; or on the desktop of your laptop to know where to find the right one) table).

Since the routine work of organizing the process is boring, and arranging a workplace may seem like a waste of time, tearing you off from more pressing tasks (ensuring deadlines, answering business letters, etc.), it is tempting to ignore this stage. But do not underestimate it - a strategic organization can pay off handsomely by increasing labor productivity. As a result, I realized that it’s best to implement an organization in every task you perform. Disorder in the environment (real or virtual) can lead to confusion in thoughts. A few extra seconds here, some systematic approach there - all this will save you the missing hours and avoid the collapse of plans in the future.

3. Keep in touch with your team

When working remotely, a significant part of communication with the team may look unnatural, because you do not want to “disturb” someone or admit that you need help. But nothing motivates people to action so much as teamwork.

In an office setting, you unknowingly take advantage of the opportunity to chat with a colleague over a cup of coffee, tell him about how the weekend went, and other important news. It may seem trivial, but this is precisely the interpersonal communication that strengthens relationships, improves interaction in the project and creates a sense of loyalty that makes people sacrifice something for the sake of others. At a professional level, spending extra effort to edit an employee report, or completing a task that your colleague does not have time to complete, can be a key link in creating a strong and effective work team. In such an environment, you feel yourself in a team where everyone is ready to give each other a shoulder.

Maintaining such relationships in every way improves working relationships. For example, your supervisor will know which task you are working on and what ideas you are proposing. In remote work, managers (and team members!) Will not know what you are working on until you let them know.

Enabling out-of-office notifications when you're not working helps keep you connected. It is better when all team members are displayed on one page. This type of interaction, even virtual, is important and creates an environment in which the team is available to each of its members.

4. The game

The feeling of a “game” in work comes naturally when you feel connected with the team and love what you are doing. In this case, active involvement leads to creative, enjoyable and useful work on the solution of tasks.
This leads to a phenomenon that in psychology and neurology is called flow consciousness. A condition in which we are so passionate about what we are doing that we are losing self-awareness. The best works are born precisely when we are “in the zone” or are clearly focused on our activities at a particular moment.

But what if the given sensation of the game does not come by itself, but needs to be developed? In this case, it is due to the proper management of one’s energy, and not time, that one can enjoy working.

5. Manage energy, not time

If the idea of ​​managing precisely your energy, and not time, inexplicably causes you a sigh of relief, we can please you: you are healthy. Energy management makes sense as it is something you can control. Time is often a dubious friend. Sometimes it can play for us, but more often it is against. So, the resource of time is limited, while energy can always be created (remember the good old law of conservation of energy?). Thus, it comes down to finding a way to generate more efficient energy that can be used in your work.

Here's how you can do it: identify simple actions that charge you with energy, rather than take it away. For example, include in your schedule 15-minute walks in the morning and afternoon. And stick to this order! Although this may look like a conflict of interest, because it tears you from the computer and forces you to interrupt typing another letter, a short break will improve blood flow, increase the amount of oxygen delivered to the brain and significantly increase your energy.

Similarly, by taking time to exercise or meditate, you can radically improve your well-being, not to mention the actual state of health. Remember that the main thing is to adhere to your schedule for such periods of recharging with energy in order to achieve more effective and lasting results in your chosen work style.

6. Be persistent

I constantly quote this quote from Kelvin Coolridge because it is a mantra that inspires me every time I read it:

“Nothing in the world can replace perseverance. Talent cannot, because there are so many talented losers around. A genius cannot, an unreasoned genius is a parable. Education cannot, the world is full of unclaimed educated people. Only perseverance and determination are omnipotent. The motto "Keep up the good work!" Has solved and will always solve the problems of the human race. "

In fact, it has been scientifically proven that when we face a new challenge or accept a challenge, mental agony is a good natural helper. And subsequently, when we feel a sense of satisfaction from the work done, our brain becomes stronger from the fact that it coped with this stress.

There are always obstacles that need to be overcome in the process of performing any work, and the best way to get to the finish line is often to move towards the goal step by step.

7. Be proud of your work.

After you have created something, worked hard, played and promoted your brainchild, it is very important to applaud yourself for a job well done, it is extremely necessary for a good job. Congratulations! The sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that you gain by paying tribute to your efforts will strengthen your subconscious mind and allow you to maintain pace and continue to move forward.

It is imperative to understand that recognition, by ourselves or by other people, can significantly affect labor productivity . Therefore, having completed a big task, celebrate the completion by sharing this with the team, and treat yourself to the nearest cafe.

Remote work scares many, others consider it happiness. When you understand the factors on which successful self-management and maintaining significant relationships with your colleagues depend on, and you see your own well-being, the word “remote” ceases to mean isolation, but rather, a means of choosing your own career direction.

PS We recommend another article on the topic - To become a leader for others, first become a leader for yourself.

Translation by Vyacheslav Davidenko, founder of MBA Consult