Overcoming Common Remote Work Challenges
As we all know, remote work is not new and has been popular for decades. There is a track record of distributed IT teams from the 90s and most international firms have learnt to work across continents to achieve global success.
Stakha believes covid, technology and employee expectations had merely accelerated this trend.
In this quick guide we will draw on the experience we have collected from partners like AkbarKarenga at LiSA and our extensive client base to overcome some common difficulties.
So here are some common obstacles and possible solutions to help our fellow remote workers overcome these difficulties:
1- Combating loneliness:
Being away from coworkers and the usual office environment can lead to feeling lonely. This feeling can indeed be a significant challenge as the lack of physical presence and casual interactions can make one feel disconnected or even isolated.
Solutions:
- Maintain social relationships by scheduling regular virtual meetings with colleagues.
- Connect with others by joining online communities or professional networks. Effective leaders can encourage this by considering it part of the job responsibilities. For instance, if an engineer attends a meetup concerning the latest version of the technology they employ, it can be counted as work done.
- Take part in virtual team-building exercises and events. A fitting example of a valuable partner for virtual team-building exercises and events is Jurnee.io. This company specializes in handling the administrative aspects of such projects, thus minimizing the hassle associated with coordinating and organizing these events.
- Develop a pattern that includes taking breaks to interact with others, such as friends or family.
2- Avoiding burnout:
If you’re commuting from your bed to the couch, you will have no obvious boundaries between work and personal life. With this lifestyle, remote workers can easily become overworked and burned out.
Solutions:
- Set a working schedule and stick to it.
- Take regular breaks and try to leave your workspace.
- Prioritize self-care and activities such as exercise, or meditation.
- Assess your workload on a regular basis and speak with your manager or team if changes are required. Google Calendar, along with many third-party tools like Clockwise, allows you to monitor your average time spent in meetings. You can use this information to gauge your workload regularly. Clockwise, specifically, is a calendar plugin that creates focus time slots in your schedule. If this data suggests you're too busy, it might be necessary to discuss potential changes with your manager or team.
3- Maintaining productivity:
Evidently, it can be difficult to stay focused and effective while working remotely, especially with potential distractions at home.
Solutions:
- Create a dedicated workspace that is both comfortable and free of distractions.
- Use productivity tools like Monday or Notion. ( P.S: Book some slots in your calendar to have more focus time)
- Limit your use of social media and other distractions.
- Set goals and measure your progress on a regular basis.
- Use a meeting scheduler like Calendly or build in options in many CRMs to automate meeting bookings.
4- Effective communication:
Working remotely can make communication with coworkers and clients more difficult, which might lead to misunderstandings or project delays.
Solutions:
- Select the best communication tools for each situation, such as email, instant messaging, or video calls.
- Be proactive in reaching out to colleagues and clients, and react to messages and enquiries as soon as possible.
- Communicate expectations, deadlines, and progress updates to your team in a clear and concise manner.
- Set up regular check-ins and meetings to keep everyone informed.
Moreover, as a remote worker, it can be tempting to work from exotic locations or dream destinations. Regardless of how dreamy that sounds, the challenges of working from home and how to overcome them are even more complicated internationally. This can present unique challenges, such as travel planning, security, and managing health insurance or a work stoppage.
In conclusion, the challenges of remote working and how to overcome them can easily be done with the right tools and strategies.