5 tricks on how to telecommute effectively from home
While there has been a rising trend in telecommuting, it has reached unprecedented levels due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.
A whopping 91% of employees that telecommute feel more productive when working from home. Businesses also enjoy lower rental costs as less real estate is needed when you implement a regular telecommute schedule.
For myself, I have never experienced an extended period of work-from-home (WFH) until recently. You can imagine my difficulty in adjusting to the change when the Singapore government announced their “circuit breaker” (read: an affectionate term for a soft lockdown) measures, resulting in the closure of non-essential workplaces and offices from April 6th onwards.
Here are 5 tricks I want to share that I found useful when working remotely from home:
1. Communication is key
Many employers are concerned that their employees are less engaged or are not as productive since they are not in the office. Contrary to belief, even large businesses such as GitHub (partially remote) and Wordpress (100% remote) practice telecommuting regularly and still enjoy success today.
On the other hand, some employees might feel confused or directionless if the expectations of their managers are not communicated clearly.
Make sure that communication channels are open, and that both employee and employer understand what is required of them when telecommuting.
It’s good to share what you’ve done or what you plan to do, with either a quick touch-and-go meeting or a text update in the office team chat. These channels can and should be utilized by both the employer and employees.
2. Video calling software is a godsend
Words on the screen cannot convey the same tones as hearing a voice. Video calling software, such as Zoom and Google Meets, allows you to connect with your colleagues without having to be in the same location physically.
Video calling also allows you to have a more seamless conversation as compared to back-and-forth emails or text messages.
3. Set some boundaries
Telecommuting from home means that it is easier for you to forgo the usual 9–5 and work overtime. The lines between work and relaxation are blurred even more when working from your home, which, first and foremost, should be a getaway from your work life.
One way to help cultivate a better work-life balance when working from home is to make sure to have your meal breaks away from your work station. You can also set alarms to make sure that you stop work or take a breather after a certain amount of time.
4. Look the part, feel the part
I know you’re tempted to roll out of bed and start working immediately in your pajamas, but hear me out. A 2012 study has shown that people associate certain traits with specific sets of clothing. This goes both ways — both yourself and the people who see you are privy to this psychological effect.
Unless you associate your pajamas with work instead of relaxation, it might be a good idea to try dressing up. Now I’m not saying that you should dress up in a suit (if that is your usual work attire), but at least change out of those pajamas. I promise that you’ll feel much more productive!
5. Use web-based services instead of client software
Relying on the software installed on your computer might not be a good idea.
My mom faced this issue first-hand when the hard drive of the CPU she brought home from her office the previous night failed on the first day of WFH.
Her company’s IT team was not able to provide an immediate solution, so she had to send requests to colleagues with access to that software so that she could complete a work submission on time. She also desperately needed her PDF editor software to make some changes to a proposal due the next day— something that I eventually found a free web-based service for.
Businesses that want to adopt a remote working policy should consider transitioning from client-based to web-based services. It allows for smoother collaboration between users without heavy reliance on technical requirements.
Remote working can be made easier with web-based software such as Deskera Books. It’s a cloud-based ERP solution that allows business owners to manage their business both on the web and mobile. Check it out here!
