11 Easy Management Hacks for Remote Teams
The remote work trend is on the rise. It is serving as an excellent opportunity for individuals and organizations to excel in terms of both productivity and profit. The culture of remote work is allowing professionals and teams to make the most of their work and working hours without getting distracted, working from home.
Study says, 16% of companies exclusively hire remote workers in their team. A similar study reveals that those who work remotely are 24% more likely to be happy and productive.It’s trending, agreed. But not everyone is doing good at it. Some studies also highlight how businesses are failing tremendously at remote work by making the silliest mistakes. That includes using the wrong remote work techniques and technology.
Now, I’ve had the opportunity to work with distributed teams many times. At ProofHub, we’re focused on creating productive experiences for remote as well as in-office teammates. Time and again, we experiment with hacks and tools that might help us do better than what we did. So, in this particular post, I am going to put forward some of my favorite remote working hacks and tips to help you do the same.
Whether you’re leading a remote team or working as a part of one, here are some easy management hacks to help you be at your best and make the most of your workday.
1. Start With a To-Do List
Whether you are a remote employee or an in-house employee, your to-do list sets the tone of your entire day. So, try creating a manageable to-do list ahead of the time, and follow it throughout the day. Make sure that your to-do includes both tasks as well as how long you think each task will take. Just check the items off or cross them out when you’re finished.
2. Stop Multitasking Immediately
Many professionals think that multitasking saves time, but that’s not how multitasking works. You need to understand the fact that your brain takes at least 15 minutes to refocus whenever you switch tasks. So, when you multitask on two or more things, your mind has to shift focus continuously, and it affects your productivity (but not as you planned). You must focus on one task at a time and switch focus only when you finish the task at hand instead of trying to do it all at once.
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3. Stay Away From Personal Tasks
Mixing personal and professional lives is the biggest downfall of working remotely. It may seem harmless to finish a few personal tasks within your working hours like putting in laundry, paying bills, or taking your pet for a quick walk — but it isn’t. You wouldn’t do those things in an office, right? So it’s better if you treat working from home the same way.
4. Keep a check on your team’s mood and morale
Leaders, it’s certainly gotten a bit harder to measure what your employees are feeling now that we are dispersed across locations. Thankfully, there are AI driven tools that can monitor the pulse of your team and the overall organization as we adapt to the new ways of work. Amber by inFeedo is an example of how HR teams are realigning their engagement strategies based on the current needs and expectations of the workforce. All one has to do is to have a quick conversation with the AI bot and based on what feedback highlighted, HR teams are able to glean insights on their dashboards, schedule 1:1s to resolve issues proactively, and tailor their engagement strategies. Oh and managers receive not only specific nudges but also resources through Amber to manage their team expectations in the right way.
5. Keep the communication and empathy levels high
Leaders shall make remote work easier with high communication levels. Using ProofHub, one can plan tasks on boards, and also keep track of progress with reports and time tracking. Apart from this, the all-in-one project management software makes it easier to proof, review, and give feedback on files and designs using markup tools and annotation tools with comment threads. On the other hand, it’s also important that leaders feel every individual who works remotely part of the team. Having a dedicated space to make announcements so that no one is left out is great. You can also create separate groups to chat and share about stuff other than work. It’s important to make you feel engaged to get work done in an empathetic way.
6. Don’t Waste Time Surfing the Web
Most of our jobs today require using the internet. And in case of remote work — everything you know about your work is online. But the online world can also turn into a black hole. For a remote employee/team, surfing the internet or web can lead to large amounts of wasted time. To avoid that from happening, you must turn social media and smartphones off during work hours. If you find yourself managing a team and struggling with productivity, there are numerous employee productivity tools available such as the tools from CurrentWare to assist.
7. Use the Getting Things Done Method
Getting Things Done (abbreviated to G.T.D.) is a popular time management method, described in the book of the same title by productivity consultantDavid Allen. Getting Things Done (GTD) method is a great way to manage the elements of your productivity intuitively while working remotely. The method requires you to follow five simple steps that lead to stress-free productivity:
- Capture (collect) — capture everything that catches your attention.
- Clarify (process) — clarify what each thing is and what you’re doing with it.
- Organize — organizing the results.
- Reflect (plan) — reviewing the system.
- Engage (do) — doing the right thing at all times.
8. Determine Your Most Productive Hours
Are you a morning person or a night person? Well, you can’t be at your best at all times that’s for sure. Just find your most productive hours (golden hours) in the day and you will be able to do much better at remote work. For example, if you feel more focused on quiet mornings, try working on more challenging tasks as soon as you start your day.
9. Be Like You’re In The Office
The biggest benefit of work from home is that you get to work in your pajamas. But one of the unspoken rules of working remotely is that you don’t get too used to wearing PJs. You’ve got more flexibility, but still, you must get into a routine like you’re going to the office. Set your alarm, wake up on time, get a cup of coffee and wear nice clothes, and get into a productive mindset — just like you would have done if you were in your office.
10. Take a Break
Instead of doing everything from morning coffee to evening snacks at your desk, try giving your mind some alone time away from the computer. Try taking short breaks (10–15 minutes) after every 2 hours. Just take a walk outside, meditate or work out for a few minutes. Try it and you’ll feel more rejuvenated and ready for the next part of the day.
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11. Have a Dedicated Workspace
Remote work doesn’t necessarily mean that you move your bedroom or couch into your office. Design a specific place in your home designated for work. Add a work desk or have an outdoor patio, but stay away from your bed or any other place that is meant for leisure — not work.
Conclusion
Remote work is a growing trend. That’s why it is important that you, as a manager or team member, embrace these trends and excel at it. Remember, productivity comes from having the right mindset and the right tools at hand. Put these simple tips and hacks to practice and you’ll soon notice a big difference.
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