6 Tips to Improve Work From Home Productivity
Set the stage for business success with a clear Work From Home policy.
It’s clear to see remote working is here to stay. Although it’s been a long time coming, many employers were already starting to offer flexible working options to support a better work/life balance.
But the recent Global event has only accelerated this trend. Businesses that embrace it as an opportunity rather than a challenge will come out ahead.
But how can you ensure your employees working from home can do their jobs effectively?
A successful work-from-anywhere business needs a remote work policy. Has your business got one?
In this blog, we’ve outlined six tips to improve work-from-home productivity.
Work from Home Tip 1: Get a Reliable Internet Connection
Ensuring your remote/flexible workforce has access to a reliable internet connection should be a top priority. Without the correct and stable network, how can you expect your teams to work from home effectively? The right broadband should have enough bandwidth to work without interruptions; you should be able to email, download, upload and make calls (if you have a Cloud-based VoIP phone system). Employers should support their employees if their internet connection isn’t up to the correct requirements.
Work from Home Tip 2: Have a dedicated workspace
Where do you do it; in the dining room, in the bedroom, in the car or garden shed? Wherever you work ensuring the home office is a conducive environment for working is important. Your employees’ jobs may have moved into their homes, but their offices didn’t. Double-check your employees have access to anything they need from a desk to desk chair to computers to phone systems. If possible, can they move office equipment home?
Work from Home Tip 3: Set flexible/remote working expectations
Goals keep everyone working towards a common objective. It doesn’t matter where your teams are, communicate your company’s vision. Being clear with expectations and keeping transparency will keep employees driven and working in the right direction. Ensure internal communication is regular, whether it be through daily videoconferencing or weekly team calls or monthly company meetings.
Work from Home Tip 4: Maintain a healthy work-life balance
Self-care and taking care of your mental health is important. Working from home does benefit employees in many ways (by bye long commutes!) But working from home can make it harder to maintain a healthy work/life balance. Trying to prove yourself and working longer hours could result in employees burning out. Make sure to establish a time for employees to use for themselves during the workday – just because they’re not in the office, it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t take their regular breaks/lunch breaks. Encourage your employees to talk if they’re feeling lonely or down, to step away from their desk and get fresh air, whether that’s in their garden, walking or running.
Work from Home Tip 5: Review your technology
Efficient communication is vital to the success of any business. Ensuring the technology your workforce is using is up-to-date and enables collaboration should be of paramount importance. If your employees can’t emulate their office set up with ease, you need to look at your systems. Can they plug in their office phone from home and call with ease, make and answer calls from any device, communicate through email, messenger, videoconferencing? Make sure your workforce is tech-ready, from any location, on any device
Work from Home Tip 6: Get Cloud Communications
Who doesn’t want business continuity? Cloud communication tools provide chat, call, document access and sharing, and virtual meeting capabilities. Enabling your employee’s to have access to superior interaction tools will not only slash the duration of team projects but also offer customers a more superior experience.
Looking for tools to improve your work from home employee productivity?
If you would like more information about how to successfully enable a remote workforce and future-proof your business get in touch with our team today on 01704 540547 or info@adaptivecomms.co.uk
We are also currently offering six months half price on all new cloud phone systems. Take a look at how Xelion hosted telephony can benefit your business.