The idea of productivity has changed entirely in a world where working remotely has become the norm. The days of crowded offices and face-to-face interactions are long gone, and now we are navigating the virtual world with laptops in hand and resolve to get things done. 

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Working from home seemed like a distant dream to many in the not-so-distant past. However, as technology developed and external factors changed our traditional work dynamics, millions of professionals worldwide began to engage in remote work. In the United States, 82% of employees work remotely.

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While it provides undeniable benefits like flexibility and freedom, it also presents particular challenges that, if not adequately addressed, can reduce productivity.

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As work and home join together, finding methods to increase productivity when working remotely is crucial. In this article, we'll look at a few valuable suggestions to help you maximize your team's potential and succeed in a remote working environment. 

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Whether you're an experienced project manager or an HR professional trying to get your staff on track, these techniques will work wonders for you.

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But first, let's delve deeper into what remote work is.

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What is remote work?

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"Remote work" describes a situation where people carry out their regular tasks and responsibilities away from an office setting. Remote workers can complete tasks from their homes, co-working spaces, or any other location instead of traveling to a physical workplace.

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Both employers and teams reap the benefits of this work arrangement in several ways. Individuals have more control over their schedules and can avoid long commutes when working remotely. It also enables businesses to tap into a global talent pool, gain access to specialized skills, and cut office-related costs.

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This remote work has also brought virtual assistants into the spotlight, allowing businesses to utilize their services thoroughly.

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Challenges posed by remote work

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Despite its multiple benefits, a remote work setup presents unique challenges. 

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Self-discipline is one of the biggest obstacles to working remotely. People must rely on their self-discipline to remain focused and productive since they lack the accountability and structure of a traditional office setting. It's simple to become sidetracked by household duties, commitments outside of work, or even the allure of social media. 

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Collaboration and communication are two additional particular difficulties that come with working remotely. Effective communication can be hampered by physical distance, which can prevent spontaneous interactions. 

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Ways to increase productivity when working remotely

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Give your team more freedom

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Being physically surrounded by people helps many managers succeed in an office setting. They can approach a worker's desk and check on them while asking questions. They can quickly gather the team to discuss a problem if it arises.

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These same dynamics don't apply to remote teams. You might be tempted to frequently Slack message your team about how their work is going since the employees are out of sight. 

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It's not even the last thing you want to do. 

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Not only are you wasting their time while they type up updates, but the context switching may also distract them. 

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Instead, you need to modernize your management approach by strengthening your relationship with your staff and granting them more freedom. In fact, workplaces, where workers have more freedom to complete their work report higher levels of job satisfaction.

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Define priorities

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It is now even more crucial that leaders intervene and assist in setting priorities because there are so many competing demands on employees' time. Clutter can be reduced by removing non-essential tasks from the to-do list and encouraging people to concentrate on what is.

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Expectations must be made very clear to both managers and employees. Systems that encourage daily check-ins about expectations and priorities will save everyone much frustration and help to set the tone for the workday as they are implemented.

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Assist in the establishment of dedicated home workspaces 

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According to a 2020 study, while three-quarters of WFH employees said they worked from a separate home office, nearly 40% said they occasionally worked from their bedrooms, dining rooms, or couches. That can't possibly be productive. 

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A better approach would be encouraging and assisting your employees in creating dedicated home workspaces. Consider providing work-issued laptops and printers to employees so they don't have to rely on less secure personal devices. You can even buy or subsidize home-office stuff for employees who would otherwise be working from their living room couches. 

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Maintain regular communication 

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To boost productivity in a remote workplace, it is crucial to communicate frequently and honestly. This implies that team members must communicate with one another frequently and that this communication must be purposeful and work-related in nature.

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There are a few ways to guarantee frequent and genuine communication. 

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The first way is for team members to regularly check in with one another via video conferencing, phone calls, or instant messaging. 

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Second, communication should be limited to business-related topics rather than casual conversations or private matters. 

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The team should also be open and honest with each other, sharing both successes and setbacks.

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Create a remote-friendly company culture

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Maintaining a commitment to the company culture and mission outside the traditional work environment is one of the biggest obstacles to productive remote work. Therefore, it's imperative to reiterate critical cultural norms and make sure the team can do so remotely.

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Consider implementing flexible work schedules to better support employee work-life balance, which is the main factor in higher productivity. 

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Offer significant rewards for physical and mental well-being to encourage employee happiness and, in turn, boost output.  

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Have some exciting games and activities for your team to participate in. You can consider online contests using reels, giveaways and many other fun activities using social media posts for your team to participate in. 

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Finally, develop processes and actions that promote core company values to increase employee engagement and commitment to shared goals. 

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Offer online file and document sharing

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The documents and resources needed to complete work must be accessible to employees. However, many businesses still use email to send and share documents, which leads to many issues.  

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Documents are lost. Senders frequently overlook the attachment. Nobody is aware of the newest version. Additionally, anyone else who needs access must rely on one of the senders or receivers to forward files because emails only store information in their accounts. 

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The team can easily access every file and document they require at any time and from any location by using a document management system to upload and share documents. Team members can rank and rate documents to put the important ones at the top of the list and see who has access and who has made edits.

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Key Takeaways

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Even though it can be challenging, maximizing productivity with your remote team is worthwhile. Making a few minor adjustments to your culture and management will significantly impact how engaged your remote workforce is. 

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Remember that no one method works for everyone to increase productivity when working remotely. It necessitates trial-and-error, flexibility, and ongoing development. Let's be open to new tactics, resources, and concepts as we navigate the virtual environment to increase productivity.

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Author’s Bio

Majoring in Journalism and Mass Communication, Shaurya Bedi works as a content writer for Wishup. She is a person who enjoys romanticizing the world in poetry while holding a camera and a pen in each hand.