Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people have lost their jobs and many have opted for working from home to remain employed. Though restrictions have become much lower now, we still don’t know whether or not there’ll the possibility of returning to our traditional workplaces safely. And if that happens, remote working will always be there and for good reasons. Apart from letting organizations lower operating costs through various means, it also offers a plethora of benefits to the employees. For example, it helps to reduce stress levels as reported by 82% of remote workers.
Despite the benefits of the new model, adopting it might be much more difficult than it looks and we’ve seen it in the past. Some of you may recall that in 2013, Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer banned the company’s remote working model. There could be some specific reasons but it’s true that remote working comes with its fair share of downsides that sometimes outweigh its advantages. These typically arise from the inability to maintain organizational norms that support performance and company culture.
However, during this time of uncertainty, most businesses don’t have other options except for supporting the remote working model whenever possible. Now you, as a business owner, must be thinking that how to overcome the challenges of remote working? Let’s take a look at a couple of the most effective methods.
Leveraging the power of coworking spaces
We all know that work from home comes with many disadvantages with two major ones being the absence of a productive working environment and the presence of several distractions. Using a coworking space is undeniably the best method to overcome these. It not only allows users to enjoy a motivating working experience but lets them interact with professionals from different fields as well. These interactions help workers steer clear of the lonely and boring environment that’s commonly associated with traditional remote working methods. And the best part is that there’s a huge number of affordable yet highly equipped coworking spaces are available throughout the country. Whether you’re looking for coworking spaces in Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata or any major city, you can easily find one according to your needs and preferences.
Handling the transition effectively
Shared purpose and a sense of belonging have traditionally been two major pillars of any successful organization. Unfortunately, when it comes to remote working, these often get hampered due to many reasons. For instance, remote workers may develop a sense of being overlooked or start to think that on-site employees will get the most important assignments, etc. To address these situations, a proactive approach from leaders and managers is a must. It’s true that leadership sometimes becomes less effective when it comes to managing remote workers. But regular and clear communication can help bridge the gap effectively. It’s also important to leverage video conferencing tools to maintain clarity and visibility. It allows both remote workers and managers to address concerns or issues immediately.
When the right approaches are taken, the new working model can prove to be highly beneficial for both a business and its remote workers. If you’re on the verge of the transition, implement the above-mentioned methods and you’ll see the positive changes yourself.
