Decades ago, remote work was closely related to customer service and low wages. Today, not only has it become a trend but also a necessity because of the global pandemic. Thanks to technology, we can now do our job no matter where we are located in the world. There are so many tools and platforms that can make our personal and professional lives easier and simpler. Despite working from home for months now, employees are still struggling not knowing what tools to use. With so many tools available on the market, no wonder they are indecisive and confused. If you are one of them, then continue reading because here are some tools you need to continue working remotely.
Task Management
Whether you are a manager, an entrepreneur, or a remote worker, chances are you have a lot going on right now. Project deadlines, ongoing tasks, meetings are just some of the things that are on your mind. At the same time, there are family and social commitments you have to meet. What you could use at moments such as these are task management tools. Asana, Basecamp, or Trello could help you stay on top of things in the virtual office. Task management tools have great features. For example, you can track project progress, assign new tasks, leave instructions and other notes for team members to read, and assist whenever they need it. With such tools, working remotely doesn’t have to be difficult anymore.
Reporting and Accountability
When employees work remotely, it is hard for them to feel like a part of a team and organization. Most of the time, they feel out of place and disconnected from their coworkers because they no longer share a workspace. Moreover, if employees don’t have fixed working hours, then measuring their work and results could be a challenge. To feel close to your team members and make sure you complete your tasks on time, you can rely on reporting and accountability tools. When your managers hold you accountable for your responsibilities, then it is easier for you to feel connected and focused on doing your job right. With the iDoneThis tool, you can upload your daily reports and notify the management about project progress or daily goals.
Engagement
One of the most challenging aspects of remote work is employee engagement. Getting employees to engage and participate in work activities is difficult when they are working from different locations. If they don’t feel engaged at work, their dissatisfaction might grow. In the end, they can leave the organization and increase its turnover. If you are looking for ways to become closer to the team members and active around the workplace, you should take advantage of an employee engagement platform. Such platforms are technologically highly advanced, so younger generations will be thrilled to use them in their modern workplace. Then, you can feel the impact your activity has within the organization. Lastly, you will be outperforming yourself because you want to see the company thrive and reach its goals.
Digital Storage
As a remote worker, you do all your work online. The digital world and the Internet are the base for your job. Besides, you and your team members collaborate regardless of different locations and time zones. During one day, you probably exchange hundreds of emails, drafts, documents, and files. Since you work online, you and your team have to invest in some high-quality digital storage to keep all that data safe. Moreover, using cloud storage tools and platforms will allow you to send and receive large files without any problem whatsoever. Google Drive or Dropbox is the most common storage platform. The only downside is their free capacity. In case you need more space, you will have to pay for additional space. On the bright side, you and your team can use these platforms to collaborate to day in day out.
Feedback
Another challenge for managers and members of virtual teams is giving and receiving feedback. Employees don’t feel comfortable sharing their suggestions and opinions when they aren’t working in the same office anymore. On the other hand, managers usually fail to notice room for improvement or subtle signs of employee dissatisfaction with some aspects of the workplace. For this reason, you should rely on feedback tools such as Chimp Champ. The tool measures employee happiness and collects their feedback. At the end of the week, managers check the meter and act on employee feedback. Giving and receiving feedback is crucial for your individual and team professional growth. That is why you should use this opportunity to make improvements around the office.
Video Calls
Lack of face-to-face communication is a fact and one of the greatest downsides of remote work. This can negatively affect employee productivity, engagement, and overall satisfaction with the work environment. Furthermore, you might feel estranged from your coworkers. However, with the help of technology, you can maintain all your professional relationships and stay on top of things. For example, Zoom and Google Hangouts are the perfect choices for video conferences. You can jump in on a video call with your team members or the managers whenever you need to. Similarly, you can use such apps to share the screen with others and discuss specific project problems. It would be like you weren’t working from home at all.
To conclude, remote work has become an inseparable part of our lives. Since this work arrangement has come here to stay, you should equip yourself with the best tools. With our suggestions, working from home will no longer be difficult for you.
