6 Tips You Might Not Have Thought Of When Going Remote

Your team may be confronting virtual collaboration for the first time. As the CEO of a company with a distributed team from the start (Elisabeth is in Maryland and I am in California), I know we are not the only “virtual company” but definitely not the norm. Perhaps more companies are used to having a few remote employees while most are on-site. If you’re temporarily shifting to all remote, take heart. I’ve found it’s easier. Here are some tips that we’ve found to be helpful:

1. PJs are not your friend. If you think of “working from home” as sitting in bed in your PJs with the TV on and a laptop in front of you, you are likely to hit a wall really quickly. On the other hand, if you have trouble shutting off from work mode, working from home may be especially challenging. To set boundaries try keeping your normal routine as much as you can. Get dressed as if you were going to work and set aside a space for working that is free from anything that might be distracting to you. You can also make it special! At home, I’ve oriented my work desk to face my favorite window. Small things can go a long way to keep your workspace motivating, comfortable and professional. 
2. Expect the unexpected. Employers should support flexible work hours during these times. For example, schools are planning for closures. If that happens, do you have enough laptops/tablets at home for kids to complete work while you work? How much supervision do your kids need during the day? Make good use of shared calendars so teams can plan well and communicate availability.
3. What? You weren’t born knowing this? Learning virtual collaboration and accountability for remote employees can take time. If you don’t have online ways to share expectations, goals and progress to goals, online document sharing tools and trello can be lifesavers. Video conferencing is a must to ease the transition and group messaging tools like Slack and Google Chat can help connect people both professionally and informally. Be patient, coach, and your team will flourish in ways that may help you when you return to the office.
4. Emotions matter. This may be especially important during a health crisis, when people may be more anxious or stressed than usual. Tools like the Mood Meter from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence can help support the emotional intelligence skills needed for a strong collaborative team.
5. Watch your back (and wrists). If you are used to a certain setup at your desk that is more ergonomic and suddenly spend more time hunched over a laptop at home, watch out for your body! Mayo Clinic has a list of tips to make sure your “home office” is comfortable and healthy.
6. Say “Thank you.” Our ability to work remotely is made possible through the dedicated people continuing to make sure our communities stay healthy, lights are on, internet working, and supplies are available in our stores. When and however you can, it helps to show appreciation for those on the front lines (like these students did in Singapore)!

I’d love to hear any tips you have that have worked for you. Thanks for reading and stay healthy!