The COVID-19 pandemic has revolutionized the world of work, leaving behind the days of long commutes and office-based working. This period of uncertainty has revealed the many benefits of remote working in terms of reducing COVID-19 transmission, improving flexibility, creating a better work/life balance for employees, and saving energy previously used for transportation, but this transition has also revealed some difficulties that can crop up when trying to adapt to a remote working environment.
To take advantage of this change and avoid the potential negative consequences, businesses and employees alike should consider how to manage this transition effectively, and the tips listed below give essential advice on how to do this.
Develop effective remote sales techniques.
For many businesses, remote working and video conferencing have made sales more difficult to achieve, as the relationships that are necessary to build trust between businesses and clients are harder to replicate using online calls and presentations.
Often, it’s harder to project charisma and confidence through a screen versus when you’re in the same room as your audience, but to compensate for this it may be beneficial for your business or sales team to practice and take courses on mastering remote selling techniques. With the right training and by including engaging and interactive components in your online sales pitches, you can adapt your sales techniques to a remote working environment and achieve the same results as in-person sales presentations.
Focus on communication.
Naturally, it’s harder to communicate effectively when face-to-face communication is no longer available, and with everyone on the team working in separate locations, communication can become rather tricky. This is why it’s essential for businesses to encourage the use of online messaging platforms such as Slack or Skype, which can help employees to work through problems together and feel more connected within the team. Setting up regular online meetings is also another method of ensuring that employees can communicate effectively with each other, and regular meetings will also help everyone to coordinate tasks and make sure that the business is running smoothly.
Set up a dedicated space for working.
When working from home, it’s important to separate work and leisure and ensure that you have a dedicated workspace, rather than using your laptop on your bed or sofa. This will help with concentration and focus and create a better work/life balance. However, this isn’t just the responsibility of the employees – businesses need to make sure that they are enabling employees to create a proper workspace by providing office equipment such as laptops, monitors and keyboards, and even desks and chairs if required.
Create a schedule (and stick to it!).
Another essential part of creating a proper work/life balance is having a work schedule and making sure you stick to it. When you’re not working in the office, it can be easy to be less strict with timings and potentially work later than you should, but this can lead to burnout and stress. Similarly, not taking proper breaks can also be detrimental to employee well-being, and employers should stress the importance of taking regular breaks away from the screen to their employees.
Remote working can potentially have negative consequences if not managed correctly, but by following these simple tips, you can ensure that you get the most out of this new era of work.
