With the COVID-19 pandemic sickening and killing thousands across the United States, our country is having to rapidly adapt to this global health threat. As stay-at-home orders are rolling out across the country, more people are working remotely. This can be a challenge as everyone navigates a public health crisis that’s taking a toll on the economy and our personal lives. 

Businesses have to adjust to this new normal and may be incorporating remote work for the first time. With this shift come fears about productivity and the ability to meet your organization’s goals. But remote working doesn’t have to have a negative impact on your team. Here’s what you need to know if you want to maximize the performance of your remote team. 

The Impact On Employee Productivity

As more organizations encourage employees to work from home, they’re beginning to consider the impact this will have on productivity. Will employees be able to get work done from home? 

Many people believe that working from home will cause a massive reduction in productivity. However, data shows that this isn’t the case. When done right, working remotely can actually increase productivity. In fact, 65% of workers say they’re more productive when working from home.

How To Improve Your Productivity While Working Remotely

Are you wondering what you can do to increase your productivity and that of your team while working from home? Here are some tips to boost your effectiveness.

Increase your ability to focus

Right now, we’re all very distracted, but there are measures we can take to make it easier to focus. One way to do this is to block off chunks of time on your calendar to work on specific things. Then, when those blocks start, silence your phone and turn off all notifications.

This simple tip can go a long way to help you get things done. Too often, we end up working in small bursts, switching constantly between projects. Sitting down and focusing your attention on a single task for just 30 minutes can be more effective than excessive multitasking. 

If you want to take this a step further, there are free tools you can use to help manage your time. For example, you can use a tracking tool like Toggl to see what projects or teams you are spending the most time on. Then you can make adjustments to ensure that you’re spending your time on the things that matter most.

Check in with your team daily

Having a daily 15-minute check-in with your team is an extremely powerful practice. It helps you stay in touch and keep open communication about projects. That way, nothing falls through the cracks. In many cases, these check-ins are actually more efficient when done remotely. That’s because you can avoid much of the wasted time that occurs in office meetings.

Use video

Video is a critical communication tool for remote teams. It allows you to see body language and verbal cues, which has an impact on how you communicate. When people can see themselves and their behavior, they’re less likely to be rude. When your whole team can see each other, chances are they will treat each other with more kindness. This helps promote a collaborative and productive culture. 

Work Better, Together

Looking for more ways to hit your goals and work more effectively during this transition to remote work? Learn more about how Jive helps empower productivity and collaboration. Read the free e-book Collaboration For The Modern Workplace.

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