As the world adapts to the post-pandemic reality, many organizations are considering leaving their traditional brick-and-mortar business behind. However, to successfully transition to a virtual or hybrid workforce, companies need to acquire the necessary digital capabilities and tools to operate their business effectively.

Investing in cloud, AI, cybersecurity, advanced connectivity, and remote work capabilities can help unlock innovative revenue generation possibilities, improve virtual working environments, and upgrade your supply chain. These technologies can also potentially reduce operational costs while supporting greater value for customers.

In this blog post, we’ll focus on what it takes to enable your remote workers to be more productive at home and provide 10 best practices to share with your employees.

10 Best Practices for Remote Workers

1. Create a Distraction-Free Workspace: Choose a space at home that is free from distractions, preferably with a door, and let others know when you are in a meeting or working by closing the door or putting up a “Do Not Disturb” note.

2. Equip Your Office with the Right Tools: Set up your office with the necessary tools such as a computer, IP phone or softphone, video conferencing tools, file sharing tools, chat and collaboration tools, printer, comfortable office chair, standup desk, etc.

3. Establish Working Hours: Set working hours and stick to them as if you were in the office to draw the line between work and personal life.

4. Get Up and Dress for Work: Get up and get dressed just as if you were going to the office.

5. Take Planned Breaks: Take planned breaks just as if you were in the office.

6. Schedule Lunch Breaks: Schedule your lunch break so you can run errands or order lunch delivered in advance.

7. Include Exercise in Your Daily Schedule: Include some form of exercise in your daily schedule, even if it’s a short walk to get the mail or a simple stretching session.

8. Avoid Distractions: Limit distractions and avoid doing household chores during your workday, unless it’s during a planned break.

9. Use Unified Communication Tools: Use the features included with your unified communication tools to show if you are available, away, or in “Do Not Disturb” mode, so other team members can tell if you are available or not.

10. Optimize Your Video Settings: Optimize your video settings for video calls by leveraging app settings or adjusting the lighting and background in your work area to make sure you are well-lit.

Enabling Virtual Teams for Success

Having healthy, happy employees is critical to the health of your business. It’s essential to have the right strategy and management direction and make sure your employees have the best tools and technology to succeed. If your organization is using an older phone system and multiple individual applications for the various ways you communicate (text, chat, video, voice) and will continue operating a hybrid or virtual workforce, it’s the perfect time to consider enabling your employees with new technology.

Taking advantage of unified communication tools can increase productivity, reduce costs, and lessen the stress on your IT team, as well as your in-office and virtual employees.

We hope these best practices help you create a productive and successful work environment for your remote teams.

Contact us to get more details and explore your options.