Staying connected in the age of remote working

We find ourselves in unprecedented times, with rapid and significant changes to the way we live and work. Remote working – or working from home (WFH) – has become the new normal for people all over the world, and we are no exception here in South Africa.

Navigating these complex circumstances has been highly stressful for governments, business leaders, employees, students, teachers and parents alike, as we all adapt to a shifting world. Many organisations have had to equip their staff with the necessary tools to help them do their work remotely at speed, and employees have had to change their approach to the way they work to stay productive and connected.

Even in the midst of this uncertainty and the challenges it presents to all people and organisations, however, I find it inspiring to see how people have rallied together to do what needs to be done to ensure business continuity.

With the right guidance, tools and resources, the challenges of remote working – such as the blurring of boundaries between home and work life, or a lack of human connection – will be outweighed by its benefits: higher productivity, flexibility, lower stress levels and lower levels of staff turnover and attrition. Stanford professor Nicholas Bloom, for instance, found that productivity increased by 13% and employee attrition dropped by 50% when employees were able to work from home.

The ability to unlock these and other benefits, particularly at the critical time we find ourselves in right now, is going to be key for modern businesses. So in a world where work is becoming more remote, and where we are increasingly going to need to bridge the gap between the digital and physical worlds, it is important to look at tips and ways of ensuring that we can make remote working the most collaborative and engaging experience possible.

My top three tips are:

o  Create a dedicated work area: Working remotely from home can make it difficult to separate home and work life – particularly if family members are there simultaneously. This is why I have set up a dedicated home workspace where I can be productive and that signals that I’m at work. Any area with enough space for work tools can double as a workspace: the dining room table, a breakfast nook, a quiet corner of the bedroom. This helps make the much-needed distinction between the workday and home and family obligations.

o  Use video – bandwidth permitting – to create a human connection: Not only are humans hard-wired for connection, experts estimate 55% of communication is nonverbal – making the value of video in a remote working scenario undeniable. I have found using video extremely useful in connecting with my colleagues and business connections in the last few weeks when we haven’t been able to meet face-to-face. And features like background blur and customised backgrounds help remove distractions, while upcoming eye gaze technology will help make video calls feel more connected and personal by using AI to make it look as though people are looking directly at the camera.

o  Use the tools available on remote working platforms to make meetings more interactive and collaborative – and take digital coffee breaks with team members: One of my favourite tools to use in remote meetings, for example, includes a digital whiteboard on our own integrated collaboration platform, Teams. It means anyone can be included in creative brainstorming and helps bring ideas to life visually – which I find generally encourages greater engagement and interaction and creates a platform for creativity. Taking a digital coffee break with colleagues and team members also helps keep people connected and engaged.

Feeling connected and productive is essential in an age where working remotely is gaining such massive traction. It’s going to become increasingly important for businesses and workers alike to find ways to forge these connections, bridge the gap between the digital and physical, and ultimately unlock the broader benefits of working remotely as the trend continues to grow.