While the concept of a remote workplace has been around for quite a while, it really has taken the forefront with many businesses ever since the onset of the Coronavirus in early 2020.
The smartest companies got on the bandwagon early on and understood the value of adapting to new and urgent circumstances.
It is of the utmost importance to have the skill of adaptation when you’re running a business. You may live under the assumption that this is much easier to do for big companies and businesses that have the big bucks to spend, but the good news is, it is absolutely doable for small businesses as well.
This is why we’ve created a simple guide to help you build an efficient remote work system for your small business.
Time Management
The most evident change that occurs when the shift is made to a remote workspace is the working hours. Working from home poses the risk of people losing control of their routine and this can quickly snowball into a vicious cycle of a lack of productivity.
It is absolutely imperative that you learn all there is to know about time management and how to organize your employees. The best way to do this is to invest in a time management tool that you can implement and have all the employees follow. This way, they will be able to follow a set schedule and have a structure in their day, and on the flip side, you’ll be able to keep a close eye on what everyone is doing.
Use the Most Efficient Communication Tools
There is growth or any hope of function if there is no communication. This alone can make or break any organization. If you thought communication was key when you were face to face with your employees on a daily basis, you will really understand the value of it when you are trying to set up a remote workspace.
The good news is that there is a wide variety of options for the employees to have several avenues of contact and communication within the organization.
Something like a VoIP will make a great deal of difference and can be extremely convenient. According to some of the most seasoned professionals in the field, a solid VoIP phone system will allow all your employees to communicate internally and with customers as well freely, without having to worry about the risk of ridiculous phone bills or bad reception.
Regardless of how advanced your technological tools are, you will always need a phone system for communication. Along with that are the usual suspects, which you can easily find a variety of apps and software. This includes work suites in general which are packages that include spreadsheet and document software, video calling software which are essential for meetings, and much more.
Ensure Everyone Has the Best Connection
Since you’re expecting all your employees to work according to the schedules that you set for them, and if you want things to run as smoothly as possible, you have to make sure that all of them have proper internet connections.
This may sound like a costly endeavor, especially for any small business, but you’ll find that many internet providers do have small business packages that are actually quite reasonable.
This is a new necessity that you need to keep in mind and seriously consider at some point because it will affect the workflow if anyone is behind.
Have the Correct Equipment
Another factor that you need to keep in mind as you run your small business remotely is the quality of the basic equipment that everyone is using from their homes.
Previously, you have one office where you had one photocopier and a number of specific printers and so on. Now you need to make sure that all of your employees have decent equipment in order to be able to move forward efficiently.
You need to figure out which are the best and most reasonably priced as well. Things like printers, headphones and mics, and even webcams if necessary need to be considered.
Project Management Software
There isn’t a business in the world that doesn’t need project management. And now that you no longer have the option of working from the office and meeting in the meeting room, it’s time to consider investing in project management software.
This will go a long way in keeping the processes organized, amongst other things. Separate teams can have separate channels that have specific task lists and storage for their particular project all under one umbrella, and you can keep and oversight over every single one without things getting messy, lost, or mixed up.
Anything new or foreign to us is bound to evoke a whole slew of emotion, especially when it comes to business, let alone small business management.
But the wonderful thing is that we live in such a fast-paced world with such bright minds, that there really is no stone that’s left unturned in terms of resources to make things work. If you’re trying to build a functional remote workspace, make sure you follow the tips provided here and you’ll be well on your way to success.
