Remote Working for Beginners

The freedom to sometimes work from home (or a quiet cafe, or a scenic park, or wherever) isn’t a new concept at Visualsoft - it’s a perk we rolled out company-wide back in 2014. Surprisingly though, remote working remains untested by the vast majority of companies in the UK, so if you’re currently considering it and want to avoid some common pitfalls, here are some insights I’ve gleaned over the years (as both a team member and a manager) that will hopefully help if you make the leap:

Agree on a comms framework

With the exception of having the tools at hand to actually do the job, effective communication is by far the biggest nut to crack if you need to work remotely for longer than just a day or two. If you’re part of a team, then it’s absolutely crucial that you have a framework in place that everyone subscribes to; whether that’s a daily stand-up, a weekly remote meeting or just a check-in at the start and end of each day depends on what fits best for your team and work-type, but it’s important you agree on a structure and stick to it. Initially, it can feel awkward and forced unless you have specific items to discuss, but regular (and where possible, video) comms is essential to retain your team’s dynamic and is especially valuable to those who find remote work isolating.

Have clear goals

The creature comforts of your own home can create a constant distraction (it’s all too easy to stick on a box set) so start each day with a clear goal of what you need to achieve before you clock off, stick to the plan, and reward yourself when you hit your target.

Set the scene

Obviously, you don’t need to painstakingly recreate your office environment, but it is important to create a simple home set-up that’s practical and comfortable. If you live with other people, I’d also recommend setting boundaries with your housemates/family to avoid well-meaning interruptions as they can soon eat into your working day. You don’t need to be a dic-tator about it, it’s their home too after all, but it can really help to just politely ask that people largely ignore you while you’re at your desk (headphones are a plus, too).

Keep track of your hours

Without the structure of a daily commute into the office, the ever-punctual lunch train, and the journey home, it’s pretty easy to lose track of time so it can be prudent to keep a record of what you’ve done, and how long for - this can also help to overcome ‘WFH guilt’ (which is a real thing!).

Make sure tasks are well-defined

The loss of quick convos in the office to clarify requirements can be a huge hindrance, so to avoid crossover, duplication, or completely wasting someone’s (or your own) time, always make sure you’re working from a detailed brief and iron out any uncertainties with your colleagues in advance. 

Look presentable (from the waist up)

It can be pretty tempting to take a break from daily self-maintenance when you’re working from home, but be warned - you never know when your boss will Facetime you, so it’s best to at least brush your hair. 

Trust your teammates

Trust is a big part of our culture at Visualsoft, and the bedrock that enables teams to be creative, innovative and successful. If you’re uneasy about whether or not your employees or colleagues will actually do the work they’re paid to do without you constantly watching over them, it’s likely you’ve got a much bigger problem and the possibility of remote working is merely highlighting it. Either you’ve got the wrong people working with/for you, the team’s goals/expectations are unclear, or you’ve got some pretty major trust issues that are likely to be toxic from any distance (harsh but true). Learning to believe in your colleagues is incredibly rewarding, and even though it can be tricky to master, remote working can be a great way to make that happen.