Remote Working - Challenges

Working Remotely? Common Challenges and how to defeat them.

Remote work has now become the standard thanks to COVID-19 but with this necessity problems may occur for a lot of businesses. Here are a few common remote-work pitfalls and how to sidestep them.

Challenge #1: Trouble Managing Your Time

Work from home?, which means ample distractions (the dishes, the laundry, the un-mowed lawn, maybe your children and spouse)—and it’s all too easy to get sidetracked. Plus, there’s no over-the-shoulder accountability to keep you off Instagram.

If you’re ambitious, consider using time tracking software which allows you to log time spent on various tasks or categories of tasks. If you really want to dig in, you can look at the data for patterns. Do midday conference calls throw off your afternoon rhythm?—and adjust your schedule accordingly.

No matter how you manage your time, it’s a good idea to build a schedule for yourself that you can stick to.

Challenge #2: Knowing when to stop working

With no commute or way to leave the office, it can be hard to separate work and your personal life. “You can check work emails, chat with co-workers online, or do work any time you’re on Wi-Fi,” As a result, it’s easy to keep working into the night, well past the time you said you’d finish up.”

Plus, you might be worried that your boss thinks you’re not working since you’re off-site, so you overcompensate to appear busy.

Unplugging at the end of the day is important. If you don’t, you’ll feel like you’re on call 24/7.

Challenge #3: Team Communication

When you’re not in the flow of in-office traffic, you’re going to miss impromptu lunches, coffees, or spontaneous desk-side brainstorms. So it can occasionally feel like you’re not getting the full picture or like you’re the last to find out about things.

To address communication gaps, some teams adopt a messaging platform like Microsoft Teams where everyone—remote and in-office—can chat in real time about issues as they pop up, or use cloud platforms for documents so everyone can collaborate. Video calls are also a good strategy—and leave your camera on, because managers like to see your face. We’ve used Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Skype just so we can see one another on occasion. It’s remote, but you do feel connected after those conversations.”

Challenge #4: Technology Hiccups

Office technology is usually business-grade and quick. But your remote internet may not be as reliable, and that can be a problem.

Check that you have the right technology to support connectivity—an extra powerful router, for instance. “It may sound like a small issue, but many remote workers have suffered and failed trying to work from locations where phone coverage and internet speeds cannot meet the requirements of the job. Make sure to check your service providers and even run necessary tests before settling on your remote location.

Similarly, if your team collaborates on projects or documents, make sure you can tap into a file hosting service so the team can work together on things without version issues. You should have access to the same technology that your team does. And if your team has no collaboration tools? Lobby your boss for them!

Challenge #5: You’re Literally Not Visible

Sure, you get to work in whatever you fell asleep in, but you’re also not on your boss’ visual radar every day.

Challenge #6: You’re Missing the Banter

Being in an office with a group brings with it a certain camaraderie. There are inside jokes, spur-of-the-moment after-work drinks, and spontaneous events Working remotely can feel like you’re standing outside the circle. There’s no substitute for being in the office full-time.

No matter what the challenges, take heart: Research shows that remote workers are happier and more productive than their in-office counterparts. They report lower stress levels and their carbon footprint is smaller with no commute.