Top tips on working remotely

With Coronavirus (COVID-19) continuing to spread around the world, it's looking likely that a lot of businesses may be expected to ask some or all of their employees to work from home in the coming weeks.

While I'm by no means an expert on remote working, I'm a huge advocate for it. Since founding Notepad (our branding agency) in 2017, we've offered remote working to all of our employees as standard and worked remotely with a number of clients in the UK and overseas. In fact, we managed to rebrand one company entirely without ever meeting face to face (more here).

While remote working is good for the planet, and good for people, it can take some getting used to. So if you are asked to work from home in the near future, here are some things we'd recommend:

1. Get your software sorted

The first step to going remote is to get the right software in place and agree what each piece of software is to be used for. This sounds simple but we've experimented with lots of software and it took us a while to find what works best for us. Slack is great for quick communication and questions. Gmail and Google Drive are great for file storage/sharing and longer form emails or communicating with clients.

2. Start daily huddles

And by 'huddle' I mean a short video call with your team to run through the day ahead. You'll want to keep these to 15 minutes and ideally each person will give an update on 2 things. Firstly, what they're working on today. And secondly, if they need help on anything. If someone does need help, they should outline who they need help from and then agree to catch up with that person outside of the huddle. This keeps the meeting short and focused. We use Google Meet for this (formerly hangouts) but for a more stable connection or with larger teams, try Zoom.

3. Trust your team

Just because your team aren't in the same room as you, don't expect them to be on the sofa watching Netflix. You employed people because you trust them. Try not to micro-manage and let people know you're available on Slack or email if they need help or someone to bounce ideas off.

4. Share your calendars

One of the hardest things about being remote is keeping track of where everyone is. We share calendars at Notepad which makes it easy to see when people are available.

5. Stay connected

To make things work remotely you have to over-communicate and be available. Make it clear to the team that's it's ok to ask lots of questions and if you do leave the house, just let people know when you'll be back. Our Lead Strategist Ian wrote more about his first-hand experience of working remotely here.

6. Make yourself comfortable

While it can be tempting to try and work from the comfort of your bed, I find it quite impractical. If you have space, try to get a dedicated comfortable desk for you to work from. Find a good playlist and take regular breaks (as you would at work). Also make sure you've got some healthy supplies in the fridge and stay hydrated.

7. Stay disciplined

Working remotely is very much about self-discipline. Set out a clear structure for your day and if you find yourself being unproductive try a change of scenery. Heading to a coffee shop to work can help to fire you back up creatively. It's also great if you need to free yourself from homely distractions (i.e. your incredibly needy dog). I've even heard of some people doing 'fake commutes' where you get dressed for the day, walk around the block, and then arrive at your home office ready to start work. Haven't tried this myself but I'm sure it's helpful for some.

8. Take a lunch break and step outside

It can be really easy to make lunch at home and just eat at your desk while you work. However, if you do this every day you can start to feel a little burned out. When lunchtime strikes eat food away from your desk and try to get some fresh air. It makes a world of difference.

And that about sums it up. We've found working remotely has made us more productive, improved wellbeing and built a culture of trust. It has its challenges from time to time but once you embrace it, you'll never look back.

If you're looking for brand strategy or design support in the coming weeks and need a remote-friendly agency give us a shout at www.notepadstudio.com

I'd also love to hear other people's experiences of working remotely. What tips would you add to this list?