Remote work and productivity: thriving in changing times

From the moment many companies had to take the leap and move to remote work almost completely, one of the big questions that arose was how to keep on working without reducing productivity. There is a thin line between checking in on your staff and micromanaging them, so here we would like to share a few tips that have worked well for us during this transition.

- Work with a flexible schedule
Being at an office usually meant that there were certain times to do things: people would come in the morning, maybe take a break for lunch and continue working during the afternoon. But at home, schedules do not always follow the same patterns: families have kids that have to go to school (or study at home), meals that have to be cooked, and so on. Your employees may feel more comfortable starting work at 6 a.m., taking a break at 8 a.m., then working until 3 p.m. and maybe a little bit after 10 p.m. when the rest of the family is asleep. We have tested flexible working hours and the results have been outstanding. People feel free to organize their day according to their needs, and this results in better productivity every single time.

- Keep an eye on them, but let them breathe
This is maybe one of the toughest tasks for managers: keeping projects going, meeting deadlines, and reaching objectives without making staff feel like they are being “babysitted”. There are, however, several strategies you could use for that purpose. There are tools such as Slack or Trello to keep ongoing communication with your team, or you could use software where people should update their progress, allowing you to see it without having to ask. It is also important to be very clear when tasks are assigned so that all tasks are covered, and nobody ends up doing extra work just because of a lack of organization. Everybody knows that work has to be done, so you can trust that your team will be doing their best.

- A little spoiling is always a good idea
It may require some more planning, but providing your collaborators with perks that they can receive at home will make them feel that you care for them and make the time at home easier. Our healthy snack box, for instance, has become an all-time favorite! Think of vouchers, presents, online events, surprises, and more cool things that will create a sense of connection and proximity. Prioritizing well-being will definitely result in an increase in productivity.

We have all seen that working remotely while still being connected is 100% possible, but it is our responsibility as managers and companies to make that process easy and smooth, making our staff feel comfortable, trusted, and cared for. We believe that with a good plan, productivity can be even higher than it was before.