Remote work has become the new norm for many of us. Whether you’ve started working from home every so often or every day of the week, there’s no denying the fact that remote work has fundamentally changed the way we work, from how we communicate with one another to how we perform typical work tasks.
There’s a lot to keep in mind when you’re remote working, so it’s easy to feel out of your depth from time to time. If you want to make your remote working experience run as smoothly as possible, check out our 3 easy-to-follow tips below.
1. Ensure Your Boss Knows How Productive You Are
When you’re at the office, it’s relatively easy for your boss to tell if you’re working hard… or hardly working. But when you’re WFH, it’s far more difficult for them to determine just how productive you are. Even if you’re now working harder than ever before, they may not know it.
In fact, your boss may assume you’re working less productively than in the office. This isn’t just them being paranoid, either. Aternity published a whitepaper called The Global Remote Work Productivity Tracker which highlights the impact that the recent shift to remote work has had on employee productivity levels. It found that there has been an overall drop of 7.2% in productivity in the United States.
So if you want your boss to know how productive you are when you’re remote working, you’ll need to do more than just give them your deliverables. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to show them you’re a star employee even when you’re nowhere near the office. The Muse offers some great tips, such as responding to your boss in a timely manner and being genuinely engaged when you have a chance to interact with them on a phone or video call. Why not try putting a few into action over the next week?
2. Be Proactive About Securing Your Devices
Speaking of keeping your boss happy, if you want to remain in their good books, you’ll need to take proactive measures to secure all of the devices you use for work. Why? Well, when you’re working from home, you have a responsibility to keep your company’s information secure. Consequently, if a data breach happens on your watch, the blame is likely to fall squarely on your shoulders.
Fortunately, you don’t need to be a tech wiz to secure your devices at home. Zeguro’s blog offers a number of useful tips for securing your devices and reducing cybersecurity risks. Some examples of simple steps you can take include keeping your home and work accounts separate, changing your passwords regularly, and using multi-factor authentication.
Taking the time to do so will give you the peace of mind that you’re doing everything in your power to keep your company’s data safe. Plus, your boss is bound to appreciate the efforts you’ve made, especially considering that the average cost of a data breach is $3.86 million!
3. Make Your Home Office Space Work for You
We all know the difference that a comfortable working environment can make. Not only can it boost our productivity, but it can also have a significant impact on our physical and mental health. That’s why it’s worth making some modifications to your workspace to make it as comfortable as possible.
Let’s start with your office furniture. If your chair and/or table is causing you discomfort, consider switching to a more ergonomic option. Before making the switch, check if your company offers a home office reimbursement or if you can pick up some secondhand steals on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.
Next, take a look at your computer. If you need to use your own computer but it’s in dire need of an upgrade, it’s a good idea to invest in a new one. Again, check to see if your company can subsidize part or all of the cost. Pro tip: you may be able to make the case for how much more secure new computers are! Other upgrades worth considering include a brand new monitor and a state-of-the-art webcam.
Finally, think about if there’s anything else you can do to make your home office space work for you. For example, will moving your office desk next to your window mean you can enjoy more natural light and a pleasant view? Will adding a pot plant or two brighten up your work days? Will having some healthy snacks on hand help you maintain your energy levels throughout the day? Sometimes, it’s the little things that can make a huge difference to your remote working experience.
There you have it, 3 easy-to-follow remote working tips that will enhance your remote working experience… and help you score some serious points with your boss!