The millennial generation at large is very fond of remote working and freelance-based work. Given that, in the modern digital environment the possibilities of remote working are far higher, and the fact that due to technology several new industries have opened up that require work which doesn't need to be done by in-house employees, the number of freelancers worldwide is increasing.
Moreover, the recent global COVID-19 problem has forced employers to shift even basic in-house employees to remote jobs. With all of these things combined the current global situation is such that an unprecedented number of people are working from home, some willingly and others unwillingly. In either case, it is important for both, employer and employee, to maintain high productivity and ensure that quality of work is balanced with quality of life. These are some techniques that can come in handy to all kinds of remote workers.
This is one of the toughest yet most critical things to manage when working remotely. Effective communication between team members if a fundamental requirement to achieve team goals, however keeping everyone on the same page in a digital team is far more challenging.
Employers should not hesitate in investing money in a team collaboration solution and employees need to be thoroughly educated about using such a platform to keep each other posted. People should not be shy when communicating their message, to keep confusion out the message should be communicated more than once and any discrepancies should be addressed promptly.
Even an experienced manager or team-lead will find it difficult to create results when they are suddenly made to play a game that they have never played before. The task might be the same but the fact that the arena is now a digital one means that not only technical staff but also managers need some training in how to operate efficiently in this new environment. Many experienced managers will be using digital solutions for the first time and rather than just handing over the reins, business owners need to take the time to get management up-to-speed to ensure overall progress.
Remote working means that employees are free to work from home, while some jobs still maintain the same working hours requiring staff to be available online for the regular 9-5 shift, other jobs are task-oriented and employees can manage when they work on their own. However, easy as it sounds it can become a challenging task when distractions and household tasks are accompanying an employee all day long. The best solution is to either set aside a specific time when a person works or to have a daily task list that needs to be completed at all costs.
Remote working is somewhat easier at co-working spaces and shared offices, however, after the lockdown, many co-working space members are also confined to their homes. It is best to have space within the home, whether it is an entire room or simply a table where all work-related things are ready and permanently placed. This reduces time wasted in moving around looking for things and having a dedicated workspace helps to significantly improve concentration and output.
Remote working looks like it will be a solution that employers use permanently and in the future, it seems remote working and freelancing will gain more popularity. Whether one chooses digital employment as a full-time job or a part-time occupation, those who know how to remote work effectively will shine in their quality of work and be preferred by employers.