JULY 2020 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 19
In today’s society, remote work is
more common than ever. In fact,
Upwork’s third annual “Future
Workforce Report” predicts that
73 percent of all teams will have
remote workers by 2028. However,
management teams are often
concerned with their team getting
distracted while working remotely
and are continuously looking for
ways to maintain productivity.
DEFINE STRUCTURE
Working remotely allows
employees to control their own
flexible hours, causing a need for
strict guidelines. When working
remotely, employees should:
IDENTIFY GOALS
Often times, morale can become
depleted when working outside
the office. Setting clear goals will
help employees feel a desire to
work hard to achieve their set
objectives. It is recommended
that employees also set personal
goals for themselves.
IDENTIFY A WORKING SPACE
A working space is a critical
element when working remotely.
Employees should create a
working space that keeps them
motivated. This could be a
workroom at home or a table at a
co-work location or coffee house.
Lighting is another important
element when choosing a remote
workstation. Studies have shown
that cooler light makes workers
more productive. If possible,
workstations should have direct
access to natural light, which
is especially beneficial when
working remotely. Natural light
in both the morning and evening
has been found to decrease
depression and improve mood,
energy, alertness and productivity.
Tech Insights
Powering Remote Team Productivity
CREATE TASK LISTS
Employees will often work on
multiple projects at the same
time. In order to prioritize their
work effectively, it is suggested
that they create a to-do list. This
will help employees differentiate
between urgent and nonurgent
tasks and complete their work in
the most effective order.
COMMUNICATE FREQUENTLY
When working remotely,
teams must keep in contact
throughout the day. In order to
ensure maximum productivity,
employees should use a central
communication system.
There are many cloud-based
solutions, such as Cisco Webex,
that allow remote workers to
chat with one another at any
given moment. In any industry,
meetings are essential. Whether
it’s with a client or internal,
organizations must conduct
meetings to collaborate,
discuss information and reach
decisions.
Although it can feel uncomfortable
at first, it is recommended that
companies require employees
to use video during calls
and meetings to maintain
professionalism and personal
connections with coworkers,
clients and stakeholders.
When communicating, remote
workers should also:
• Communicate with intent.
• Practice phone etiquette.
• Coordinate within their team.
• Schedule meetings thoughtfully.
• Be specific.
Maintaining balance in your
work life is essential when
working remotely. Atmosphere,
communication and collaboration
are the fundamentals of efficient
remote work and can lead to
high levels of productivity when
used properly.
At Custom Computer Specialists,
it is our goal to provide premium
solutions to organizations that
allow remote workers to collaborate
seamlessly while maintaining
security. We have created a Remote
Work Guide that offers critical
information on how to maintain
productivity while working
remotely. Visit customonline.com
to download the guide.
Custom Computer Specialists
Right People. Right Results.®
MaryAnn Benzola is the
director of marketing and
business development
at Custom Computer
Specialists. She is the
author of Tech Insights, a
weekly blog published at
customonline.com
By MaryAnn Benzola
/LONGISLANDPRESS.COM
/customonline.com
/customonline.com
