This article was published in the Winter 2020 issue
by Rachel Skroback, Content Writer, FormAssembly
In early 2020, the coronavirus pandemic forced companies all over the world to break from tradition and make a rapid switch to all-remote work. Many companies were less than prepared to make this transition at the time, lacking the resources, tools, and infrastructure they needed to keep everything running smoothly. This unpredictable, unusual time presented a slew of new challenges for staff and executives alike as they scrambled into unfamiliar territory in both their professional and personal lives.
As the new year approaches, most of us are happy to say goodbye to 2020—but this doesn’t mean we’re saying goodbye to remote work. As the pandemic and uncertainty continues, many companies have committed to remote work indefinitely to ensure the health and safety of their staff. In this article, we’re sharing some top tech tips and best practices that will help your organization develop a sustainable remote work strategy for 2021.
Be an advocate for mental health
Working from home can be a huge change for people who are familiar with—and fond of—working from the office. It’s important to continue to encourage yourself and your colleagues to take breaks when needed, limit time on the clock when working from home, and take time for things like meditation, exercise, and regular check-ins via video chat with coworkers.
Consider bringing in tech solutions to help promote wellness across your team, like meditation apps, virtual exercise challenges, corporate wellness software, or even simply just virtual happy hours to check in with your friends at work. At FormAssembly, we even scheduled a full week-long virtual team reunion in place of our annual in-person reunion. We used our own web form builder and data collection software to gauge interest and gather sign ups for virtual activities, such as escape rooms, cooking classes, fitness classes, art workshops, and more.
Encourage transparency and communication through tech
It’s a fact: working remotely requires more communication. As you head into the new year, be sure to communicate early and often with coworkers about your goals, projects, and objectives so that everyone is on the same page. Take the time to thoroughly explain new initiatives, provide frequent updates on company happenings, and schedule video meetings when necessary to get as much “face-to-face” time as possible.
With all of the above in mind, it’s crucial to make sure that each member of the team has access to the software they need. Employ an easy-to-use messaging service like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Flock. Make sure everyone has a computer with a functioning webcam and reliable internet access, and set up video chat software like Zoom or Google Hangouts. You may also want to use a project management platform like Asana, Monday, or Trello. In addition, an online web form builder like FormAssembly can be especially helpful when you need to gather important information from employees, prospects, and customers remotely.
Implement tech that makes life easier
Fortunately, there are a lot of tools out there that streamline remote work life. For example, FormAssembly has operated as a fully remote company for more than a decade, and it now has 100+ team members spread out all over the world. Our team and several other remote teams use our own web form builder and data collection platform to streamline processes and facilitate cross-departmental collaboration in a remote work environment.
2020 is coming to an end, but the future of remote work is just beginning. By following the guidelines outlined here and researching SaaS solutions for remote work success, your organization will be able to forge a path toward success in the new year.
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*Read the latest issue of Silicon Slopes Magazine, Winter 2020
