Tips for effective remote working

We are all currently making changes to our day to day lives and as creatures of habit these changes can have a knock on effect of both our physical and mental wellbeing. With that in mind here are some useful tips to help ease the transition into remote working for you and your team.

Set up your workspace

Find a space in your home where you can concentrate. If you’re somewhere with background distractions, use background blur in Microsoft Teams to keep teammates focused.

Communicate, communicate, communicate

Your rhythm with online work from home might look different than it does in the office. For example, you may be balancing work and childcare at the same time. Communicate your schedule to your coworkers so that they know when to reach out to you.

Maintain healthy boundaries

Without the normal workday signals, like a commute, it can be harder to unplug. Make sure to take breaks, stay hydrated, and give yourself opportunities to “clock out” from remote work at the end of the day.

Running meetings

Embrace online meetings

Make sure all meetings include an online “join” option so that team members can join from wherever they are working. Turn video on so your team can interact face to face and feel more connected.

Be mindful and inclusive

A crowded conference call can make it difficult for people to share their opinions. Pause frequently to allow time for questions and remind attendees that they can use the chat window to share their thoughts.

Record your meetings

When you start a meeting, hit “record.” Team members who aren’t able to join can watch later or search the automatically generated transcript for important information. That way, people can easily review anything they missed or need repeated.

Staying connected

Make up for missing hallway talk

The quick chat at the coffee machine is what many people miss the most when working remotely. Instead, be deliberate about and connecting with your co-workers. Think about chat messages as your virtual watercooler and set yourself a reminder to check in with people regularly.

Bring the team together

Working remotely can feel a bit isolating. It’s important to create opportunities for the whole team to virtually get together, whether it’s large brainstorms with the Microsoft Whiteboard app or daily check-ins over a virtual coffee.

Have fun

Use Teams to encourage fun activities and challenges to maintain morale. Holding a photo contest or praising employees for creative ideas are great ways to help the team stay positive, engaged and energised.

Get started with Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams can empower remote workers to chat, meet, call and collaborate in one place, wherever they’re working. Read the blog and learn now Microsoft is helping people stay productive outside of the office.

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A message from Microsoft: Our commitment to customers during COVID-19