Working Remotely? 4 Ways to Increase Productivity For Yourself and Your Team

When March 2020 hit, many of us were sent into a whirlwind trying to figure out how to set up our work space, work around family schedules, figure out video calling in place of in-person meetings, and so much more. Giving up the commute was nice, and if you live in a high traffic area then you gained more hours in your day! But, as we gained those hours, we also struggled knowing how to walk away from our home office, which meant our work days actually grew longer. If you lead a team in your role, you might struggle to maintain the same level of productive teamwork. 

Check out these four keys to being more productive, not only for personal benefit, but for your team. 

1. Flexibility is key, but routine is too. It's best to set a routine whether you are living alone or sharing your home and your new work space with family. Routine helps us be productive and helps those around us know what to expect throughout the day. When you don't have routine then they won't either and that will end up causing you interruptions that hinder productivity. Routine allows us to work when we work best and are most productive. If we have a routine that works for us and for family, then being flexible when we need to alter the routine every so often will be easier. 

2. Organization helps you and helps your team be productive. Disorganization hurts your productivity and hinders your team members from completing projects. One question I've learned to ask in interviews centers on discovering how the person organizes and tracks projects and tasks. If you have ever worked with someone who doesn't have a consistent method of tracking projects and tasks then you can identify. You don't want to be the person causing team members frustration or delays in completing projects. This will be just as important  now if you are working from home, distanced from you team, and even more important if you are alternating between home and the office. Figure out what works best and be consistent so your team can count on you.

3. Video calling is the new norm in team communication. It is often easier to keep communicating through email or production software tools, but there is something about face to face interactions that takes communication to the next level. And we all know communication is vital to effective teamwork. On a video call we can read body language and see more clearly if someone is understanding or not, frustrated, distracted, or fully engaged. If you lead a team, make sure you are meeting with your teams by video at least weekly, but more often for vital project conversations. There are all kinds of resources out now on how to set up your video meetings for success. When you have meetings scheduled, set the time aside just as you would if in the office, have your video on, and give your full attention so your team knows you consider the meeting (and more importantly - them) an important priority. 

4. Get out of the house! While the first bullet addressed the benefit of no commutes, we also have to recognize the benefit of changing our environment and taking time to decompress after a day of work. For some people the drive home is the time that helps transition from work to home. So, what could be better than replacing the long drive home with a walk, or a run, or a bike ride? I am more consistent with exercise if I workout in the morning before work, but I've found that taking an extra walk in the evening has been very beneficial for my mind and my health. 

Covid-19 has changed so much and we won't know what the new normal will look like for sometime. Let's do this well! What have you discovered helps you in being your best working remotely?