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Remote Work is Sticking Around. Here are 4 Tips On How to Thrive!

When the pandemic started and numerous companies switched to remote work, and many of us assumed this was only temporary. We tried not to get too attached to seeing our dog, cat, kids, and partners more often, as we anxiously watched the calendar counting down the days until we would have to go back to the office.

We tried not to get too comfortable taking zoom calls in our yoga pants while wearing a professional button-down on the top—now called the “mullet of the business fashion world”—business in the front, party in the back.

Well guess what, unlike the original mullet, it looks like this one is here to stay, so grab those yoga pants, your button-down shirt, and your pet and get comfortable. We are going to fill up your fanny pack with the details on why remote work is here to stay and give your 4 tips on how to thrive in your virtual workspace.

No, not everyone will remain remote and yes, some people will have to go back to the office – but not everyone. With a better understanding of The Great Resignation, companies pivoting and changing how they function and that includes how to manage virtual work environment.

If you have not heard of The Great Resignation, you will soon enough. The Great Resignation is taking the workforce by storm and this is one of the most influential reasons that remote work is here to stay and is also growing.

The Great Resignation, also known as the Big Quit and the Great Reshuffle, is an ongoing economic trend in which employees have voluntarily resigned from their jobs en masse, beginning in early 2021, primarily in the United States. Possible causes include wage stagnation amid the rising cost of living, equality issues, long-lasting job dissatisfaction, and safety concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some economists have described the Great Resignation as akin to a national general strike.

According to the data scientists at Ladders, they project 25% of all professional jobs in North America will be remote by the end of 2022, and remote opportunities will continue to increase through 2023.

“This change in working arrangements is impossible to overhype. As big as it is, it’s even bigger than people think,” said Ladders CEO March Cenedella, who says it’s the largest societal change in America since the end of World War II. “Hiring practices typically move at a glacial pace, but the pandemic turned up the heat so we’re seeing a rapid flood of change in this space. It’s really rather amazing.”

With remote work, as well as hybrid work arrangements where employees are split between their homes, there are challenges that workers, and company owners alike will have to align with and adjust to.

Remember just because something is challenging does not mean it is not the right direction or that it is not ineffective. What it could mean is that we crave strategies, tools, time, and patience to adapt to these changes that are not going away any time soon.

Challenges of Remote Work

Remote workplaces have caused new workplace challenges. While pre-pandemic, we struggled with icky workplace microwaves, co-workers who didn’t know how to use their indoor voices when on the phone, and long commutes; today we face new challenges. Some of the biggest challenges of remote work are:

Lack of face-to-face interaction.
Missing direct and emotional communication.
Limited communication with the rest of the team members.
Different working hours based on different time zones.
Technical limitations and lack of communication tools.
Friction between team members due to misinterpreted messages.
Poor working environment.
Lack of training or direction.

Since most teams and leaders want to work together to make the days go by as smooth as possible as well produce quality work, the focus for remote work success rests on the foundations of communication and collaboration that are designed for a digital space.
The most popular forms of remote communication include basic tools like email, chat, intranets, video conferencing, and more complex work collaboration tools like all-encompassing remote work ecosystems and unified digital workplace platforms.

Implementation of such tools is excellent, but implementing them, well that’s another story. Digital communication in the workforce is changing and below is an example of why we need to really look at our communication tools and styles to gain larger impact, team connection, and long-term relationships in the workforce.

Communication Example

Sending an email while in your office is much different than sending it from your kitchen table. After you hit send, you won’t potentially run into your coworker at the microwave and have that one-on-one connection to hash out the discussion.

Now you and your emails rely on words without the visual cues and body language and you are often left hoping your message is received well.

On the other hand, when you get an email, it can be hard to get the tone and voice from the sender even if you know them well. As human beings, we rely on vocal cues and body language and these verbal and nonverbal cues help not only navigate the world but the workforce.

“93% of communication occurs through nonverbal behavior & tone; only 7% of communication takes place through the use of words.”

4 Tips for Better Communication with Remote Work

Show Empathy, and Remember We’re All Human
Remember over the last few years coworkers may have lost loved ones, close friends, and relatives to the pandemic. They also may have had their own health concerns, both mental and physical. When you add in the complete overhaul of the workforce–which means no part of anyone’s life is remotely the same–remember that people are struggling and may not react to situations as they would have in the past. You can do a lot if you simply give kindness and believe that most communications come with the best intention. Be forgiving when wires get crossed.

Designate Tools for Specific Communication
Too many tools provide too many places for people to comment and relay information. Messages will be missed and people will feel overwhelmed and bombarded trying to keep up with texts, emails, Slacks, IMs, and voicemails.

Agree with the team upfront on the expectations for where critical communication will be relayed and then stick to that plan. You may decide that a personal morning team check in is the best way to get important information out and a group Slack will cover updates. Keeping this method of communication consistent will help the team stay on track.

Clarify the Emotional Intent of the Communication
Vague communications such as “sure” or “fine” can leave recipients reading into the emotional intent behind the communication. In fact, 90 percent of the time people believe their digital communications are understood when in fact only 50 percent of the time they are. When the intent of a message isn’t clear, humans will fill in the gaps using a negative bias and will assume the worst. To avoid negative biases hijacking the intended meaning of your digital communications, clarify the emotional intent of your communications. Emojis help. The same part of the brain that processes human faces also processes emojis. It can even be as simple as saying, “Sure, I think your idea will work.”

Use Virtual Team-Building Activities
Lack of team building can cause disengagement, a drop in performance/ productivity, even employee turnover. By connecting with others, team members can communicate better with each other, discuss issues, and find solutions to problems before they become too big.

You can conduct both synchronous and asynchronous activities. Need ideas? Here is an article with 57 Virtual Team Build Activities to get you started.

Remote work has some challenges but it has also proven to be a supportive change in the workforce for numerous workers worldwide. Workers tend to be happier and more loyal employees, in part because working from home has been shown to lower stress, provide flexibility, alleviated long commutes, offered more time for hobbies and interests, and improve personal relationships, among other things.
As we all navigate this new working world under the transitions of The Great Resignation, we hope that you find work that is fulfilling, flexible, and supportive to your well-being.

Conclusion

As we all navigate this new working world under the transitions of The Great Resignation, we hope that you find work that is fulfilling, flexible, and supportive to your well-being.

Do you feel like you need a tune up on your communication skills so you can better support your team? Connect with us at advisor@workplaceharmonyhr.com and schedule a consultation.

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Aunia Kahn, Creative Director

Aunia Kahn is the Creative Director at Workplace Harmony. With over 24-years of experience, in the field, she has worked across various industries helping small businesses and enthusiastic entrepreneurs elevate their businesses to the next level. She works with clients and colleagues to build trustworthy brand identities, successful marketing strategies, and a solid and informative web presence. She is the owner of Light Owl Design.