Remote Work Strategies for Small Business Employees

How Employees Can Succeed in a Remote Work Arrangement

If the pandemic taught small businesses anything, it is that every organization must be prepared to deal with rapid change. Many small and family-owned businesses are still coping with the aftermath of a sudden change in operations. Remote work is just one of those changes.

How can employees make sure their work is valued and appreciated by their employer when working remotely?

Here are the best strategies for employees to get the same results as an in-office environment while opening the door for a larger pool of quality candidates and remote work opportunities.

Remote work strategies for employees

It is ultimately up to employees to develop productive telecommuting habits and maintain a high level of quality in their work. Small businesses need to set clear standards for remote work habits and behaviors and communicate these strategies to remote employees, but it ultimately up to you to meet them. If you’re an employee working remotely, these strategies are for you.

1. How to stay motivated when working alone

Working alone can make deadlines seem less urgent and the work itself uninteresting. There are several things that you can do to stay motivated on track.

• Be flexible in your remote workspace. Every remote employee should have at least three work locations – the office, the home, and a third place where you can be surrounded by people yet left alone. The library or a café are common choices.
• Create a vision board that includes items such as monthly goals, quotas, commission, performance incentives, vacations, schedules, and routine tasks by priority. It will help you stay on track and keep your motivators right in front of you.
• Create a fellowship of remote coworkers within your team or department that will touch base each day. You can brag, vent frustrations, and hold each other accountable.
• Plan small rewards for completing difficult tasks. This is something that is easy to do when working remotely. For example, when working in a café you could reward yourself with a baked treat when you complete a project.
• Don’t forget to take breaks every couple of hours just as you would in the office. It can be hard to disengage from work when at home, but failing to do so leads to burnout and being unmotivated to continue the workday.

2. How to ensure your work is valued by the organization

It is important to stay as visible as possible when working remotely. The best way to make sure your work is valued by the organization is to exceed performance goals and quotas, even slightly. Exceeding goals will make your name pop up in reports to draw appreciation for your efforts.

Putting yourself out there with confidence is key to ensuring your work is valued by the company. Ask questions, make suggestions, and provide input or feedback at every opportunity. Support your coworkers and immediate supervisors so that everyone in the company knows you can be counted on.

3. Connecting with the company culture while working apart

According to PwC, 95% of managers believe that in-office attendance is necessary for a strong company culture. It is more important than ever to win over those managers by keeping yourself connected to the company culture on your own. Attend all virtual events that are required or recommended by your supervisors and keep items relating to the company culture in your work area.

Another great way to connect with the company culture while working remotely is to form alliances with one or two people from other departments. Not only do you stay connected to the company, but you will also be able to maintain a clear picture of the organization as a whole.

4. Tools and tricks for staying connected

Experts have found that socializing in the workplace is vital to employee health and productivity. Here are some ways to socialize with coworkers to stay connected, share knowledge, and build alliances for your future career.

• Stay logged on after online team meetings and activities. Staying on the video chat after the meeting gives everyone a chance to connect and blow off steam. This is a particularly good practice for Monday meetings or Friday events.
• Create a virtual break room. Most employees socialize before and after shifts as well as during breaks in a designated break area. Discord is a great free option for a virtual water cooler.
• Find ways to connect with coworkers in a professional setting outside the workplace. Form a group to take to a professional development course or seminar or encourage coworkers to accompany you to industry networking events.
• Work at the office at least a few hours per week and one full day per month. Spending a few hours in the office is important for maintaining connections and staying abreast of company news.

5. Minimizing distractions

According to Flex Jobs, 75% of people work remotely because they think it will minimize distractions, and 77% think they are more productive at home. But for some remote workers, those distractions are the biggest obstacle to productivity. When you are working alone in a quiet place, minor distractions easily become major problems. Here are a few ways to focus:

• Set up a designated work area away from the bustle of the household to eliminate distractions like doorbells, children, or pets.
• Use a software tool like Freedom that blocks distractions during specific hours. Tools for specific distractions include Anti-Social for blocking social media, and the FocusWriter app that blocks all other computer activity.
• Leave your phone in another room, especially if you wouldn’t have it with you in the office. Out of sight (and sound) out of mind.

• Put on some background noise like a fan or soft music in the background. For those working in an otherwise silent environment the background noise can actually prevent distractions from other rooms.

Key Takeaways

Telecommuting is a challenge for small businesses. Luckily, in this post-pandemic world there are more inexpensive and budget friendly options for businesses and teams of all sizes. The best tools for employees include:

• Discord for messaging and casual virtual meetings
• Freedom for blocking distractions while working

These are the best tools for remote employees, but there may be others that are better suited to your industry. By keeping productivity, consistency, communication, and collaboration as the primary objectives, any employee can maintain the high standards of work while working remotely.