Remote Working, Covid-19 and 10km runs.

Ok, so I’m not the first to write a blog about Corvid-19 and flexible work and I’ve seen all sorts of experts and ‘experts’ writing and talking about the topic over the last few weeks. But I’m not here to point fingers, stamp feet or declare a revolution. I’m here, as I have always been, to help.

There are a lot of companies out there who are suddenly thinking about their remote working policies and it wouldn’t surprise me if there is a rush on laptop computers at the moment, but working remotely is a bit like running 10km. Most people could go out and run 10km today, you might walk large chunks of it and it might take 3 hours, but you could do it. But then you would most likely vow to never do it again and it would probably stop you running again for a long time to come.

Likewise, if companies rush out remote work policies there is a fair chance that their staff will struggle to adjust, get distracted and not perform at their best. The companies will then vow to never do it again and dismiss all other forms of flexible work options to the detriment of everyone in the business.

“Working in pyjamas is no different to working in a suit”

Working remotely is a skill that needs to be learned and, like running, some people adjust to it faster than others. People need to be guided on how to create a productive workspace at home, how to communicate effectively through Slack, Teams or whichever platform you decide to use, and that working in pyjamas is no different to working in a suit, as long as they are achieving their objectives.

Even more importantly, Managers need to be shown how to manage remotely, encouraged to let go of the processes and focus on the outcomes, and then be reassured that this does leave them with more time, they are not doing anything wrong, and that they can get on with their jobs.

Like running, these things can take time to develop and will not reach maximum productivity for a few weeks or even a couple of months, but done right it can create a positive working environment with significantly higher productivity and delivering significant cost-savings to a business.

So take the time now to develop flexible work policies that are right for your business, develop an effective training programme that will enable your teams to perform and be open with your teams about what you are working to achieve and why.

After all, this could be what helps your business not only survive but thrive!