Take a few minutes to conduct an online job search, and you might be surprised to find that many, if not most, positions are advertised as remote or hybrid (meaning they are a mixture of both in-office and remote work.) Although, for the most part, we are in a post-pandemic phase, organizations have adapted to the remote work culture. In many cases, they have chosen to keep some of their positions remote, at least for the foreseeable future, to maintain a semblance of health and safety measures.
Five ways that organizations have successfully evolved regarding the remote work culture are through:
- Effective Communication
- Advanced Automation
- Dependable Accountability
- Impeccable Documentation
- Intentional Connection
Effective Communication
Clear communication is key in a remote work environment. Clearly communicating goals and expectations to your remote team will enable your organization to run with the efficiency of a well-oiled machine. Advanced technology allows leadership to communicate with their remote workers through a variety of channels, such as email or video conferencing to name two. Effective communication also requires both parties to listen as well as they talk.
Advanced Automation
Automation software enables organizations to save time and resources, while increasing productivity, by sending out multiple pieces of communication at once. Back in the old days (i.e., ten years ago), organizations would need to manually send out an email to each client, one at a time. With the arrival of email marketing tools such as MailChimp and Zoho CRM, newsletter campaigns are a breeze.
Speaking of breeze, RDA Systems’ ClearBreeze module is another automation software that streamlines data by making it more readable and easier to decipher. Simply input your data into the module, and ClearBreeze translates it into colorful graphs and charts. The easy-to-navigate data looks crisp and clean, and you can present it to your constituents with pride. The software also allows for more informed decision making and facilitates trust between public officials and their constituents with easy-to-read data at their fingertips.
With the click of a button, your entire client base is informed of your institution’s latest updates. According to a post published on IT Pro Portal, “By automating, streamlining, and converting processes into workflows, you make them easily accessible to employees and in turn improve transparency within the remote team. More transparency also leads to more accountability within remote teams.” In summary, automatized tools and platforms simplify processes for your remote team, which cuts down on errors and saves your most valuable resource of all—time!
Dependable Accountability
Every remote team needs reliable management to keep them accountable. Accountability could come in the form of a friendly notification of tasks that need to be completed, or perhaps a tough conversation through a Zoom call about issues that need to be addressed. Another way to create accountability is through collaborative processes that establish trust among your remote staff. It’s much easier to keep your team accountable when there is an environment of mutual appreciation, trust, and respect for each other’s roles in the organization.
Impeccable Documentation
Although you won’t be able to find much of a physical paper trail anymore with the emergence of technology, documenting everything is crucial. Documenting your processes and best practices streamlines the remote work experience and ensures that everyone is on the same page. In an article shared on Holopod.com, the author aptly states: “…documentation for remote teams is a sea; you can never add enough information, and it certainly isn’t a one off project.” The more detailed your documentation process becomes, the more informed your remote team will be, thus cutting back on confusion while increasing productivity.
Intentional Connection
Intentional connection is more difficult to achieve with a remote team, but not impossible. That’s why it’s called intentional—you must work for it! Fortunately, virtual team meetings and team calls can be performed with a few clicks of your mouse, regardless of how many hundreds or thousands of miles separate you and your co-workers.
Will Our Work Culture Remain Largely Remote?
No one knows how our work culture will continue to evolve over the coming years. We could see a sudden downshift in remote work, with most people opting for in-office positions. Or, it could swing the other way: Our workforce could become almost completely remote. We simply don’t know the outcome. If the past two years have taught us anything, it is to expect the unexpected and prepare accordingly.
About RDA
RDA’s innovative ERP software provides meaningful transparency and access for your community and staff, along with powerful insights into data. The RDA Solution is hosted in the Cloud, providing regular backups, product updates and concierge support, ensuring that clients feel and are successful with their new software.
