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Efficient Ways For Increasing Working From Home Productivity

Working from home is no longer a strange concept for many workers in the modern era. Especially when everything is held at a distance after Covid. It has changed many people's thoughts on an ideal workplace, since it gives you more freedom and less formality than the office. If you work from home, you need to find ways to stay productive so you can stay on top of your work and keep yourself motivated. You can maintain your focus throughout the day, even when domestic conveniences pose a temptation, by making a few changes and establishing some new, easy habits. Read our post to know more efficient ways for increasing working from home productivity. The impact of working from home on employee productivity Company opinion and policy toward WFH is the first factor affecting worker output. When workers believe their company cares about them and is committed to their success, they are more likely to put in the time and effort necessary to complete projects successfully and on schedule. When workers don't have to waste time, money, and energy commuting between home and the office, they're able to put that saved time and energy toward getting more work done. Working from home has both positive and bad effects on productivity. Staff performance can be boosted if they have access to modern resources like computers and other office equipment, as well as technical and logistical help. However, research suggests that workplace efficiency may suffer when employees are unable to interact in person with their coworkers. Other elements rely on employees' attitudes and conditions, flexibility can boost productivity if individuals have self-discipline, planning skills, and a desire to work remotely. The impact of Working from Home on employee productivity Although it's possible that working from home has slowed down productivity in the near term, the trend is growing in popularity. Working from home has been shown to increase output in the long run. Remote work management may be improved, and managerial support can boost working from home productivity. Ways to increase employees working from home productivity More user-friendly IT systems Bad user experiences happen to everyone. Whether it's an app that won't work, a website that doesn't provide the information we need, or a form that's nearly hard to fill out. Unusable or unfriendly software might be the cause that reduces productivity. Selecting business software should prioritize usability. User-friendly software works faster than sophisticated solutions that require months to learn. Provide more user-friendly software Access to IT solution if problem arises Some technologies have unquestionably aided in making people more productive in the workplace. Applications that simplify and streamline otherwise laborious procedures are used by many thriving companies. They're equipped with features that make completing everyday activities faster and easier. Flexible working hours When employees are given more flexibility in determining when they get their work done, they are better able to balance their professional and personal lives and spend more time with their loved ones. Which in turn increases their working from home productivity. Work schedules that are flexible Allow certain employees into offices if remote working is a challenge Although telecommuting has been around for some time now, many people still find the system to be unfamiliar and difficult to adjust to. Those who are not provided with adequate tools and time to complete their work will be unable to meet expectations. As a result, businesses with a WFH policy should accept employees' requests to return to office. Assistance with data & Internet Technical factors can affect productivity, as working from home is highly dependent on technology and technical equipment. Telecommuting is the only option for remote workers to maintain contact with their employers. To be able to do work from home, one needs access to consistent power and an Internet connection. Encourage video call meetings When employees have the option to work from home, they are more likely to get their work done since they are not as likely to be stopped or distracted by their coworkers. However, being socially and professionally isolated at home for an extended period of time has a negative impact on productivity. To maintain constant communication and collaboration, video meetings are more crucial than ever. Video conferencing gets people to talk to each other, which boosts morale and makes your employees happier, therefore increasing working from home productivity. Maintain constant communication with video calls Supervise progress regularly Schedule regular, formal one-on-one meetings with your remote team members so that you may discuss their progress, goals, and other relevant topics. The best method of communication for your group's meetings is the one that is most convenient for everyone involved. Establish and stick to a regular schedule for staff meetings by utilizing technology applications (Meet, Skype, Zoom, etc.). Constantly updating the team with short status reports is an option to consider. Checking with your team Make available resources & equipment Not everyone has the ability to invest in themselves a fully equipped office. Many employees only have a standard laptop, not to mention some might not own a personal laptop. Some businesses have permitted workers to take home essentials like computers and seating so that they may remain productive while working remotely. More access to software & documents After the Covid event, when most businesses had to operate remotely, many companies had to constantly find ways to stay productive. One of the many effective ways that will boost working from home productivity without spending so much is to provide access to a wide variety of software and documents. Provide adequate support systems It is also suggested that establishing a reliable support system as a means to enhance the benefits of working from home. When employees are not provided with support and have problems adjusting to working remotely, it can lead to a significant increase in inefficiencies. For employees to be able to carry out their work at home to the highest possible standard, adequate resources are required. We recommend implementing Today.ly - a virtual office space where you could see your coworkers signing in daily and working as a unit, in real-time, just like in a physical office. Provide adequate support systems Employer must consider challenges with working remotely Remote workers benefit from more adaptable schedules, but their employers face different problems. The challenges of poor communication and poor management are not easily overcome. Employers can seek help from a variety of useful resources and methods to promote higher levels of interaction and communication inside their organizations. Questions-to-ask to improve employee's WFH productivity Want to increase productivity work from home? Here are some questions to ask to better understand your employees' needs. What are your thoughts on working from home?What can I do to improve your remote working experience?Is there anyone on the team who has been particularly supportive of your WFH transition?Are the WFH policies clear and concise?Are your daily work objectives clear? Every week?Do you think your teammates and team leaders communicate effectively?Is it easy to contact your teammates and team leaders when you need them?Do you think your team leader supports and trusts you?Do you have all of the necessary equipment and remote tools to complete your work to the best of your ability? If not, what do you require?What is your most difficult WFH challenge?What can leadership do to help you work while you're at home? Conclusion Remote performance management is different from office performance management, but that's fine. As long as you take the time to figure out what works best for you and your team, have the correct thinking, methods, and goals, you may enhance performance without coming across as a bossy leader. Which will in turn make you feel pleased, less worried, motivated, and more capable of achieving your goals. SupremeTech have shared some tips with you in the hopes that they would increase your team working from home productivity. Keep up with us for more insightful and entertaining information.

How to maximize virtual recruitment and training for app development

Virtual work is a concept that has been introduced previously in the professional world, especially in the tech industry. Most companies are embracing remote and hybrid work to expand their employment pool and maximize efficiency and output. This was confirmed in a study by Cielo in 2020 - The Future of Work Survey. The study showed that 64% of recruiters are now more open to virtual work. The popularity of remote work skyrocketed with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic that took the world by storm, causing worldwide lockdowns and closure of non-essential businesses. To save their companies, CEOs adopted remote work. Although the pandemic is under control and it's full steam ahead for all companies, many have retained remote or virtual employment. However, remote, and physical work require different strategies to maximize their potential. Therefore, relying on the exact procedures for hiring, onboarding, and training workers would be detrimental. Without face-to-face interaction with your employees, assessing their potential, hard and soft skills, professionalism, and whether they would be a good fit for your organization is challenging. The good news is that there are multiple ways you can replicate the physical experience of interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and training employees without wasting resources and time. This article will discuss ways to maximize virtual recruitment and training for app development. 1.    Plan virtual recruitment events Source: Unsplash Recruitment events are an excellent opportunity to expand the talent pool, boost brand awareness, and establish connections with potential candidates. Job fairs are relatively easy to set up depending on the platform you choose and other third-party software services you include. Indeed and Brazen are two of the most popular platforms you can use to organize job fairs. You can create an account, sign up, and create your virtual event in minutes. After creating your event, you can link to other apps like Zoom to allow for video conferencing. Although, some apps come with video conferencing tools embedded in them. A day before the event, you can open the 'lobby' and let other interviewers in and prepare for the fair by customizing greetings and questions. Brazen is a crowd favorite because of its ‘booth’ feature that allows companies to share information about their culture and environment that is readily available to anyone who registers for the fair. This information includes pictures, videos, short text, and links to other relevant pages. Once applicants register for a fair, a landing page automatically collects their resumes, cover letters, and additional information. At the end of job fairs, recruiters can take the next steps with candidates who stood out, such as direct messaging, emailing them or forwarding their information to concerned parties for further assessment. 2.    Request video applications Source: Unsplash You can opt for video interviews if you want to get a real feel of a face-to-face interview without the awkward silences, tension and wait times. In addition, video interviews are a creative way to get an insight into the behavior of your potential employees. For video interviews, you can send out questions they can answer in a self-recorded interview that they have to submit before a specific time. For instance, you can ask them to answer hypothetical questions directly related to the role they are applying for, their strengths, weaknesses, experience, qualifications, and achievements they are most proud of. Video interviews can help you infer whether an applicant is confident, honest, ambitious, and skilled and whether they would fit your company well. 3.    Grow your employer's brand Employers want to hire the crème de la crème in each field to build top-notch apps. However, this is easier said than done. If you want to hire the best talent, you have to ensure that they know about your company's existence. If you are just starting out, this can be pretty challenging, especially when you want to recruit remotely. One way to fix this is by increasing brand awareness. Developers need to know about your company, and they should want to work with you. You can start by working on your online presence—open social media accounts on all appropriate platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, Twitter, Facebook, etc. In addition, populate your website with information about your company, such as the culture, vision, mission, portfolio, and events. Add real pictures of employees at the workplace if you have a physical office, and even create virtual tours so applicants can get a sneak peek into your work environment. Note: You can outsource your PR work to professionals if you want a highly effective brand presence. Lastly, monitor reviews about your company on platforms like Glassdoor. You can learn much from an objective perspective on your company. 4.    Make use of ATS Source: Unsplash Application tracking software is a lifesaver for HR teams. Screening, interviewing, and hiring candidates can be an overwhelming experience, especially for jobs that can be done remotely, like app development. You will have more than the average number of applications if you open the role to any qualified applicant worldwide. Application tracking software will help you cut the hiring process by days. ATS takes care of receiving resumes, cover letters, and contact information and storing it. ATS also handles screening candidates and rooting out unqualified candidates to reduce the load recruiters have to deal with personally. In addition, it lets candidates see their application status and handles the scheduling of interviewers. 5.    Keep lines of communication open at all times Source: Unsplash Although virtual hiring may be commonplace for your company, some applicants may be new to the entire process. It can feel like an isolating and scary process because they don’t have candidates the comfort and camaraderie of other candidates, they would have met at the interview venue. To get the most out of your remote hiring and onboarding process, you should ensure that your potential employees are as comfortable as possible. You can achieve this by keeping lines of communication open and responsive at all times. Below, I will share a few tips to make the process easier for candidates. Create a comprehensive document that will be shared with all applicants To avoid confusion and chaos in hiring, you can create a simple document that answers most of the questions candidates may have. For instance, the video interview date, the hiring process, its stages, who will be conducting the interviews, how long the interviews will be, and what sample questions they can expect. Candidates are always unsure about video interviews because each company conducts their interviews differently. In the PDF, let them know whether it will be a video interview or an audio one. If they must have their video on, state the dress code and whether they should join early and stay in the waiting room. You can also let them know if they need a pen and notepad ready to take notes. By clearly outlining all this, you are guaranteed confident and prepared candidates. Hold AMA sessions Source: Unsplash As we mentioned earlier, virtual interviews mean applicants don't have the luxury of meeting other candidates and sharing extra information about the job or company. To remedy this, you can hold 'Ask Me Anything' sessions to let them ask any questions they may have about the organization and role they are applying for. In addition, you can acquaint them with the hiring process, how long it will take and how they will know if they've made it to the next level. AMA sessions are a great idea because they let candidates get familiar with the company and allow you to feel the candidates out. You will be able to see the candidates who are chatty, confident, enthusiastic, and confident by the frequency with which they ask questions and voice their concerns and issues. Every employer wants a social candidate who isn't afraid to stand out. AMA sessions are an opportunity to express that. Bonus: You can record these sessions and save them for future purposes. Instead of holding them whenever you hire, you can share them with potential employees and save time. 6.    Take shortlisted candidates for a trial run Source: Unsplash If you want to be sure of your potential candidate's hard skills before you commit to a full-time role, you can make the final stage of the interview process a simple paid job that they have to complete in a given amount of time. Alternatively, it can be a simple live test during their interview to ensure they don't have outside help. Finally, successful candidates can be hired and offered the role in a formal email. 7.    Send out welcome packages Source: Unsplash Who said virtual hiring has to be impersonal and cold? You can take the seriousness out of hiring by sending a surprise welcome SWAG bag to the hired candidate. It can include a brochure, branded products, a company laptop, you name it. If your pockets are deep, you can throw in a fun extra gift like a box of chocolates or a Starbucks gift card. Wrapping up If you borrow most of these tips, hiring and training remote workers can be the most seamless and rewarding experience. Are you developing an app and need a hands-on remote team? Check out SupremeTech. We are an outsourcing IT company focusing on mobile and web apps for English-speaking clients. We build the products using the agile methodology based on the client's demands and maintain them.

Productivity App Features That Resonate With Remote Workers

Even as the pandemic fades into the past, remote and hybrid work have remained widely practiced. One of the main factors underpinning this trend is the emergence of remote working productivity apps that enable teams to perform highly, irrespective of individual members' locations. Many of these apps were already used in workplaces before the pandemic, but some gained more acceptance amongst remote workers. That said, let’s discuss the standout features of productivity apps for remote work: eLearning Capabilities One of the trickier aspects of remote work has been how to get recruits up to speed. Training can be hard to conduct when physical in-person meetings aren’t an option. You must figure out how to transition smoothly from face-to-face conversations to presentations and walkthroughs. Then, there’s the distribution of learning materials. As always, you eventually have to assess the trainee to determine their readiness for specific tasks. This is where virtual classroom software has won the hearts of many. In this case, the ideal tools should enable the trainer to create courses, stock libraries, and deliver exams. Top-notch learning management systems also provide ingenious features like surveys and quizzes that keep trainees more engaged during learning and assessment. To promote flexibility, such tools also facilitate self-paced learning while providing detailed reports and analyses for each trainee. Some popular solutions encapsulating eLearning capabilities include TalentLMS, AbsorbLMS, Trainual, ProProfs LMS, and more. Team Building When an entire team is in the same physical workspace, it's easier to organize and hold fun activities outside their work assignments to strengthen bonds and get everyone into a single mission. However, once everyone is scattered across different locations, all this becomes harder. In fact, productivity may decrease as some team members feel less heard and spend more time figuring out how to assert themselves. Others may get caught up in a vicious cycle of second-guessing their ideas and decisions as they feel they have limited guidance. On that note, team leaders need to dedicate time to team building, and they can do it using apps that provide features like scavenger hunts, puzzles, and other games that bring people closer. Common virtual team-building apps include Playmeo, Scavify, Kahoot!, Good & Co Teamwork, Heads Up! and RallyBright. Remember that not all these tools are about playing games. Some deliver quizzes you can use to profile each team member and see how best they can work together based on their individual strengths and weaknesses. Multimedia Communication While email has massively evolved over the years, it still feels like a formal letter. Moreover, the attachment feature doesn’t fully support the wide range of variations in how remote workers interact. For example, a team member overseas may want to share a video feed of their surroundings since they are near a revered landmark or monument. Another team member may receive a work-related message at a party where texting or calling may be inconvenient, but a quick voice note can work. In essence, remote teams need to communicate in a manner that prioritizes their work but also channels the vibe in their respective remote workspaces. This is best achieved with a strategic mix of video conferencing, file sharing, notifications and reminders, text messaging and group chat, postcards and more. To minimize the cold and ultra-serious atmosphere typically associated with work emails, you can try a solution like Today.ly. What’s unique about such a tool is that its interface emulates a real work environment and offers all the typical communication channels. You can see groups meeting in conference rooms and follow how individuals come and go in real time. The app lets you view availability and instantly start a conversation with a teammate by clicking on their avatar. Thus, instead of having back-and-forth emails for sending meeting links and updating the times on invitations, you can simply click on their avatar. Task and Process Automation For many remote workers, their schedules are constantly in flux. They aren't considerably detached from other aspects of their lives, like childcare and home management, in the same way that office workers are. Secondly, remote teams often include members in different time zones, so some work needs to be ready and submitted when the person working on it is sleeping. This can involve transferring figures from survey forms into a report, sending out newsletters, populating tables, sending reminders, and more. For the lucky ones, it’s one simple task. But in other cases, the work involves more elaborate processes demanding contributions and approvals from various personnel. Accordingly, task management and process automation tools are the best way to tackle this challenge. But before you start, you need to ascertain the different levels at which automation takes place. Firstly, there's the lower level, where you need automation tools for specific tasks. A good example is marketing automation tools like ActiveCampaign, MailChimp, HubSpot and Klaviyo for emailing customers. Above this level, you’re creating end-to-end workflows involving multiple tasks. Consequently, you’ll need tools like Integrify, ClickUp, Wrike, Kissflow, Smartsheet, Zapier and Adobe Workfront. With such tools, you should look out for those that come with pre-built templates and drag-and-drop builders or an equivalent that requires as little code as possible (preferably no code). This way, anyone in the organization can easily create and edit automation without involving IT. The bigger picture As you can see, the remote work toolset can quickly expand depending on an organization's size and diversity. From accounting to HR, legal, IT, and marketing, plenty of work could use a digital solution or two. Therefore, when shopping for Work From Home (WFH) tools for your teams, you should pay close attention to their integrations. You don’t want to end up with many tools that can't link to each other. This will leave you with more work, constantly transferring data between different software and increasing the likelihood of errors. Lastly, it helps to choose tools with reliable customer support. It's even better if the support agents are available 24/7 since problems could come in from team members in various time zones. Wrapping Up WFH productivity apps can benefit an organization on various fronts, like increasing efficiency, improving team morale, and reducing operational costs. That’s why you should think broadly when choosing them. For professional assistance in selecting and managing these tools, contact us for a free consultation.

5 Tips For Staying Motivated While Working From Home