In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that’s currently sweeping the world, countless businesses have been forced to make significant changes to their business models and work practices. One of the biggest changes that companies have implemented is allowing their employees to set up home offices and work remotely as much as possible. While this is a great way to ensure that businesses can stay afloat while still keeping employees on the payroll, working from home isn’t an ideal solution for everyone.
Some people thrive on keeping a consistent schedule and working in a professional setting surrounded by their coworkers. After all, this is the standard business dynamic that’s been firmly cemented in our collective psyche as members of the workforce for decades. Of course, the advent of the Internet and its subsequent numerous innovations have afforded businesses countless opportunities and methods to expand their practices and allow for more flexible working solutions that break the mould.
With that in mind, it’s absolutely imperative to hire a reliable IT company in Toronto to emulate that same in-office professional setting your employees are accustomed to at home.
Transitioning from an office environment to working from home isn`t always easy for everyone. Here are some tips to help make the transition a little easier while maintaining employee productivity using Microsoft Teams.
Strategize a Feasible Business Plan
Before you can comfortably get in the zone of working from home, it’s important to get yourself properly situated in your new workspace. Whether you’re able to set up a private distraction-free home office or you’re conducting business from your kitchen table while simultaneously attending to other tasks, it’s important to have a feasible business plan in place to help you stay focused and motivated.
Communicate regularly with your coworkers and bounce ideas off each other to find new and innovative ways to stay productive while working from home. Set specific daily and weekly work-related goals for yourself and create an appropriate workspace that cultivates your creativity and helps you crush those goals.
With Microsoft Teams, you can schedule meetings, create personalized task reminders, collaborate and communicate with coworkers, conduct research, and so much more. Staying on track while working from home has never been easier!
Leverage Seamless Collaboration
Collaborating on work projects with coworkers while physically distancing has also never been easier. Microsoft Teams allows you to set up face-to-face business meetings so that you can easily reach out to your coworkers to collaborate on a project and get the answers and input you need in real time without having to forgo professional services.
Create a Distraction-Free Workspace at Home
Working from home can be a tough adjustment for a number of reasons even in the best of times. During a pandemic, though, the stress can be tenfold. In addition to living in uncertain times where job prospects are scarce and the economy is in shambles, many parents are being forced to home school their kids on top of the numerous other tasks involved in running a household.
With that in mind, the home isn’t always the most appropriate working environment, which is why Microsoft Teams has the perfect solution to help you maintain your productivity and concentration levels amidst all of the chaos. If you’re worried about your kids, pets, or significant other interrupting an important virtual business meeting, Microsoft Teams has you covered. The background blur feature does exactly what it sounds like. It removes all distracting background noises and images so that you and your coworkers can continue working uninterrupted.
Record All of Your Meetings and Keep Minutes
Some meetings can run a lot longer than others and sometimes it can be difficult to recall all of the vital information that was shared. Meetings are opportunities for coworkers to brainstorm innovative ideas to enhance their companies, come up with new product designs, websites, work on logos, and so much more.
After all, not all meetings can be done through e-mail. Many of them require real-time interactions where coworkers can creatively collaborate on a work project. To keep everything in order, it’s important to delegate at least one person to taking detailed notes and minutes of each meeting and then share those notes with the rest of the team. With Microsoft Teams, your entire staff can easily access meeting recordings and notes for reference as needed.
Treat Your At-Home Workspace Like Your Professional Office
The best way to stay organized, focused, and motivated while working from home is to treat your home office exactly like your professional office. Maintain the same or a similar routine, delegate tasks to the appropriate personnel (virtually, of course), set break and lunch schedules for yourself, and most importantly set goals to help you stay motivated.
Stick to Your Regular Routine
Another way to maintain a certain level of productivity while working from home is to try to stick to your regular routine as much as possible. The more you feel like you’re actually at work, the more motivated you’ll be to actually get work done during the day. Wake up at the same time you always do, brush your teeth, get dressed, and get ready for work like you normally would (minus commuting, of course). Set a specific workday schedule and routine for yourself that allows for breaks and some socializing with coworkers to prevent you from feeling burnt out at the end of the day. The key is to maintain a strong work-life balance while working from home.
Sisnarine Technologies is a leading managed IT service company in Toronto. We can help your business navigate these uncertain times by helping your employees set up secure home-based offices that keep everybody organized and in the loop with Microsoft Teams. Our services include web design, hosting, domain registration, IT support, and network design among others. Contact us today to learn more.
