The world of small business has seen a dramatic shift towards remote work over the past few years.
As with any major transition, there have been growing pains. Some companies have adapted smoothly while others continue to struggle.
Let’s take an honest look at the remote work landscape and how small businesses can empower themselves to not just survive, but thrive.
How Small Businesses Are Making Remote Work a Win with Tech and Culture
Successful small businesses have embraced remote-friendly technologies while doubling down on company culture.
They understand that an office space does not define a cohesive team.
With the right tools and leadership, companies are proving that productivity and communication can soar even when employees are physically separated.
Tech Tools for Teamwork
Enabling remote teamwork requires picking the right mix of technologies.
Video chat services like Zoom and WebEx replicate face-to-face interactions critical for collaboration.
Cloud-based storage on services like Dropbox and OneDrive facilitate real-time document sharing.
Finally, dedicated teamwork platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams integrate messaging, file sharing, video chat and more into a single solution.
These technologies do more than just enable remote work, they provide tangible cost savings by reducing expenses related to physical offices.
Companies shifting to remote operations can downsize offices and reduce associated costs like rent, utilities, and travel.
These savings directly benefit the bottom line.
Flexibility Is Key
The pandemic forced remote work on many reluctant companies practically overnight.
Businesses that quickly embraced the technology and culture shifts have adapted well and continue normal operations.
However, companies clinging to outdated notions of mandatory in-office work face serious challenges.
Forward-thinking small businesses invest in technologies to coordinate teams remotely while implementing flexible policies to evaluate employees based on productivity rather than time logged.
Clinging to rigid in-office policies severely hampers productivity gains unlocked by remote work.
Looking at Productivity Differently
Measuring productivity by time spent in an office was never an accurate metric. Remote work further erodes any supposed correlation between hours worked and actual productivity.
Successful remote organizations shift focus to key performance indicators (KPIs) tailored to employee roles. These data-driven productivity scores provide objective insights, even if an employee is not visible on a video call for 8 hours straight.
Staying Safe Online
Remote work introduces new cybersecurity threats as company data and applications shift to the cloud.
Protecting this now distributed digital infrastructure requires comprehensive modern security solutions. However, technology is only part of the picture.
Employees working remotely also need cybersecurity training to avoid online threats like phishing attacks.
Investing in layered security and education substantially reduces risks introduced by remote work.
Talking About Performance
Even with accurate KPI-based productivity metrics, regular one-on-one meetings remain essential for providing personalized feedback.
Scheduled video chats recreate the in-office check-ins that managers often perform ad hoc.
Maintaining open lines of communication ensures employees receive the guidance they need while allowing management to tie performance directly to results.
Don’t Forget the Company Culture
Remote work enables geographic flexibility but can degrade company culture if teams rarely interact.
Forward-looking businesses actively nurture culture by organizing regular online team activities. Virtual happy hours, game nights, cookalongs and more provide opportunities to socialize and bond.
Maintaining great company culture ensures that distributed teams continue to operate cohesively even when working remotely.
Your Business’s Next Move
Transitioning to flexible remote work arrangements provides an opportunity for small businesses to leverage technology to reduce costs while unlocking new levels of productivity.
Fortunately, video chat, cloud collaboration, and communication platforms are now more affordable, intuitive and reliable than ever.
Small businesses willing to reinvent working policies around remote capabilities will gain long-term strategic advantages over old-fashioned office-centric companies.
