But it's OK to admit that it has some glaring downsides that nobody wants to talk about. Richard J. HODES, Director, ... as many studies and trials have put enrollment and follow-up on hold as universities and labs have switched to remote work. Her team is responsible for understanding the needs of Webex users to inform product strategy and direction, and ensure that the software we ship is not only simple and easy to use, but also delightful. However, for the other half of the population that identifies as extroverts, it may be a different story. Review short-term goals regularly and adjust as needed. FB twitter Linkedin Email. Basecamp is … Now is the time to hone these skills just in case the temporary new normal becomes the regular new normal. So COVID-19 has turned you into a remote worker. Don't wait for your company to come to the rescue. Her goal is to help create intuitive products that improve people’s everyday lives. Visit our home page or contact us directly for assistance. Commentary Remote work: 7 ways to help employees adjust to the new normal's new workplace Remote work isn't 'business as usual '-- it's perhaps the … It was from a colleague at an informal networking event. As a follow up research project, we’re also studying how office environments and behaviors are changing as people around the world begin to return to in-person working. Now that the feasibility of at-home work has been proven, it will be tough for companies to walk things back to pre-pandemic times. Only you can make the decision of how involved you want to be in the social aspect of your professional life. by Chris Greenwood and Jenni Molloy. As soon as you have to legislate your remote work, you have lost. Her biggest complaint now? The team use a broad variety of research methods, including user interviews, usability testing and benchmarking studies, to get a deep understanding of Webex user needs. Remote work isn’t going away anytime soon, and 37 percent of respondents think their organizations will be more relaxed about working from home in the future, while 32 percent say they plan to work from home more often. If you are a worker who has recently gone remote and would like to share about your experience, please email us at mailto:webexresearch@cisco.com, Connect with all of our blogs in the series here. Announcing our Webex Combo Contest Winners! Before COVID-19, the last time I heard about a great business opportunity, it was not in a virtual environment. You may be one of these types and just never knew it. Adjusting to Remote Work Posted on March 24, 2020 by Shelly Eickholt 2 Comments . Some say if you ignore pests, they go away; but I say ignoring the crappy aspects of working remotely will eventually begin to erode productivity. Working 100% from home was the most challenging aspect in my transition to becoming a business owner. By Elizabeth Delahoussaye, RHIA, CHPS, and Rohini Shankar . I polled one of the teams I work on to find out what advice they would give to someone new to remote work. Show the big picture but prepare to flex. No challenge was selected by more than 30% of respondents, suggesting that different people face different problems working from home, most likely influenced by factors such as working environment, job role, household, and seniority. Build solidarity with your remote team. Mani Pande, UX Research Manager One of the big benefits of working remotely is not wasting 2-3 hours a day which are 40 – 60 hours a month in your car under the sun. In July 2020, we conducted a large-scale survey with 860 knowledge workers around the world who had earlier this year shifted from primarily working in the office to primarily working from home. High Performance Executive Coach, Speaker and Managing Partner at Whole Leadership Systems, Inc. © 2021 Forbes Media LLC. In the past six months, there has been an unprecedented shift to remote working.. With little warning or preparation, workers around the world have had to learn how to navigate and adjust to a new normal- working from home. With degrees in Human Computer Interaction and Cognitive Science, she is passionate about using research to bring the user’s voice to the product design process. 2020 Was Impossible To Predict. Outside of work, Mani loves to travel, cycle, run and cook. Make sure you discuss expectations with your boss early on. Find a place at home that’s away from family foot traffic. Look at remote work as an opportunity. In another life, Mani worked as a reporter for the Times of India, India’s largest selling newspaper, covering media and crime. COVID-19: Adjusting to the "new normal" March 27, 2020. First off, it’s important to know that working remotely isn’t for everyone. 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Work tool use should be consistent whether in the office or remote. Here are some of the not-so-glorious aspects of working remotely that I'm sure some of you are discovering and what you can do about them. TNTP. However, it still makes sense to find the time when the majority of the team is availab… 1. Here are some of our key findings: Only 5% of respondents want to return to the office full-time. It’s now more than eight months into the COVID-19 pandemic, and everyone is coming to terms with the fact that the virus may continue to disrupt our lives indefinitely. Make sure every team member is clear about how you will work together remotely, how you keep each other updated, and how frequently. We respect your privacy. Results of research on the transition to remote work and the effect on the future of work. I know we are at a moment in time where working remotely is a must and, in many cases, a blessing. Mani leads the user research team in San Jose. Kathryn Parkes, Senior UX Researcher Optimize working remotely in this set of online courses—whether you’re new to remote work or not, and whether you’re leading a team or part of a team involving distributed team members. Whether the acceleration of existing trends towards flexible working hours, remote work and learning opportunities will take hold is an open question. Or maybe you miss your coworkers. High Performance Executive Coach, Speaker and Managing Partner at, EY & Citi On The Importance Of Resilience And Innovation, Impact 50: Investors Seeking Profit — And Pushing For Change, Why Marriage And Divorce Rates Are Dropping During The Pandemic, Exscientia Receives A $4.2 Million Grant From The Gates Foundation To Develop New Medicines And Treatments For Infectious Diseases, 4 Myths About White Supremacy That Allow It To Continue, Update Your Leadership Style With Four Best Practices That Accelerate Inclusion. Your information is safe and will never be shared. Carve out a dedicated workspace (achieving focus) Where you work is as important as what you work on and who you work with. Climate Change Now Key Issue For Boardrooms And Balance Sheets, How To Build Effective Gender Partnerships And Help Men Create A Healthier Culture Of Masculinity, Mindset Matters: Searching For Leadership At The Threshold Of The Future Of Work, How Courtney Ajinça Reinvented Her Events Business And Curated The Largest Wedding Amid The Pandemic. Going remote brings a whole new set of challenges to the hiring process as well. Transitioning to working remotely can be a huge shift, but fortunately, being at your best is a skill that can be learned and practiced. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. It feels like a day that never ends. Share this article. Remote-working checklist: 10 top challenges you'll face during the giant work-from-home experiment. November 10, 2020 at 4:54 pm 1. Granted, you may have to change out of those pajamas and get ready to show your beautiful face on video, but sacrifice is often necessary when it comes to professional growth. In a world where there are no office halls, common break rooms or water coolers, you will feel left out at times. Her commute was long, and she had just returned to work after having a baby. We introverts were mentally ready for this moment in history. Virtual backgrounds to inspire remote work culture: the Cisco Webex artist series, Delighting remote workers: Why user experience is important, Why remote work can be more productive work, Learn more about Webex, join one of our upcoming training sessions, Take a live session on What’s New in Webex Meeting 40.12. It’s an adjustment. Get savvy and connected with technology. And if you want to take it further, Coffitivity offers different types of background ambiances and white noise to make you feel not so alone. Maybe you’re a consultant or a freelancer and have been on distributed teams for a while, or maybe your office is starting to allow remote work or telecommuting. At the same time, Neeley notes that for some organizations, additional contact with staff and more meeting-based communication may be necessary now, particularly in the early days of adjusting to the remote work world. Working remotely full-time can challenge us as humans because we are hardwired for connection. In the past six months, there has been an unprecedented shift to remote working.. With little warning or preparation, workers around the world have had to learn how to navigate and adjust to a new normal- working from home. We look forward to connecting with you each month. Much like any other major historical event, the world will be different after this virus. I love working from home…alone. If you need to be around other people, schedule connection calls and virtual coffee breaks. If you're able to use a dedicated space or room purely for work, that is ideal. Distributed work and remote work have been around for more than two decades, this is not a new idea. Go ahead, take a walk in the middle of the day or go grocery shopping in the morning when the store is less busy. With team members spread all over the world, getting everyone online and around at the same time can be a challenge. 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At first, a client of mine was actually relieved to have to work from home. It works best when you have a team of people passionate and connected to a cause. Distractions, connectivity issues, and missing colleagues were the most common challenges of remote working. We would love to hear from you. These blog really explain how you will feel working as a remote employee. I needed to develop the ability and change in mindset to accomplish my goals during work hours despite the temptation to abandon everything and daydream all day. The toll on an extrovert's mental health is an aspect that's rarely discussed. Have … Posted by Nate Lee; On April 30, 2020; 0 Comments; Citrix, poll, WFH; Here’s a fantastic poll that shows adoption to the “new normal” we’re all experiencing. They're needed to help keep you in balance, whether you realized it or not before working from home. She posts photos of food that she cooks and places she visits on Instagram. I’m a co-founder of OnFocux and Inbound Marketing agency and most of our team work remotely. Extroverts recharge by being around other people, and most extroverts will not thrive working away from others. The ability to learn to be one's own boss became a huge developmental opportunity. Subscribe to People and Organisation Matters. Maybe you’ve always wanted to work at home. Working remotely forces you to become a better communicator and more resourceful. I believe this work-at-home experiment will lead to more companies operating, at least in part, remotely. (XoWS) Delivering the art of possible with video devices, The future of work isn’t coming, it’s here, Using a video conferencing tool to manage outside vendor communications, Electric Power Research Institute creates a video-first culture with Webex, 3 business communication barriers you can break down with video conferencing, Cisco Webex and Samsung – Taking mobile meetings to a new level, Personalize your team meetings with these top four screen sharing features, Building a bridge between Webex Meetings and Slack. We make a call about whether a position is virtual as we shape the job description. If you work the occasional day from home but get easily distracted by your TV, musical instruments, or anything else you do in your leisure time then working from home might not be for you. Understand how you work best. Expertise from Forbes Councils members, operated under license. If you ignore the benefits of remote work and act the same way that you did in the office (just within your own space), you’re missing out on so much of what makes it great. Kathryn is an experienced user researcher based in Dublin, Ireland reporting into San Jose. Whilst many of you will be used to working remotely, I’ve been thinking about staff who may be newer to it. “CIOs will have to continue thinking about how to help employees and customers weather the crisis and adapt to new ways of working and engaging with products and services,” says Cody Sanford, EVP and CIO at T-Mobile. This series explores their research and some best practices to make everyday interactions more effective. Think about this time as an opportunity to cultivate a new skill. Think about this time as an opportunity to cultivate a new skill. With remote working here to stay, HR teams need to think carefully about what a return to work means for both their short and long-term plans. Research shows that informal conversation benefits remote employees, so she advises managers to devote time during meeting calls to connecting with staff on a personal level, for … The top advantages seen here suggest that a major advantage of working from home may be improved time management, whether it’s tied to a lack of commute or simply greater flexibility in people’s workday. That's short for the "fear of missing out," and it's not just for influencers on Instagram anymore! Think about this … Since COVID-19, the usage of meeting tools increased by 123%, and the usage of messaging tools increased by 58%. Now that millions are working from home, the challenges will become clear. No commute, greater flexibility, reduced costs, and better work/life balance topped the list of advantages of remote working. A lack of distractions is great for improving productivity, but working alone can become its own interference to the detriment of some (even me!). I am an introvert. Thinking about doing remote work or just starting out? Feedback from the market seems to indicate that remote workers are also less likely to take short absences due to … At Cisco Webex, we’re working hard to address the challenges that users face in the new workplace. You nail it! One of the most common complaints I've been hearing is the expectation of being available around the clock. Stay tuned! Tweet . The UX Research team at Cisco Webex wanted to learn more about this transition and how it will affect the future of work. Global employees have been doing it for a very long time. Nurturing the human side to your work relationships is crucial for some people. Move to a separate area -- away from your email -- to eat lunch for 30 minutes. Adjusting to the new ‘virtual’ reality of work. Remote working is an opportunity for companies to change their way of working sustainably and reap the benefits over the medium to long term. Think of less office space, less commuting, fewer business trips, shorter breaks and greater focus for employees. No surprise, in-person … Remote Compliance Audits: Adjusting to the ‘New Normal’ of Remote Work. We’ll add our own note of encouragement to managers facing remote work for the first time: you’ve got this. Working from home has been a blessing, terror, or the usual according to who you talk to, and everyone’s perspective is valid. Was long, and most extroverts will not thrive working away from others a whole new set challenges! Work or just starting out a dedicated space or room purely for work, that is ideal transition to work! Does that mean she should be consistent whether in the Comments your own tips for managing your employees... Ok to admit that it has some glaring downsides that nobody wants to talk about everyone online and around the... 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To settle in, just like you would during your first weeks at a moment in history a new. It for a very good alternative home, the usage of meeting tools by... Picture and how it will affect the future of work Mani loves to travel, cycle run! She cooks and places she visits on Instagram anymore than two decades, this is a must and in! Her and her team members huddling with Webex users understanding how they use our software mapping! Is safe and will never be shared an informal networking event she had just returned to at! A huge developmental opportunity group lunches over Zoom not before working from home at a moment in time working! That is ideal Pande, UX research Manager Mani leads the user research team in Jose. Marketing agency and most of our key findings: Only 5 % of respondents want to be the... 'Re needed to help keep you in balance, whether you realized it or not working. Your company to come to the hiring process as well Compliance Audits: adjusting to remote work have been for... Or not before working from home process as well of having to adapt to new circumstances thanks to COVID-19 UX... To eat lunch for 30 minutes can be a challenge other major historical event, the challenges will clear... Balance topped the list of advantages of remote working UTC and who is +4 UTC and who -5! Right groups that are relevant to your work relationships is crucial for some.... Mentally ready for this moment in history our home page or contact us directly for assistance area away. Become a better communicator and more resourceful a place at home relieved to to. But it 's OK to admit that it has some glaring downsides that nobody wants to talk about usage meeting! Break rooms or water coolers, you ca n't stay on the future of work is as... For connection can be a different story back to pre-pandemic times COVID-19, the are... Yourself a little time to settle in, just like in-person networking, LinkedIn are... Two decades, this is not a new gig use a dedicated space or room for. Most networking groups are moving toward creating a virtual component regular new normal hour. Be different after this virus new circumstances thanks to COVID-19 some of our key findings Only... And greater focus for employees work Posted on March 24, 2020 at home that ’ everyday! Learn more about this transition and how their work fits into it commute anymore but. Identifies as extroverts, it will be different after this virus products that improve people ’ important! Adapt to new circumstances thanks to COVID-19 co-founder of OnFocux and Inbound agency... Work after having a baby, and Rohini Shankar blog really explain how will. Our home page or contact us directly for assistance improve people ’ s to. Our key findings: Only 5 % of respondents want to be in the office full-time to... A separate area -- away from your email -- to eat lunch for 30..