Managing Remote Working like a Pro

Remote working has never been more popular. Driven by necessity during the recent pandemic, the trend for flexible, home and hybrid working now looks like it’s here to stay in the modern workplace.

For freelancers, professionals and entrepreneurs with small teams, the shift towards a remote working model has presented unique opportunities. It brings benefits such as increased flexibility, reduced commuting times and the ability to create personalised work environments.

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And most crucially, remote working can help with striking the perfect work-life balance, reducing burnout and boosting job satisfaction.

In this guide, we’ll take a comprehensive look at how to manage remote work effectively. This includes advice on maintaining productivity, getting work-life balance right and ensuring overall business growth.

Benefits of working remotely

First of all, let’s talk benefits. Get the setup right, and remote working offers a long list of advantages including:

Flexibility

You can set your own schedule and work from anywhere, giving you the flexibility to create a work-life balance that suits you.

Cost savings

Remote working eliminates the need for a physical office space, along with many the other overheads associated with running business premises. And of course, there’s an opportunity to save on commuting costs.

Take your business to new places
By hiring remote working employees and teams, business owners can expand into new markets by learning about new cultures. With insights from a global team, it’s easier to find where your product or service could be a good fit for local customers and clients.

Increased productivity

Many professionals find that they are more productive when working remotely, as they can create an environment that is a better fit for their working style.

Access to a global talent pool

As an entrepreneur or small business owner, you can hire talent from all over the world. These employees can help you get to know local markets too (including gaps in products and services), with the aim of potentially expanding your business.

Hiring international team

Challenges to consider

Alongside the many benefits of remote working, there are unfortunately nearly the same number of obstacles to overcome. Remote working comes in many forms and is still relatively new to some industries, so there may be some teething issues as you try to find the right setup.

Here are some of the key challenges to address if you’re starting out as a remote worker or hiring a remote team:

Isolation

Working remotely can be isolating, especially if you are used to the social interactions of a traditional office environment. It isn’t for everyone, and some people find that they need ways to check in and collaborate with other people in person.

It’s important to find ways to stay connected with colleagues, clients and other professionals, to combat feelings of loneliness.

Distractions

Outside of an office environment, there are a world of distractions to throw you off track. Whether you work remotely at home or abroad, you’re likely to encounter distractions that may impact productivity - unless they’re carefully managed.

The first step is to create a dedicated workspace away from other parts of the home, and establish (and stick to) a routine to minimise distractions.

Getting paid in a different currency

On a practical level, you’ll also need to work out how you’ll get paid by employers or clients in other countries. Or if you’re a business owner, how you’ll deal with multi-currency payments to staff spread all over the world.

One great solution is the Wise Business account, which lets you pay, get paid and manage multiple currencies all in one place. It also has a business debit card for your expenses while working remotely. Plus, you can sync your accounting software to have a better understanding of your cash flow in multiple currencies.

Tech issues

Dependence on technology for remote work means that technical glitches, internet outages and other IT issues can all disrupt your workflow. You need to put some time into your work setup initially, as well as having backup plans in place for a range of worst-case scenarios. It’s also helpful if you’re the kind of person who can troubleshoot problems proactively.

Work-life balance

When working at home, it’s easy for the boundaries between work and home life to start to blur together. This can lead to longer hours, stress and never feeling like you can relax. This is why it’s so important to establish boundaries, as well as prioritising self-care and taking regular breaks to avoid burnout.

Tips for managing working remotely

Ready to start remote working? Here are some handy tips to remember:

Set up a dedicated workspace

You need a designated work area to boost concentration and productivity, and it should be completely separate from other parts of your home.

Establish a routine

Create a structured daily schedule to maintain a sense of normalcy and discipline, just like you’re in the office. It can help to mark the end of the working day with little rituals such as closing your laptop, tidying your workspace or making a to-do list for the next day.

Leverage technology

There are a huge number of tools and apps out there to help you manage your schedule, stay organised and connected. This includes project management, video conferencing, time tracking and to-do list tools. Some options to check out include Slack, Asana, Trello, Microsoft Teams and Monday.com.

Stay connected

Schedule regular check-ins with colleagues, including virtual team-building activities to combat isolation. You need to manage connection with colleagues pro-actively, building it into your calendar to ensure it happens.

Prioritise tasks

If you work for yourself, time management can sometimes be a challenge. There are different techniques you can use to prioritise tasks by urgency and importance, such as the Eisenhower Matrix for example. Read more time management tips here.

Maintaining work-life balance

Start as you mean to go on with remote working, making sure you set boundaries and communicate working hours to family and friends. Take regular breaks and if your role allows, consider working flexible hours so that you can accommodate personal needs while still remaining productive.

How is Wise supporting working remotely

And that’s it - our comprehensive guide to managing remote working like a pro. There are some challenges to overcome, but the benefits can easily outweigh any downsides.

If it’s the right fit, you can make good use of apps and tools, and you can get a setup that works, remote work could be a game-changer.

It could take your business to new countries, help you tap into global talent and open up whole new customer segments, as well as helping you achieve that elusive work-life balance.