It’s been a year since many of us started what was thought to be a “brief” stint of working from home. If you’re reading this, you’re likely one of the 1 in 4 Americans who will be working from home this year. That being said, working remotely can be quite rewarding; you can work from the comfort of your couch, the stressful commute is non-existent, and family time is much more immediate. For some, this new environment is short-lived, while others may find themselves growing accustomed to the amenities.
Whether remote work is a temporary situation for you or a long-term one, optimizing your workflow has never been more pertinent. We’ve gathered some digital tools that can help you accomplish that this spring.
Organize Your Home Office
A key component of any home office is the layout and design of the workspace. Careful consideration is needed when considering your daily flow. Do you find yourself working in an increasingly cluttered workstation? This is where organization comes in. Taking the extra steps to organize your space will optimize your productivity, saving you time to focus on the more important parts of your life.
Once you have your workspace organized, focus on how your best practices can impact your team’s performance. Try implementing some organizational apps to help you and your team stay on task. With options ranging from digital calendars and time management trackers to digital notation and reminder tools, connecting with your teammates has never been easier, even while you are working remotely. These digital solutions allow for instant collaboration between team members, comprehensive tracking accountability, and a sleek platform for ease of use. Additionally, you can refer to the detailed digital records when preparing to meet with your customers or clients.
Connect with Your Team
Do you find it more difficult to communicate with your coworkers and customers while you work from home? Sure, Zoom is great and allows for “face-to-face” contact, but there are some instances when you need something a little faster. Try using professional instant messaging software. Slack, for instance, is great for communicating with a team that is used to a chat-driven workspace. It allows for nearly instantaneous communication, which can be helpful if you are on the go or if you have a quick question that isn’t necessarily worth bringing up to the larger team.
Sometimes connecting with your team goes beyond the tasks at hand. With the continued lockdowns and work-from-home orders, many are feeling fatigued and for good reason. According to a recent study conducted by the National Bureau of Economic Research, the average workday has increased by over 48 minutes and the number of meetings has increased by 13%. Now more than ever, employee appreciation is vital to the success of your operations. Encourage your team to take some time out of their busy workweek to foster a healthy work-life balance while they work from home. Even something as simple as a 15-minute walk outside can help clear the mind, allowing them to come back to work refreshed and more focused. While you’re letting your employees take some time for their personal health, challenge yourself to do the same. You’ll likely see a huge difference in productivity once you find that work-life balance.
Build Your Brand
In the best interest of your business, you likely often find yourself looking toward the future. How do you see your operations evolve over time? While only you know where you want your business to go, the growth of your business doesn’t have to be left to the imagination. It’s important to strategically plan your brand as you build and grow your business. Start doing your homework; see what trends are popular now and how they can help cultivate your audience. By focusing on the needs of your desired clientele, you can focus on how to uniquely craft your brand image, consequently extending the reach of your company.
One great way to accomplish all of these things is by focusing on search engine optimization (SEO). If you don’t know where to begin, study Google’s SEO starter guide to make sure you are taking the right steps moving forward. Already have a handle on how SEO works but are looking for some digital tools to help you continue to build your brand? Check out these brand building tools, as they are vital for monitoring trends and analyzing your progress (and that of your competitors).
Conclusion
As you continue to grow your business and audience from your home office, set aside some time to focus on your organization, brand building, and the needs of your team. After all, you need a strong foundation in order to grow. We’re confident that these digital tools will set you down the right path and provide peace of mind so you can focus on the future.
The post These Digital Tools Will Optimize Operations in Your Home Office This Spring appeared first on Home Business Magazine.
source https://homebusinessmag.com/home-office/computers-and-software/digital-tools-optimize-operations-home-office-spring/
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