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The business climate has had a wild shake-up amidst the COVID-19 global pandemic, prompting many corporations to quickly learn how to maintain contact, collaboration and productivity despite a mostly remote workforce.
At Softtek, about 99% of our employees worldwide (there are 15,000 of us total) are today facing a new reality of home office and virtual meetings. This makes the use of our online platforms essential for keeping communication alive and effective. Thankfully, we’ve been working with Microsoft Teams for the past 6 months, which has made the transition smoother. However, the sheer volume of colleagues doing “home office” (with kids in the house, spouses, pets, shared spaces in many cases) is provoking new needs to find a productive rhythm.
Here are some of the tips we’ve shared at Softtek:
1. Close streaming apps (Netflix, Youtube, Disney+)
When we leave our apps open—let’s face it— the temptation is sometimes too great. Practice closing these apps during the workday and allotting time at night to unwind with some Netflix as a treat for your hard work.
If you think your platform is “slow,” be mindful that there may be others in the home using streaming services, which compromises speed. If it’s becoming a problem, work on setting internet boundaries to ensure your house’s occupants don’t experience an overloaded network or other issues.
2. Restart your router when you start or end your day to avoid security compromises and glitches that impair your connection
Every 2 days, unplug your router and wait for a few seconds, then reconnect it and wait for the connection to return. It is also important to restart your PC at least once a week for optimal performance and to allow security patches to be installed.
3. In meetings, mute your audio when not talking
During conference calls, be mindful that certain noises at home may be distracting to others in the call. Getting in the habit of muting yourself is a practical way to avoid unnecessary pauses in our work and keep momentum.
4. Have your phone handy as a backup
We recommend that you have your phone handy during work hours as we get accustomed to our new remote work routine and cope with occasionally unreliable internet connection. This will allow you to stay in the loop despite obstacles. Microsoft Teams can be found on the Apple Store and Google Play Store.
5. If you have poor connection, make voice-only calls/avoid videoconference
Video calls tend to be difficult when internet connection is poor. If this is the case, make voice-only calls to help with productivity and avoid miscommunication.
Embrace these practices as your normal routine to ensure optimal performance with your teams and your clients.
Do you have questions, concerns or other tips? Share them with us in the comments!
See Softtek's response to COVID-19. Read our action plan, updated regularly.
