Work from Home or remote work is the practice of completing daily work tasks from a location other than the traditional office setting. It emphasises flexibility and leverages technology for employees to carry out their jobs. Organisations have embraced it in some way, either wholly or in a hybrid system (some days in the office, and some days away from it. They make this decision based on what they feel is best for their organisation, and the factors to be considered in making this decision are the bedrock of this article.
Advantages of remote work for startups
- An Expanded Talent Pool: Remote companies have a wider range of talent to hire from, as location isn’t a barrier. A company started by a group of people in Abuja, Nigeria, can hire a content creator in Kaduna, Nigeria, as long as the person is the most qualified person. Also, hiring specialists to penetrate diverse markets and integrating them into the team would be seamless. The psychological barrier of having a person in a remote location leading a team of people in the same location is removed.
- Reduced Expenses: Funds that would have otherwise been budgeted for office leases, commuting stipends, and several in-person perks can be repurposed to help other areas of the business grow. In essence, it would cost less to do more for the business.
- Increased Productivity: Remote work is known to increase productivity according to studies. A Stanford study found a 13% increase in productivity for remote workers, while ActivTrak data indicates that remote workers save commute time and have more focus due to fewer office distractions, resulting in higher productivity and creativity. In addition, embracing a flexible schedule to allow employees to work during their peak hours, whether they are night owls or early risers, and creating asynchronous workflows can lead to bigger success.
- Employee Satisfaction: Staff retention is a major criterion for startup success. The less disruption in the workflow, the better. Remote work improves work-life balance, which reduces the tendency to burnout and the need to find another opportunity to find excitement again.
Disadvantages of remote work for startups
- Company Culture Challenges: Without in-person conversations, building relationships which help improve teamwork becomes difficult.
- Communication Challenges: Working across different time zones can delay critical updates. For example, a developer in Ghana is waiting for code review approval from the team lead in Poland.
- Onboarding and Training Hurdles: Integrating new hires into the team is more difficult without face-to-face mentorship. A recruit might not properly absorb the essence of a company via pre-recorded videos.
- Security Risks: Remote team increases exposure to cyber threats. A single unprotected Wi-Fi could compromise sensitive data, making security protocols non-negotiable.
Actionable Tips for Startups Embracing Remote Work
- Invest in the right tools: There are multiple effective tools for communication (Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, Slack), project management (Jira, ClickUp, Azure), Documentation (Notion) and Security (NordVPN)
- Build culture intentionally:
- Host virtual team bonding or gaming sessions.
- Celebrate milestones with digital shoutouts, coupons, vouchers, or mailed packages.
- Create a channel that celebrates teammates who go the extra mile in embodying the mission of the organisation.
- Encourage continuous learning:
- Offer stipends for employees to take online courses.
- Organisations also offer salary bumps based on a certain number of courses taken.
- Create virtual mentorship programs to pair junior staff with mentors.
- Asynchronous communication: Encourage detailed written updates via emails to reduce meeting overload. Have a shared drive for recorded meetings and reusable documents.
Implementing a Successful Remote Work Strategy
- Clear Communication: Responsibilities, expectations and deadlines should be clearly communicated to each employee every day. Core working hours should be established, alongside an average response time for enquiries and emails.
- Ensure Productivity: Ensure your employees have everything they need for remote work. There should be clearly defined goals so employees can track their own progress.
- Encourage Collaboration: Create interactive sessions to encourage ideas and make use of collaborative brainstorming. Actively schedule a time to casually interact with colleagues.
- Employee Management: Have regular surveys to reveal the gap between expectation and experience. Observe turnover ratio, sick days, engagements in team activities and goals reached.
Remote work is here to stay. Increasingly, more people are now considering remote work as a major criterion, rather than a perk, when searching for new opportunities, whether in a hybrid model or a fully remote setting. Companies that embrace remote work are well-positioned for greater success, with satisfied employees who are willing to go above and beyond to drive innovation. Remote work is a strategy imperative for startups. Try multiple remote strategies, gather feedback and improve your approach. The future awaits the most innovative
FAQs
How Do I Create An Office Environment At Home?
The most important thing is to have a dedicated workspace. A desk, a chair, your laptop and other devices are there all the time. Ensure that your workspace is kept professional.
How Do You Plan Your Day To Be Productive?
The first step is to create consistency. Wake up at the same time every day, dress up (I find it adds more seriousness to it), and create a to-do list for your tasks every day. Each task should have a timeframe for completion. Take breaks regularly.
How Do You Manage Your Time?
Have a schedule that helps you separate work time from personal time. Turn off all electronic devices such as TVs, radios, games, etc. Put your phone on silent mode or turn off app notifications.
Bukunmi Odugbesan
A frontend engineer with a desire to be a JavaScript expert
Article by Gigson Expert
