Do you work from outside the office? While it can offer a range of benefits, it can also bring challenges. You can find you miss out on things: access to information, social interaction and information about developments and strategy. We offer advice on how to get the best from remote working.
And in the news, there’s a surprising story about how you might be accessing the business bank account in future. It’s all very Minority Report (without scary overtones).
Top news stories
Fingers at the ready… that’s how banks plan to get you to access your business account
Barclays plans to introduce a new system for business customers where they access their bank accounts through the unique pattern of veins in their fingers.
Banks to be forced to increase competition in small business lending
New legislation will force banks to refer customers to new wave of challenger banks and alternative lenders.
47% of UK small firms are optimistic for the future
Research by Hiscox shows that small businesses across the world have experienced a rise in confidence, profitability and hiring activity across 2013.
One in five workers are on low pay
According to research, the gap between good and poor quality jobs has widened. The lowest-paid are in the north-east of the UK.
Call for tax breaks for technology start-ups
Eric van der Kleij, the first chief executive of Tech City UK, says more needs to be done to assist fledgling tech groups in the Silicon Roundabout area of London.
Key dates for your diary
No important dates this week.
Does working remotely make you feel disconnected?
If you work remotely, it can be a bit isolating. You may be the last to hear about things, find that you can’t access the information you need and even miss out on the office gossip.
It doesn’t have to be like that. With new technologies and social networks, it’s now easier to stay in contact with the office when you work elsewhere.
Keep in touch
The key thing to keeping in contact is making sure you’re included - both in communications and in accessing information. Talk to your manager about how to stay in contact and how you can get the information you need. Being able to access files, getting updates about projects and hearing news about the direction of the company should all help you feel involved and make your job easier.
Make sure you keep in contact with your colleagues too. And, if there’s something you think you might be missing out on, don’t be shy about raising the issue and asking for an update.
Consider working in the office part-time
It’s not always possible, especially if you’re a long way from the office or have childcare needs. But even half a day in the office can help you feel more connected to the team.
There’s a certain amount of information that office workers seem to absorb by osmosis: overhearing conversations, seeing office notices and chatting over lunch. If you can be in the office, you’ll have access to the same information, which will help you to stay up to date.
Stay social
Just because you work in a different location, you shouldn’t have to miss out on the social side of work. It’s often this part that helps build relationships with your colleagues which can make your job easier.
If people know you and have a connection, they’ll often respond to requests much quicker. This is important, as it’s harder to chase people when you work remotely.
Make use of social media to stay connected and keep up to date with your colleagues’ news. According to research by Microsoft, 68% of people use social media in this way. So maybe it’s time for some new friend requests.
Finally, ask your manager to keep you posted about informal office events and try to attend if you can. If you can’t, ask if there’s a way to conference in or use new technology to attend virtually.
Use technology
82% of business people said they were better understood when talking face to face. It’s hardly surprising as research by UCLA showed that up to 93% of communication is non-verbal.
So how can you communicate face-to-face if you’re working remotely? New technology can help. Skype and Google Hangouts have revolutionised the way people communicate, making it easy to make free video calls over the internet.
But it’s not just communication that can benefit from new technology. Newer software also lets users see the same information as those in the office, with a real-time connection. For example, new Sage 50 Accounts combines the best of desktop and cloud software. It lets you collaborate with colleagues, allowing you to share and work on the same data as if you were in the office.
Making sure your software can accommodate your remote working needs not only keeps you connected, it also makes you more efficient in your role.
Remote working can offer huge benefits and, by minimising the challenges, you should be happier in your role and your business will benefit too.