The way we work as a society has changed dramatically over the past few decades.
We have more flexibility in where we work and who we work with, but we also have more responsibilities than ever before. The main challenge for many is how to keep up with these changes while maintaining productivity and keeping their employees happy. Creative teams are at the forefront of this effort because they’re constantly innovating new ways to do business better and faster, but they have slightly different needs than traditional organizations.
Digital Whiteboards Are the New Meeting Rooms
Some state that meetings got boring and useless — a waste of time, and they don’t have to be: Digital whiteboards eliminate the need for physical meetings, which means they’re cheaper than traditional meeting rooms and easier to use than traditional whiteboards. They also allow you to collaborate in real time and share your screen with other people on the team.
Collaborative Augmented Reality is a Part of Every Project
We’ve all heard the talk. AR is a huge part of our future, and it can help you make better decisions. But what does that really mean?
Well, for creative teams like yours, it means that you can visualize your ideas and find inspiration anywhere — from your local coffee shop to the top of Mount Everest. Imagine how much more efficient this technology will be once we have fully immersive experiences available at any time!
AR can also help people who are new to the industry understand complex concepts in a way that text alone cannot convey. When a person has an idea for a new project but isn’t sure how it will look or feel until they see it come into being, AR allows them to explore their ideas with only some basic knowledge around how things work as well as where resources are located within the project space itself (e.g., “I want my logo here!”).
Set Strict Boundaries of Expectations
It would be incorrect to assume as a manager that since employees are already aware of what is required of them in the office, they should also understand it when working remotely.
Therefore, it is crucial to make sure that everyone is aware of what is expected of them when working remotely. For instance, when to schedule virtual meetings or how promptly team members should respond to communications.
Boundaries must also be established for working hours and communication channels.
Allow Team Members to Contribute Their Ideas
There is no question that you must set rules and requirements for your remote team members.
However, because every situation is unique, they are the ones who know how to work efficiently and effectively.
As a result, it makes sense to solicit their opinions on the best method to go about developing this mode of operation. The preferred form of communication or the establishment of core working hours are two instances where you might want to consult with your staff.
Technology is Changing the way We Work, but not Everything will change
In 2023, you will still be asked to work remotely. You might be asked to do it more often than you are today, but the truth is that technology is not going away, and neither are humans.
We know there have been a lot of people who have said, “The future is remote,” or “Remote work is the future,” or whatever else they want to say about how remote work will become mainstream in 2023. The way we work will continue to evolve as it always has, and the influence of technology will only increase as well.
Put Communication First
When team members share a workspace with the management, it is simple for an employee to stop by the boss’s office and ask a question.
Your team colleagues might not always know where you are when you’re working remotely. Therefore, you should be explicit about how you will maintain an open channel of contact and remove any impediments to dialogue.
Blocking specific hours of the day and letting staff know they can schedule brief meetings with you during those times is one method to guarantee regular communication. So that remote workers are aware of which blocks are taken, you may then create a calendar.
Consider developing a communication strategy so that everyone is aware of how communication will occur within the remote team.
When team members share a workspace with the management, it is simple for an employee to stop by the boss’s office and ask a question.
Your team colleagues might not always know where you are when you’re working remotely. Therefore, you should be explicit about how you will maintain an open channel of contact and remove any impediments to dialogue.
Blocking specific hours of the day and letting staff know they can schedule brief meetings with you during those times is one method to guarantee regular communication. So that remote workers are aware of which blocks are taken, you may then create a calendar.
Consider developing a communication strategy so that everyone is aware of how communication will occur within the remote team.
The number of meetings you have with your team will depend on this. Consider concerns like restricting background sounds, protocol regarding what team members can have in their backgrounds during video conferences, and the use of meeting templates when developing your plan.
Decide on the Outputs and Disregard the Activity
In the conventional workplace, a person typically considers themselves to have completed a full day’s work as long as they have checked in, are seated at their desk, and leave at the scheduled time. The house and the office are now difficult to distinguish from one another in the context of remote employment, nevertheless.
Therefore, it is crucial to pay attention to what is presented rather than how much time an individual spends sitting at a desk.
Clarity regarding the tasks that need to be completed within a certain time frame is necessary in order to calculate outcomes. Create milestones with specific due dates and plan meetings to check in on progress to prevent tasks from lagging.
Include In-Person Encounters Sometimes
Employees that work remotely don’t necessarily have to never meet in person if the chance presents itself. You might want to make it happen occasionally.
Although it would not always be practical, you could visit the areas where your employees reside or plan summits where everyone would gather in one location.
Conclusion
So, if you’re looking to optimize your creative process, it’s time to take advantage of the latest tech.
There are plenty of tools that were designed to make your life easier — from collaborative whiteboards that let you share ideas with colleagues around the world in real-time (or at least a few hours later) to augmented reality apps that help you visualize concepts before they’re even built. But don’t forget about simple optimization options like in-person meetings or trust building.
