Friday, March 29, 2024

Top Work From Home Skills You Should Master

Image Courtesy: Pexels

When people suddenly switched to work from home, they were bombarded with many relevant questions. Some of them are:

  • How do I remove distractions while working from home?
  • How do I set up a home workstation?
  • What is the etiquette for video calls?

But as this transition has become the new norm (whether permanent or as a flexible, hybrid option), the focus has shifted. It’s time to take control of work from home with skills that make the situation not only workable but also productive and effective.

There are many things you can do to keep your business running smoothly with remote work. One of the most important is the provision of work-from-home training. Ask yourself the following questions.

  • What skills do we need to be as productive and successful as we were before the transition?
  • How do we train ourselves and our teams in these skills?

But first, let’s take a step back. Is upskilling really necessary for remote working employees? Long story short, the answer is yes. Even though the tools for the job may be the same, the way people use them and the roles they play are changing.

Even if the working days seem normal, the challenges of a physical and a remote workplace are very different. This means we have to unlearn some habits, learn new skills, learn how to use new tools, and even adapt the ways we use existing skills and tools to accommodate new working conditions.

Modern tools can help you adapt to remote working effectively. And training will help you do it smoothly. So, the real question is:

  • Where do you start?
  • What skills should you prioritize to help your teams navigate this (new) remote work environment?

Let’s explore a few solutions that can clear your doubts.

3 Work From Home Skills You Should Master

  1. Etiquettes of communication
  2. Cybersecurity
  3. Time management and organization

Etiquettes of Communication

Good communication skill is mandatory for any organization. Remote working has its own issues and impacts. Certain virtual communication behaviors can have different impacts if people are not aware of them. Organizations need to train their employees on the following points.

  • How to appear appropriately in videos
  • How to be reachable
  • How to be responsive online and offline
  • How to collaborate with other (internal and external teams)

Cybersecurity

With more and more critical work taking place online, it’s a good idea to educate your teams on cybersecurity. Individuals working in public areas or in shared spaces with non-colleagues should know and follow very specific instructions about handling their work equipment.

Companies should train employees on maintaining strong passwords, cybersecurity threats, and protecting sensitive data. Notify the employees about best practices to prevent viruses and malware from entering hardware. organizations could pay a high price for a data breach that can put the business in jeopardy.

Time Management and Organization

Working from home can blur the lines between professional and personal life. Employees may need help with effective time management to keep their balance. Organizing work can be a very different experience away from the office with its structured working hours and regular meetings.

Employees can lose sight of deadlines if they don’t communicate with team members in real time. Work from home scenarios can also distract them from work.

Flexible working hours can leave them wondering how to prioritize tasks throughout the day. Organizations can help remote workers maintain productivity and avoid burnout by giving them the skills to organize their time and avoid distractions.

When people suddenly switched to work from home, they were bombarded with many relevant questions. Some of them are:

  • How do I remove distractions while working from home?
  • How do I set up a home workstation?
  • What is the etiquette for video calls?

But as this transition has become the new norm (whether permanent or as a flexible, hybrid option), the focus has shifted. It’s time to take control of work from home with skills that make the situation not only workable but also productive and effective.

There are many things you can do to keep your business running smoothly with remote work. One of the most important is the provision of work-from-home training. Ask yourself the following questions.

  • What skills do we need to be as productive and successful as we were before the transition?
  • How do we train ourselves and our teams in these skills?

But first, let’s take a step back. Is upskilling really necessary for remote working employees? Long story short, the answer is yes. Even though the tools for the job may be the same, the way people use them and the roles they play are changing.

Even if the working days seem normal, the challenges of a physical and a remote workplace are very different. This means we have to unlearn some habits, learn new skills, learn how to use new tools, and even adapt the ways we use existing skills and tools to accommodate new working conditions.

Modern tools can help you adapt to remote working effectively. And training will help you do it smoothly. So, the real question is:

  • Where do you start?
  • What skills should you prioritize to help your teams navigate this (new) remote work environment?

Let’s explore a few solutions that can clear your doubts.

3 Work From Home Skills You Should Master

  1. Etiquettes of communication
  2. Cybersecurity
  3. Time management and organization

Etiquettes of Communication

Good communication skill is mandatory for any organization. Remote working has its own issues and impacts. Certain virtual communication behaviors can have different impacts if people are not aware of them. Organizations need to train their employees on the following points.

  • How to appear appropriately in videos
  • How to be reachable
  • How to be responsive online and offline
  • How to collaborate with other (internal and external teams)

Cybersecurity

With more and more critical work taking place online, it’s a good idea to educate your teams on cybersecurity. Individuals working in public areas or in shared spaces with non-colleagues should know and follow very specific instructions about handling their work equipment.

Companies should train employees on maintaining strong passwords, cybersecurity threats, and protecting sensitive data. Notify the employees about best practices to prevent viruses and malware from entering hardware. organizations could pay a high price for a data breach that can put the business in jeopardy.

Time Management and Organization

Working from home can blur the lines between professional and personal life. Employees may need help with effective time management to keep their balance. Organizing work can be a very different experience away from the office with its structured working hours and regular meetings.

Employees can lose sight of deadlines if they don’t communicate with team members in real time. Work from home scenarios can also distract them from work.

Flexible working hours can leave them wondering how to prioritize tasks throughout the day. Organizations can help remote workers maintain productivity and avoid burnout by giving them the skills to organize their time and avoid distractions.

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