Working from home is a new phenomenon in the world of work. Something which began as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic that erupted in late-2019, has now become a mainstream concept. A survey conducted by OWL Labs found that around 77% of respondents thought that working from home was something that they would continue to do as long as the pandemic lasted.
On the other hand, some people see working from home as a big distraction. Research conducted by Slack showed that about 50% of respondents said that working from home creates an ineffective working atmosphere. What, then, are the steps we should take to make working from home effective? And what is the role of digital signatures in helping to improve productivity when working from home? Here's our review.
Set objective plans and goals
When you first start working from home, you will probably feel uncomfortable. Conditions at home are very different from those in the office. You will need to adapt in order to still be able to complete the job well. One way is to create boundaries between household affairs and work.
In order to be more effective when you work from home, you need to set an objective plan and goals. These might include what time you will finish work, when you will rest, and when you will do housework. Make a list of what you have to do that day.
If you are a team manager, make a clear plan regarding the team's workflow, and also a guide for the team to improve performance so that targets are achieved. Determine your team's agenda wisely, such as when to run online meetings. Provide your employees with the requisite technology to enable them to multi-task - for example, by adopting digital signatures for administrative matters and approval to clients.
Make sure you communicate with the other residents of your home
When working in the office, work-related communication is easy because we meet directly with colleagues. Not so if you are not used to working from home. Again, you and your team have to adapt to this situation.
Video conferencing is now commonly used for team communication. When communicating via this method, remember to:
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Use communication methods that are clear and easy to understand by coworkers and teams to avoid misunderstandings in completing your assignments.
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Do not burden your team with information that is not geared towards achieving work targets. This will hinder individual performance in the team and ultimately impact on team performance.
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Offer to help if the team has problems completing tasks. Transparent communication is key to building solid cooperation.
Use appropriate applications and supporting technologies
Working from home requires good applications and supporting technologies to support performance and productivity. In addition to a stable internet connection, you need to get the most out of the available apps and technologies.
Make sure you discuss the application of new technology in detail with all employees and teams, including specifications, features, and technological capabilities, so that they can be relied on to perform according to company needs.
An example is the choice of application to determine the person in charge of the work, or sign an agreement or contract using a digital signature. In this instance, access technology, such as a biometric-based identity verification system that can perform accurate facial scans, is crucial.
Use digital signatures for important documents
Working from home will also be more effective if you use digital signatures for various purposes. In the current pandemic, most meetings are done online. This includes signing important documents such as business agreements, cooperation contracts, buying and selling transactions and so on.
Digital signatures are an effective solution when you work from home. You no longer need to print documents. Simply sign electronic documents using digital signatures. They are fast, and they also guarantee the validity of documents.
When choosing a digital signature, make sure you choose one that is already registered and has certification from the relevant agency or institution. The aim is to ensure the validity of the signature for both the use of documents at home and abroad. For more information about digital-signature services, contact us today.
These are some of the ways you can work more effectively from home. With the right strategies, techniques and technology you will still be able to work well - even though you are ‘stuck’ at home. Good luck!
Read: Digital Signatures Hold Potential for New Opportunities in the Digital Economy
