Look. We’re done coddling.
Yes, many of you were forced to go remote last year. And, admittedly, you did your best. We commend you for that.
For so many of you and your industries, there was no blueprint for how to go remote. So you researched, looked at industries to your right and left, and on a hope and prayer, trudged forward as best you could.
No small feat. But you did it. You rose to the occasion and you did it.
But that was last year. This is now.
Now, you may find yourself with employees who maybe kinda sorta don’t want to come back to the office. But the remote workforce you hastily cobbled together wasn’t meant to withstand the long haul. It was temporary shelter from a storm that, God willing, is slowly passing.
One strong wind and your remote house of cards could crumble.
Deep breaths. We knew this would be a tough conversation.
Because according to the comprehensive new Remote Work Report from a survey of nearly 4,000 remote workers on six continents, the findings suggest “ … that although remote work has quickly become the norm, most offices are not really doing asynchronous, remote work.
“They are simply replicating their in-person workflows online.”
And that a sustainable remote company does not make. In fact, the vast majority of pandemic-remote organizations are still leaning on tools used for office-centric, largely synchronous workflows.
There exists a massive opportunity for tools, technologies, and workflows to move organizations toward more inclusive, asynchronous methods.
But if you don’t believe us, we’ll let some standout quick-and-dirty numbers speak for themselves:
80% of workers would recommend remote work
- … but two-thirds say that their organization is not doing a good job “aligning work among projects.” OUCH.
- Just 10% use a visual collaboration tool
- Only 1 in 5 use a project or task management app
- 70% of organizations default to tools like video, chat, and phone, all designed for synchronous timing
The bad news? That isn’t comforting data, and only drives home the point further that most remote-by-pandemic organizations are barely scratching the surface of what could be.
The good news? There is so much opportunity in ‘what could be.’
The First Step Is Admitting You (May) Have A Problem
You can exhale now. The hard part is over.
Now, it’s time for taking action – and we’ve got you covered.
Because if you want your remote workforce to be sustainable for the long haul, you’ll need more than Zoom and a few laptops to make remote work work.
We’re talking tactical checklists. We’re talking culture creation. We’re talking recession-proofing your organization – yes, you read that right. A bold assertion, but we’re prepared to back it up. We’re talking the soup-to-nuts everything you need to turn your straw house into a brick fortress.
First, start with Future-Proofing Your Business & Life. Then, graduate to How Leaders Can ‘Recession Proof’ Their Business With Remote Work.
The best news? Some of our greatest defining moments and lessons are forged by fire. Here is yours.