15 industrial work at factories still required a work force with access to the equipment and machines , the office work force was now potentially mobile . Technology continued to evolve to allow work from almost anywhere .
APPLYING WORKING-REMOTELY WISDOM The huge growth of technology to work remotely made it the new normal , but just because working remotely is now commonplace does not mean it is as easy as logging into email from home . There ’ s a difference between having technology and having technology that is adequate for supporting a remote workforce . Viewing working remotely as a one-sizefits-all strategy is a great mistake . The work force is dynamic and the workers making it up are unique . Treating them all the same is one of the common hazards of deploying , equipping , and managing remote workers .
A further complication is the differences between organizations . Newer organizations , with a higher technology foundation , can pivot to working remote quickly while legacy , or more traditional organizations , may struggle . Those struggles can be processes and workflows , but can also include the human element . Just because an organization can send workers out remotely doesn ’ t mean the organization and the people making up the organization are prepared for such a change .
In today ’ s normal working remotely is an option chosen by the employee . Employees either requested to work remotely because they knew it would benefit how they worked , or the employee applied for jobs that allowed for or encouraged remote work . Either way it was a choice and not something
forced on an employee after the fact .
What happens when employees who did not apply for remote jobs and who are used to working in an office are told to work remotely ? COVID-19 introduceda significant , unplanned , and unprepared-for remote workplace impact .
Here are some suggestions to help organizations transition to or from working remotely . Because there is no one-size-fits-all solution , some effort must be allotted for success .
COMMUNICATE If working remotely isn ’ t something you would prefer , it is best to speak up sooner rather than later . Don ’ t wait until you start falling behind in your workload and begin to require more resources .
The process of communicating is different when you are working remotely , and can further complicate your productivity . Talk to your supervisor , use the chain-of-command , and get help if you are struggling to be productive while working remotely .
Leaders must also be prepared to communicate differently . God made us all unique , and for some , an email explaining a procedural change is sufficient . For others , a phone call or some kind of in-person communication allowing for questions and discussion is best . It is easy for leadership to make the mistake of assuming everyone understands everything the same . Leading a remote workforce requires leaders to understand their workers , and communicate and connect with them in a
TCN PROFESSIONAL JOURNAL FALL 2021
Working remotely is not a new concept . Before the start of the Industrial Revolution … working from home was the norm .