Benefits Of An Online Timeline Maker For Your Team

HR, Employee

Have you ever felt the need to organize the tasks for your team? If yes, then an online timeline maker is what you need. Here’s everything you need to know about timeline makers.

Employees in every organization are tired of hearing terms like ‘missed deadline’ and ‘project timeline’. Though they are not less than any nightmare to the working team, dedicated timelines keep the project on track and help the team to identify every possible project hindrance. Besides, having online timelines assure proper project planning and execution. No doubt, a lack of a proper layout plan will leave the entire project execution process laid back and disorganized.

The importance of a timeline in project management can’t be unheeded. Online timelines not only give you a simple overview of the project completion track but also detail every milestone and process involved in the same. Also, it gives an insightful understanding of the entire project execution process.

While dates and duration are the key features of an online timeline, some other elements include a list of tasks to be completed, expected dates of completion, and probable revisions if required.

Every project execution process involves breaking up the long-term goal into short-term ones. And failure or derailment of any short-term goals may result in work overload and subsequent project delays. Therefore, having a clear outline of the project timeline is much needed to gain a better user experience and increased conversions.

Well, these were only a few of the many benefits an online timeline can have for your team. In order to see the bigger picture, we have summarized the benefits of an online timeline, how to create one, and the top features to look for in an online timeline.

Also Read: Meeting Minutes | A how-to guide for everyone

Why use an online timeline maker

“You may delay, but time will not”, a famous quote by Benjamin Franklin makes us realize the importance of time management in project execution.

Planning a project appropriately with a timeline makes the team perceive the consequences along with pending work that needs to be done. This keeps the team focused and motivated towards task completion before the deadline hits.

Listed here are the top five benefits of an online timeline maker to help you achieve your targets faster and more effectively.

1. Top 5 benefits of an online timeline maker

Having an online timeline for your team has numerous benefits. Out of those, understanding the gravity of time, tracing down the progress chart, better communication, keeping the team motivated and focusing on priorities are the key benefits of having an online timeline maker. Let’s have a look at them one by one:

1. Helps in easy tracking of the project progress

You can’t afford to fail behind with tight deadlines. Right? And even if you do so, you have to quickly find a way to get back to your feet. Don’t worry, an online timeline is your saviour here. It helps you understand how you can be again on the right track quickly so that it does not affect the project progress or the final submission dates. An advantage of having a timeline is that you realize where you are going wrong and make up for it quickly.

2. Allows you to have a better time management

No need to mention that time has the star cast in project planning and execution. Planning a project appropriately with a timeline makes you perceive that delaying can cause a lot of damage, both in terms of budget and targets. With a timeline, the team members tend to focus more on the upcoming and pending tasks thus helping achieve the smaller project completion milestones fast.

3. Improves communication among team members

Communication is the key to any successful project completion. Proper communication not only helps in chalking out an effective project timeline but also gives the team a proper idea as to who is doing what. In that way, the project is executed much more accurately and efficiently. Extra workload, dissatisfied customers, and unwanted delays are all reasons for poor communication among the team members.

4. Boosts motivation and teamwork

The spur to do better is another major advantage of having an online timeline. Motivation is a strong tool that keeps the team going. Many times, timelines keep the team members motivated and focused on their roles. When they find that there are incomplete tasks that need to be finished, they tend to be more concentrated and productive. Also, it helps the team members to collaborate with each other and be on the same page regarding any important updates or information.

5. Prioritize tasks easily

The ability to quickly process any information and execute it into action is one of the most emergent skills of the professional world today. And that’s when an online timeline comes into use. It not only helps in directing and guiding how to go about the plan but also helps to prioritize tasks on-demand basis. Prioritizing tasks is as important as doing them. To find out which task needs attention first makes the problem-solving procedure quick and easy.

Also Read: Best Calendar Apps | A complete guide

2. 5 steps to create a timeline

Hope by now you have got a fair understanding of the benefits of an online timeline for your team. Next, let’s move on to how you can create an online timeline. Though it may sound simple to create one, it is not always so, especially for beginners. But, you need not be stressed as we have eased out the job for you:

1. Collect data

Have a clear picture of all the data needed for setting up a timeline. Check on the availability of your team members, probable hindrances, the readiness of hardware or software, etc. before you start working on your timeline.

2. Outline your goals; both short and long term

Goal setting is important before you create an online timeline. Both short-term goals and long-term goals are important in order to reach the project completion deadline. Keeping a distinct goal for every team member will keep them on the right track and boost them every day towards achieving their individual targets.

3. Pick a timeline maker template

Choose a timeline maker template that is easily customizable with professional designs. You can also include your creativity and imagination to make it more expressive and flowing. Make sure that the timeline maker you chose allows you to design the template that suits all your social media handles.

Once your online timeline is done, you are now ready to share it across your team in different formats like flyers, reports, presentations, etc.

4. Before giving it the final call, review everything

You must make sure that before you are all set with your online timeline, everyone in your team must be on board with it. If possible, show them the draft version of the timeline and ask for their opinion. Let your team decide that the given timeframe will suit them or not. It’s always better to have a reasonable timeframe for your team than later to regret it.

Talk to them about their readiness so that not even the smallest milestones are overlooked. This will further help you to extend or tighten the key targets of the projects.

5. Track your timeline

Regular tracking of the timeline is as necessary as creating it. Tracking and analyzing the timeline lets you know your shortcomings in accomplishing the target. It also shows you a clear picture of your team’s performance and whether anything needs attention.

Also Read: How to measure productivity | A how-to guide for everyone

3. Top features to look for in a timeline maker

Now that you are aware of creating an online timeline, here are a few of the top features that you must look for in a timeline maker:

1. Cloud storage

Cloud storage ensures that you can access your data from anywhere in the world without bothering about its security and privacy.

2. Professional themes and templates

Look for a timeline maker that comes with a library of professional themes, styles, templates, and graphs. Easy customization of templates is an added feature that most timeline makers offer to their users. This will help to personalize your timeline designs by adding your brand name and logo.

3. Sharing and collaboration

Choose a timeline maker that allows it to share the timeline among your team members so that they can give their opinion regarding the same.

4. Responsiveness

Check whether the timeline works both on your computer and mobile. If the theme or template does not suit either of them, it’s time to pick another timeline for your team.

5. Easy to navigate

A timeline maker is easy to navigate. A professional timeline with complex navigation will only make the job complicated for both you and your team members.

Also Read: Time blocking | An ultimate read for best results

To conclude

We understand you are not very much familiar with an online timeline maker. But there is no harm in giving it a try!

The above paragraphs will surely aid you in choosing the best online timeline creator that will boost your team’s performance and take your organization to the next level. As mentioned earlier, time management is one of the crucial points in project management. And once you learn the art of managing time, the victory is all yours.

Let us know in the Comments section below which online timeline maker template is your favourite and how you benefited from it.

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How the Pandemic Changed the Hiring Process in 2021

Want to stay on top of hiring trends? Here are 8 ways the hiring process has changed in 2021.

The pandemic has driven many business changes and one area that has changed significantly is the hiring process. As people all over the world began working remotely, this brought about many changes, some of which had already begun before the pandemic and others that were accelerated by it.

Technology is dominating the recruiting and hiring process and organizations are offering more flexibility in the workplace and focusing on employee needs. Here are some ways the pandemic has changed the hiring process.

1. Power balance between employer & employee has shifted

Until very recently, employees did what employers expected of them but the tides are turning and the pandemic has accelerated the change. Organizations today need to meet employee needs if they hope to secure the talent that’s necessary for them to thrive in a very competitive world. They have to make an effort to understand and invest in their employees.

The pandemic made employees think about what was most important to them and gave many of them a desire for more of a work/life balance. HR departments and recruiters need to pay attention to what they expect if they want them to be productive and fulfilled.

Also Read: Managing remote teams | A priceless list of tips to succeed

2. Employees expect more from employers

Would-be employees expect more than traditional compensation and benefits today. They rank work/life balance, values and company culture highly when making decisions. Employers who set up an employee value proposition that resonates with employees and is tied to a sense of social purpose are more likely to hire successfully.

Some changes employees would welcome are days off for wellbeing support, marital therapy, long-term financial planning support, technical perks like smartwatches, and offering health checkups. Changes like this could support their mental and physical health with a real benefit for employers in terms of improved productivity. They also expect organizations to be more supportive when it comes to personalized learning and improving their skills.

3. Diversity and inclusion measures became more of a focus

The pandemic has raised many social issues and candidates will judge a business based on how committed it is and how it demonstrates a commitment to equity and diversity. For some positions, recruiting trends may include removing certain education or experience requirements to help level the playing field.

Students may be expected to write about social issues like racial profiling in the workplace. If they have to do so, they could benefit from reading argumentative essay examples on social issues by EduZaurus. There is no better way to study than to learn from the best and students can find essay samples on many different topics to learn from. They may also need help from professional writers with their written assignments or to finish a paper when they are under pressure.

Also Read: Diversity Activities | Everything you must know

4. Employers are focusing more on work quality

Over the past year, employees have had more freedom to design their own schedules and decide how, when, and where they do their work. As the autonomy to do this did not seem to negatively affect their productivity, organizations are inclined to allow it to continue. Some are promoting a hybrid working environment that includes both in-office and remote work.

Employers are generally starting to focus more on quality and productivity than the hours employees are spending sitting at their desks. They are taking the view that employees are accountable professionals who know what they need to do and how to fit that into their lives.

If organizations can find the right model and sufficient trust exists, more flexibility could be here to stay. There is also a chance of more ‘virtual absenteeism’ and employers will have to find policies and procedures to mitigate against this.

5. Technology dominates the hiring and onboarding process

As digital software means physical commuting is no longer essential, it is changing the way organizations hire. The pandemic made organizations more comfortable with remote recruiting processes, Zoom meetings, and video interviews. They will need to have a good grasp of the latest technology in virtual recruiting and hiring and understand which parts of a position require in-office work versus remote working.

Many companies now use video interviews instead of in-person meetings. Pre-recorded interviews enable them to ask questions candidates that must answer. These pre-recorded interviews allow them to quickly identify the best candidates to move forward in the hiring process.

Successfully onboarding new workers remotely is also possible when using the right technology. An organization can simply agree on a date and time to meet virtually with a new worker and convey information about the company culture, values, mission, vision, and so on. Using key people within the organization to build up a presentation can help with tailoring it to meet the needs of new hires.

Also Read: Remote interview guide | Everything you must know

6. Remote work expands hiring pools

The pandemic showed that it wasn’t necessary for all employees to work in an office building to be productive. This insight has allowed companies to expand their search for talent beyond their own cities or regions. They can now source talent based on where candidates with the best skills live rather than having to use candidates in a specific location.

When people are working remotely and trying to study at the same time, It can be difficult for them to find the time to complete their written assignments. Social issues like racial diversity, equity and inclusion are topics students may have to write about and reading more essays collected by WritingBros on social issues could be a good place to start. Getting help to write a paper could help them to learn how to avoid plagiarism and other issues.

7. The skills organizations need have changed

In the interview process, employers will not only ask candidates about the skills they already have but which ones they are working on or would like to develop. This type of questioning indicates that employers are ready to help employees to improve their skills and learn new ones. As the pace of work changes, roles evolve and the shelf life of current skills is becoming shorter. Organizations that want to thrive in the future will need new skills.

Conventional career planning assumes that roles will remain unchanged over the years and follow a linear path. This is no longer the case as static jobs have changed to more project-based work, with employees continually having to adapt to focus on new projects and priorities as the needs of a business change. Organizations are increasingly making use of contractors and freelancers rather than full-time employees.

Also Read: Team Building | Everything you must know

8. More adaptability in the recruitment process

In a COVID-19 world, organizations have needed to be adaptable and change their recruiting processes. They are changing the ways they search for new talent and the channels they used to do this. Virtual job fairs have provided one avenue for some employers to widen their search.

Recruiting trends in 2021 have also focused more on hiring from within. The pandemic meant employees were flung into new skills, took on new responsibilities, and shifted positions. It became evident that employees who are able to shift positions and take on different projects may be more valuable than those who only have skills in one specific area.

Conclusion

In 2021 and beyond, organizations will need to diversify their recruiting strategies and use multiple channels to engage with potential hires. Recruitment in the future will require the ability to adapt to a virtual world and use technology to provide more workplace flexibility for employees. Addressing employee needs will be paramount if organizations hope to retain top talent and the need for workplace flexibility is one of their top priorities.

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4 Ways well-researched content improves a site

Businesses

How can investing in well-researched content improve your site? Here are 4 ways good quality content directly affects your website.

Anyone who is working in the marketing domain and not only has already acknowledged the importance of delivering high-quality content to their community. The online world is a vast one and you can find information on every subject. There are many blogs, online magazines, or journals that promise to deliver helpful and useful information, yet they fail to do it.

People have started looking for articles that deliver what they promise. Content that stands out from the crowd exactly for the reason that they are well-researched and everything is explained nicely. If you have a blog or site where you post articles, you are surely thinking about ways to improve it. It is not the easiest solution but is one that will help you take your site to the next level. And that is by writing well-researched content.

Also Read: Digital Marketing Consultant | A how-to guide for everyone

1. Organic Traffic

One of your main goals is probably to attract more visitors to your website. You are putting effort and passion into writing those articles, so they would fulfill their purpose when they are read by others. But building a community around your website can be challenging, especially at the beginning. Even though the start can be more difficult than you have imagined it, you are sure on the good path. By writing well-researched content you will generate organic visits.

Those who are interested in the topic you approach will share it with their friends, and slowly but steadily, you will improve your site. However, besides the thorough research, you need to do, you also need to pay attention to the SEO (search engine optimization) of your articles. The keywords, links, and how you craft the message are very important for the visibility of your website. Which draws us to the next benefit.

Also Read: Hire Content Writer | A priceless list of tips to succeed

2. SEO

Many writers know about SEO applied to texts, but it is a process of optimization for the whole site. There are three main types of SEO and each of them can help you improve your site. However, you need to pay attention to the SEO metrics in your articles, to make sure you create appealing content that will be found easier. The most challenging thing is to promote your site and deliver content that gets ranked high in the search engines.

Well-researched content that includes keywords and links will increase the engagement of your visitors and they will take action on your page (even if it is just for scrolling and clicking one link). Google registers all these and will rank your site higher because it is relevant and engaging. Poor content cannot help you do this, as it doesn’t generate actions from the users. If writing SEO articles and well-researched content is a challenge you need help to overcome, a professional essay help service can support you in this process. To hire a professional writer for proofreading your research paper and site content is a good idea, as you get feedback from a professional. And you will have the chance to improve it before you make it public.

3. Conversions

You probably have a strategy for your site, and if not, you should start working on one. It would help you know your goals, measure your progress, and set actions. One of your goals might be to generate and increase conversions on your site, something that will improve it considerably. You can do this by delivering well-researched content that is helpful and useful for your readers.

And you surely want them to become your community, people that will read most of your articles, engage with you, and stay on your site longer. This also helps your site rank higher in the search engines. Google and other search engines are trying to understand what your website is about through a long series of algorithms, but they also look at the user’s behavior. Well-researched content free of plagiarism and that offers valuable information to users, increases conversions, and improves your site.

Also Read: Hire WordPress Developer | A how-to guide for beginners

4. Brand Awareness

No matter if you just have a blog or want to improve sales on your website, the site is an important part of your brand. There are many brand components one needs to work on and include in a marketing strategy, to ensure the success of the brand.

All these form brand awareness, meaning how many people are aware of your brand. Increasing it can seem challenging, but writing well-researched content can help you do this. Valuable information has always caught people’s interest, so it just adds more to your brand awareness. And because the site is a key element of brand awareness, it will improve with it.

Conclusion

No matter which are your goals for your site, well-researched content will help you improve it. You might want to increase sales, increase your community, to generate organic traffic. But what other way to do this other than by delivering useful and helpful information to your readers. It might take you more time to research and write it, but compelling and powerful content will improve your site tremendously.

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8 Steps to Create Best Volunteer Programs Your Employees Will Love

HR, Employee

Today, employees are looking for a more meaningful, engaging, and rewarding workplace. Here’s how you can create the best volunteering programs for your employees.

According to a report from City Philanthropy, 53 percent of under 35s want to volunteer more than they currently do.

Not only is volunteering a good thing to do, but businesses that provide paid time-off for volunteering can retain and attract the best talent, as well as instilling a sense of meaning and purpose in employees and increase productivity.

However, in order to achieve this, you need to create an employee volunteer program with a lot of care. You would also need to set up an employee volunteer policy because it should always go hand in hand with your volunteer program.

Why are employee volunteer programs a good idea?

Before we take a look at the different steps you should follow when creating an effective employee volunteer program, let’s take a look at some of the key benefits you will gain by implementing one:

Increase employer brand awareness
Give your employees pride in their place of work
Boost employee retention rates
Create a more connected and stronger workforce
Increase employee empowerment
Enable employees to develop and learn new skills
Uncover future leaders for your business
Enjoy a healthier and happier workforce

How do you create a successful employee volunteer program?

Now that you know all of the benefits associated with employee volunteer programs, it is not difficult to see why they come so highly recommended.

Nevertheless, to experience all of these advantages, you do need to make sure you put together such a program with a lot of care. So, let’s take a look at the different steps you should follow:

1. Assess the current needs in your local community

There is only one place to begin, and this is by investigating what is needed in your own community at the moment. This information can typically be found online with ease.

At the same time, it makes sense to find out what interests your employees have by carrying out a small survey.

Once you have assessed your employee interests and the needs of your community, you can start narrowing your focus. A lot of companies that have thriving volunteer programs will typically focus on one or two areas only.

At this stage, you should also think about what your program is going to be called. This is important because it makes volunteer outreach and branding a lot easier.

You also need to consider if volunteer time is going to be unpaid or paid, as well as determining how much input you are going to allow your staff to have.

Also read: Problem solving activities | Everything you must know

2. Coordinate your volunteer program and business objectives

When determining the focus of your employee volunteer plan, you need to carefully think about how this is going to coincide with your existing business plan.

It is important that your successes and efforts are meaningful and can be communicated with the community and your customers with ease.

If you select a volunteer focus that complements the daily running of your business, this will enable your employees to utilise their specialist skills within the community while also being established as experts in their field at the same time.

3. Get support from the top executives at your business

Next, you are going to need to secure support from your CEO or president. This is critical. This person should be actively encouraging and promoting the volunteer program to all workers within the company, as well as supporting the reward and recognition of business-sponsored volunteerism.

It is just as critical for your management team to buy into your employee volunteer program as it is for your president or CEO. Not only are managers going to have the ability to be more generous in terms of determining time off periods for workers, but they are also going to be more inclined to volunteer their own experience and expertise to the organisation of your choosing.

Also Read: Office management | A complete guide

4. Look for different partnership possibilities

In addition to the different parts that we have discussed so far, we also think that it is important to spend some time looking for different partnership possibilities.

You can strengthen and expand your employee volunteer program with ease when you partner with other businesses and organizations. This is why you should look into the possibility of teaming up with various suppliers and/or customers.

Non-profit organizations and schools will almost always be happy to benefit from extra volunteers.

Furthermore, you may want to look into the possibility of using national volunteer mobilization events, including National Volunteer Week, National Family Volunteer Day, and Make a Difference Day.

5. Match corporate volunteerism and corporate giving together effectively

You should consider concentrating on corporate donations in the same area so that you are able to improve the volunteer efforts at your business.

Should your employee volunteer program focus on a partnership with a non-profit, for example, you can make the most of fundraisers at your business so you can donate proceeds to the organization in question.

Also Read: How to engage employees | Everything you must know

6. Quantify and evaluate your volunteer program

As with all of the different elements of running a business, it is imperative that you quantify how successful your employee volunteer program is.

These are the critical numbers that you are going to want to make sure you highlight in both your board reports and community relations pieces.

Some of the vital areas that we advise you to keep statistics on are as follows:

Pound value of volunteers time
Amount of money you have raised
The number of individuals who have served
The number of organizations that have served
Amount of time donated per every activity
The number of employees who volunteer

Another critical piece of evaluation is feedback. It is advisable to survey the employee volunteer program participants to discover the degree to which they have enjoyed the opportunities to volunteer, how satisfying they have been, and whether or not they feel like they are making a valuable contribution to the community.

If your business is able to, you might also want to quantify the improvements in areas like brand recognition or revenue due to the increased marketplace visibility.

Also Read: How to motivate employees | A complete guide

7. Provide rewards and recognition

The penultimate step is to provide recognition and rewards for those who have participated in these programs. Yes, a lot of people believe that acts of altruism are rewards in themselves, and we are sure that your employees will agree. Yet, at the same time, a little bit of recognition and a small gesture can go a very long way.

Some of the small gestures you may want to consider in this regard include gift cards, coupons, plaques, and certificates. These sorts of things can help to ensure your program is invigorated while keeping those employee motivation levels high.

A lot of the most successful employee volunteer programs will host a ceremony every year so that volunteer efforts are recognized formally. You may want to also consider inviting the media to events like this so you can boost public awareness.

Also Read: Culture index survey | A comprehensive guide

8. Publicize all of the efforts relating to your volunteer programs

The final piece of the puzzle is to make sure that you get the word out about all of the accomplishments that have been achieved as a consequence of your employee volunteer program.

You should use a number of different methods of communication in order to get the word out about your volunteer program successes. This includes both external and internal communication mediums.

There are lots of effective and impactful ways that you can get both the community and your workers talking. This includes traditional advertising methods, as well as online marketing strategies, such as email, an effective website, and social media. Bulletin boards and newsletters can also be very successful in this regard.

There are a lot of different benefits associated with this. Firstly, such marketing material and content can help you to get new volunteers involved for any of the campaigns you have running in the future. After all, they will be able to see the benefits that the campaigns had, as well as the high praise that your workers have heaped on in regards to your volunteering efforts.

Furthermore, we cannot deny that publicizing your efforts relating to volunteering will act as an outstanding public relations tool for your business.

All businesses today need to look for different ways to market effectively and stand out from the competition. Having an effective and successful volunteer program in place is one of the best ways of doing so, as it gives employees extra purpose, which boosts retention and your brand image.

Also Read: Team Building | Everything you must know

Final words on creating a great volunteer program

If you follow the advice and suggestions that we have provided above, you should be able to construct a volunteer program that helps you to hold onto your best business talent, as well as attracting leading candidates in the future.

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What is remote work? | 5 effective tips to make life easier while at remote work!

Remote work

What is remote work? What are the types of remote works and the emerging trends in the domain of remote work? Read on!

What is remote work?

Remote work is a working lifestyle where employees are allowed to work outside of a traditional office environment. It is a flexible working arrangement where the employee can work from the location of their own choosing. Remote work is now becoming mainstream.

Remote working is now a popular phenomenon in the professional world. Though it is gaining substantial importance in many companies, their employees, and freelancers yet many questions circle what is remote working?

Is it safe and advantageous for the future growth of an individual? How can a person work remotely? And last but not least what are the pros and cons of remote working? In this article, you will be guided on the details of what does working remotely means and its benefits.

Also Read: Remote work habits | A comprehensive guide

What is work remotely meaning traditionally?

What does working remotely mean? Traditionally, remote work is the feasibility of working from anywhere remotely without commuting to the office. Professionals have the flexibility to select either a few days of a week to work remotely or the entire week.

The essence is to finish your assignments within the mentioned deadline. With the advancements in technology, companies and individuals are realizing the benefits of working remotely. It is leading to cost-saving, an increase in employee satisfaction, and greater productivity.

Companies have the privilege to select the workforce from the respective specialized zones in the world without focusing on a particular location. They gain a substantial competitive advantage over their peers. Freelancers determine their style of conducting business hence they work remotely every day.

Did you know? Studies have proved that about 70% of professionals working remotely have attained greater productivity than a normal office goer.

Also Read: How to prioritize task | Everything you must know

What does working remotely mean in the wake of Covid?

Work remotely means an employee is allowed to work away from the employer or a centralized office. It could be their home, a cafe, a co-working space, etc. Remote work meaning an employee is given the flexibility to work from any location they feel comfortable to work from and be productive.

Other commonly associated words with location remote working include Work From Home, Mobile working, Flexible Working, etc. We have seen a sudden rise in the number of people working remotely due to the pandemic. Many workers are not allowed to return back to their workplaces.

Also Read: Office management | A complete guide

What is a fully remote job?

While understanding what is remote work, one would come to know that there can be two types of remote work, one is partly remote and another is fully remote. Employees with fully remote jobs don’t have to come to the office at all, but partly remote employees are required to visit the office a few times a month.

A fully remote job gives you the flexibility to work from anywhere in the world and allows you to travel to other places. Such employees are also popularly known as Digital Nomads. A strong internet connection is the only requirement.

Also Read: Cybersecutity during work from home | Critical items that you must know!

What does remote position mean?

What is a remote position? A designation where the employee is expected to work out of the traditional office space. A remote position job essentially means when there is flexibility to work from any location. Working in a remote position allows employees to have a healthier work-life balance.

Workers who are hired for a remote position are not required to show up at the office. The work is carried out through different communication channels such as text messages, emails, Skype, Zoom, Slack, etc. What is remote work, it can easily be said that it is the future.

Also Read: How to measure productivity | A how-to guide for everyone

Types of remote jobs

As technology evolves, more and more employees are shifting towards the remote work culture due to its flexibility. Advancement in technology has made it easier to communicate and complete the work from any location. Let us look at the different types of remote jobs one can consider,

Build user-friendly and appealing websites as a web designer
Become a social media manager and work closely with the marketing team to manage the businesses’ social media accounts
Virtual Assistants are responsible for carrying out administrative tasks for their supervisors
Make visual graphics for a company as a graphic designer.
Work as a copywriter to improve the content quality
Craft unique content for brands as a content writer
As a marketing manager, develop campaigns and strategies to promote the business
Become an Accountant to manage financial accounts
Hire quality candidates as a recruiter
Look for an outbound sales position

Also Read: Time blocking | An ultimate read for best results

Post Covid remote employment opportunities

A lot has changed ever since companies were forced to work remotely. Many organizations have found remote working beneficial and plan to have to hire more remote workers even after the pandemic. Here are some of the remote employment opportunities that may come up post-covid,

Examine a company’s financial data to help them make business decisions as a financial analyst.
Interpret data as a statistician and communicate results to clients.
Data scientist opportunity for data wizards who analyze company’s data and provide valuable insights to boost productivity.
Design and build computer programs as a software developer
Content Writer opportunities for those who are good with words.
Human Resources Executive responsible for overseeing hiring, training, and resignation processes
Oversee the company’s overall sales strategy as a sales executive
Online teaching opportunities in different subjects for subject matter experts
Content Designer skilled in language, graphic design.
Study market behaviors as a marketing analyst

Also Read: Inbox zero | A priceless list of tips to succeed

Emerging trends of the remote worker class

Let us have a look at the emerging trends of the remote worker class,

Worldwide, 88% of organizations have made it mandatory or encourages their employees to work remotely after the pandemic was declared.
Based on a report by Statista, 25% of respondent companies will move almost 10% of their employees to full-time remote positions even after the pandemic ends.
Almost 99% of the employees would continue to work from home due to increased freedom, flexibility, and independence.
Zoom is one of the most widely used apps for virtual collaboration amidst the pandemic.

Also Read: Remote working tools | A comprehensive guide

Emerging trends of remote location across the world

Trends have changed ever since people were forced to work remotely due to the pandemic. Here are some of the emerging trends of remote location across the world,

Due to remote work, more people moved out of the cities as compared to those who moved in. Cities such as New York, Brooklyn, and San Francisco witnessed dramatic exodus.
The majority of the people moved from big cities to nearby suburbs.
Cities like Arizona, Florida, and Texas gained the most movers from big cities.
People are even moving out of the country to find cheaper destinations.

Also Read: Home office set up | Everything you must know

Recently declared fully remote working companies

Look at the companies that have declared to their employees that they are allowed to Work From Home indefinitely,

REI, an outdoor retailer, announced a plan to work from home indefinitely.
Twitter told their employees that they can work from home permanently even after the pandemic ends.
Square will allow employees to work remotely for an indefinite period.
Coinbase, a cryptocurrency exchange company, announced that most of the roles will remain remote.
Nationwide Insurance plans to downsize its physical offices from 20 to just 4. The majority of the workforce will be continuing to work from home permanently.

Also Read: Distributed teams | A complete guide

Remote working Vs Hybrid working

What is remote work model? It is a full remote setup where employees work out of centralized office space. Some remote companies may not even have physical offices. Everyone in the company, from managers to interns, work from their favorable locations.

What is a hybrid work model? A working model where some employees come to the office whereas others work remotely. Based on the requirements, few departments and roles can be kept as fully remote and others as fully-onsite.

Both models have their own advantages and disadvantages. Hence, companies can implement any of these models based on their personal preferences.

Also Read: Virtual field trips | Critical items that you must know!

Top 5 mistakes of employers on remote working

Here are the top 5 mistakes you should be avoided if you are planning to employ remote workers in your team,

Not changing the hiring process – During the hiring interview ask questions that will help you identify people who are comfortable working on their own from a remote location.
Not getting to know the remote employees personally – Try to know about your employees on a personal level to develop trust and rapport with the team.
Lack of communication and oversight – It can be easy to forget about the remote employees. Daily skype or video check-ins are helpful.
Not providing the right tools – Provide the right tools to your employees to assist them in getting the work done.
Not including them in office perks – Do not forget your remote employees when you reward your on-site team with a pizza or a lunch party

Also Read: Video conferencing etiquette | A how-to guide for everyone

How to work remotely?

Now that we have understood the basics of what is remote working, let us now discuss how to work remotely? There are plenty of options available for professionals while deciding to work remotely from home.

Select a pattern – Individuals can either select certain working days of the week to work remotely to balance their professional and personal life. Others may opt for a completely remote working life to achieve flexibility in working hours and save time on commuting.
Select a venue – People normally meet up with their team face to face monthly or biweekly for interpersonal relations and team alignment. Some professionals prefer to work out from a café for a few hours of their work every day. Alternatively, remote teams can connect over Virtual offices platforms like unremot.com.
Ways to boost productivity – The shifts from the bounded workspace to a pleasant environment boost up productivity and release mental stress. Majority of the people who work remotely prefer to work from home whereas others select a co-working space for at least a few hours of the day if not the whole day.
Go for coworking spaces if open collaboration is key – The co-working space is an office space occupied by people from different professions and different industrial sectors. It helps in creating a mind share between individuals with knowledge sharing of different types of topics.
Optimize for learning and networking – Whichever mode is selected by professionals to work remotely, they try to utilize the opportunity to increase their professional network for future growth and recognition. They tactfully select their productive times in a day and set their work schedule accordingly.

Due to the immense flexibility the employee satisfaction index of many companies is on a rising trend. The result is the retention of highly skilled consultants, cost reduction, an increase in revenue and customer base, and greater productivity.

Also Read: Online yoga classes | An ultimate read for best results

Driving factors of remote work

While understanding the basics of what is remote working, it is very important to understand the driving factors which motivate a person to work remotely.

Work and home priorities – many professionals especially the women workforce struggle to manage both work and home lives.
Traffic – There are times when the offices are located at a distance which necessitates hours to commute from home. Traffic jams or unanticipated transport issues further enhance such difficulties. All these factors negate the outcome of an assignment, resulting in delays and failure of deadlines.
Lack of motivation – Associates tend to get lethargic or demotivated, affecting the health of a company. In turn, if they are granted the flexibility to work remotely the productivity gains are increased exponentially.
Fixed vs flexible work hours – Work remotely meaning has been occasionally distorted by the words “work from home” or “flexi hours”. Though they sound similar there are lines of difference between them. Work remotely does not mandate working from home. In fact, you can work from a different country, city, or coworking space as well. Sometimes you may not have the Flexi hours advantage. The company can set fixed office hours even if is working remotely and professional need to strictly adhere to the timing ensuring their availability and accessibility.

Tip: Before deciding to finally work remotely, it is very essential to judge whether you are convinced of its benefits and also if you are motivated to attempt the particular way of work.

Also Read: How to work from home | A priceless list of tips to succeed

The pros and cons of remote work

As we advance to our understanding of what is remote working, we need to focus on the benefits of working remotely along with its pitfalls for better judgment. Let us first discuss the pros,

1. Pros of remote work

Here is a summary of the pros of remote work,

1. Increase in Productivity levels

Surveys and researches have proved that an associate working remotely is likely to achieve higher productivity gains in comparison to a person’s daily commuting to the office. First and foremost companies are now hiring skilled employees irrespective of geographical distances from their headquarters or operational offices.

The composition of highly qualified and experienced staff within a company increases the efficiency and competency levels. The employees working from remote locations contribute jointly to the company’s growth. They judge their effective times in a day to schedule their work hours.

On the top, if they are granted Flexi hours then the productivity and satisfaction level is further enhanced. In remote workplaces, the distractions are comparatively less allowing work to be completed faster with better quality.

2. Cost reduction

Cost reduction is one of the significant benefits of working remotely. Commuting to the office daily and sometimes long distances amounts to higher expenses that need to be borne by the employees.

A significant part of the wages is saved if the commuting is reduced considerably. It has a direct effect on the lifestyle of the people working remotely.

Companies are also able to reduce costs since they can avoid allocating workspaces and other infrastructure facilities. Cost reduction impacts the revenue earnings of a company and in turn the percentage hike in salaries.

Interesting Fact: Employees commuting daily to the office and sometimes working night shifts often claim additional allowance from the company. Working remotely almost negates the chances of claiming the same which in turn is beneficial to the company.

3. Healthier Life

Regular commuting through private or public transport, sometimes long distances through traffic jams, has been a source of complaint from many professionals. Health issues are a growing concern among them, resulting in increased mental and physical stress.

This, in turn, hampers productivity and efficiency in work. Some even fail to complete their regular workouts which reduces their physical strength and stamina levels. Commuting is avoided significantly when we work remotely, leading to better health both physically and mentally.

Working from the office may lead to irregular and unhealthy food habits due to the constant pressure of meeting deadlines within the stipulated office hours. Remote working induces flexibility and more productive work hours. Professionals can maintain their food habits comfortably without any difficulties. It leads to better health and a better life.

4. Harness your communication skills

Remote working demands excellent communication skills as you need to convey your messages clearly to your stakeholders, supervisors, and peers. Failing to do that will bring in misunderstandings, passing incomplete information, and sometimes even incorrect messages as well.

Hence it is a great opportunity to improvise your communication skills to suit your needs. You will be forced to find out new techniques in imparting your messages through impressive communication skills.

Did you know? Many professionals attend special communication classes and extempore sessions to learn the proper methods of speaking. It helps a lot in their professional careers and extremely beneficial while working remotely.

5. Employee Satisfaction

Working remotely provides the professionals with the leisure of working from home in their independent way and equally balancing their personal life. This has a significant impact on their satisfaction level.

For many every day commuting is a serious concern especially when the traveling distance is more coupled with heavy traffic during office hours. Avoiding the commuting part is a big relief for them, reducing daily anxieties and maintaining proper health.

Tip: A satisfied employee will possess the right attitude and dedication to complete an assignment much before the stipulated time. A company can expect greater productivity coupled with the high quality of work from such individuals. Hence companies and firms should encourage their employees to work remotely for a better satisfaction level and greater outcome.

6. Long term association

Regular office goers often face the risk of job loss owing to ill health or personal problems or health problems of family members. Working in companies who mandate availability in person in the office, projects them into difficult situations.

They may be under the constant stress of losing their jobs. There may be a tendency to shift from those companies to ones that offer greater flexibility in jobs.

Companies with the flexibility of allowing their employees to work remotely are likely to earn more loyalty and long-term relationship. Their employees enjoy the benefits and in turn feel the responsibility to remain dedicated and sincere in delivering their work on time and with better quality.

7. The decrease in sick leaves

While discussing the question of what is remote working, many people are inquisitive to know whether they are permitted to work remotely when they are sick? Well, the answer is Yes. There is no one to stop you from working remotely even if you are sick.

It entirely depends on the individual and his or her physical condition of whether the work can be executed. Moreover, even if you are sick at home or admitted to a hospital or visiting a doctor, you can remain connected to the outside world with your laptop and internet connectivity. That is one of the benefits of working remotely.

The result of such an advantage is the decreasing tendency in applying for sick leaves. Both the employee and the employer are benefitted. The employee need not lose the sick leave balance and the employer does not experience work delays or loss due to the absence of any employee.

Also Read: Trust remote teams | A comprehensive guide

2. Cons of Remote Work

Below is the summary of three main cons of remote work,

1. A feeling of Isolation

There is a common fear among professionals of being isolated while analyzing the details on what is remote working. Since they are not present in person, a feeling persists in their minds that they may be missing in important meetings and discussions.

The best way to get over the fear of isolation is to engage in video conferences and web meetings as much as possible. Fix the hours in a day when your employer expects you to be available.

Meet up with the team once a week or 2 weeks for in-person discussions to ensure you do not miss out on anything important. An alternate option is to go for a co-working space where you will not feel isolated since you will get a chance of interacting with other professionals who work remotely.

2. Tendency to de-focus

Remote working demands self-motivation remain focused on your work. Since there is no one to encourage or motivate you to keep working, there is a tendency among professionals to deviate and lose focus. Employers will be disappointed if you do not deliver your work within the scheduled time.

Meditation helps a lot in increasing self-motivation, patience, and concentration level. But if you feel that you are facing issues in concentration then it is recommended to avoid working remotely or maybe once in a while when you encounter any unavoidable personal or health issues.

3. Burning out

Working remotely often induces professionals to work for extended hours. Since they do not have to commute and have the flexibility to work whenever they want to, they tend to work more than a normal person who travels to the office daily.

This may adversely affect their health and in the long term reduce the productivity and quality of work.

Planning the working hours in a day with the tentative start and end time is very essential while working remotely. If you follow the routine strictly with few exceptions, then you will avoid burning out due to excessive work pressure.

Also Read: Virtual ice breakers | Everything you must know

Self-analysis for fitment into remote working

How to analyze and see if you want to opt for remote working or travel daily to the office? The following points will guide you in the judgment and analysis process,

Measure the productivity levels by working from the office and working remotely for a few days.
Try to check whether you can concentrate on your work at home without being distracted by household chores or the family members
Judge your communication skills and check whether you can impart your messages clearly without any discrepancy
Maintain interpersonal relations with your team and employer and frequently follow their reactions through emails or video conferencing on whether they are ready to accept you working remotely
Check on your focus and concentration levels for a few days to decide if you can stay motivated for maximum hours of the day
Find out alternate options of working remotely – home, co-working space or working remotely 1 to 2 days a week. You must select the option which suits you the most.
If you have a team working with you or under your supervision, then you must positively check whether you can trust your team without meeting them in person
Another important point to verify is whether you are experiencing a feeling of isolation or insecurity while working remotely
Since you will now have to handle your laptop and the needed infrastructure facilities on your own, ensure that you can handle that without any support from your office infrastructure team

Also Read: Team communication | A complete guide

Remote work misconceptions

Though remote work is gaining prominence among the companies and their employees and there is a growing rise of free-lancers, yet there are certain misconceptions about this modern style of working. Let us discuss some of those topics and try to remove the misunderstandings on remote working.

1. Avoidance of Work

Many people are of the notion that since remote workers operate from home, they are lethargic and tend to avoid work. There is a general feeling that they leisurely at home watching TV or engage in personal activities more than the regular work schedule. Studies and surveys have proved the concept to be wrong.

Remote workers are more inclined to follow a strict schedule daily. They wake up early in the morning and work often more than the normal office hours. They are accessible constantly on phone and emails, and even via video conferences, web meetings, and some occasional in-person meet-ups as well.

2. Communication problems

It is an acceptable fact remote workers are not available daily for in-person meetings or discussions. Having said this, they are always connected to their employer and team via emails and phone calls. They respond sincerely whenever they are contacted.

The majority of remote workers possess strong internet connectivity and excellent telephonic arrangements to avoid any disruptions in communication. Since they harness their vocabulary and interpersonal skills, it is very convenient to understand the messages conveyed by them. They are seldom misunderstood or misinterpreted.

3. Full time availability

Professionals working remotely possess a fear that they are expected to be available full time since they have the luxury to work in a co-working space or at home. They remain worried about their rest time and breaks and in turn their personal life as well as physical and mental health.

But they must rest assured that employers who allow their employees to work remotely never desire to burn out their associates. In fact, they are keener to work out the daily hours and plan accordingly.

Also Read: What is a virtual office | Critical items that you must know!

Important facts on remote working

Below is a summary of key facts about remote work,

Freelancers stand at the most advantageous position when it comes to remote working. Most of them work on a contractual basis or on per day remuneration.
The majority of the companies and firms expect them to work remotely and deliver their services timely.
Entrepreneurs can prefer working remotely without hampering their business execution.
Some business operations can be monitored from home for which you do not need a dedicated workspace for yourself and your employees.
For professionals employed in a Corporate office, the decision of working remotely will depend on the company policies and norms and also the decision of the supervisor. Hence before deciding on working remotely, you need to be first acquainted with the company rules.
If the company norms do not permit remote working, then the option is completely ruled out. On the other hand, if there are norms for remote working then as a next step you need to discuss with your supervisor for the required approvals and procedures.
Once your supervisor agrees, you must decide on the daily mode of working since there will be a significant impact on your future professional life and career.
Many companies mandate the creation of a strong business case for granting permissions on remote work. The business case must be properly thought of by showcasing the qualitative and quantitative benefits of working remotely.
Remote Working is truly a gift for those who are struggling to meet the balance of professional and personal life or have trouble commuting long distances. It relieves them from unnecessary anxieties and mental stresses.
Companies are slowly realizing the benefits of remote working and are deviating from the traditional working style to the modernized style of working.

The interesting concept of remote working is building up a global team that can be present anywhere in the world. But in the end, they collaborate in creating a healthy work environment through the magic of advanced technology of the modern era.

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15 Powerful Online Tools to Get More Done in Less Time

Remote work

Being productive is a definite goal for many entrepreneurs, but you won’t optimize your workflow when productivity and efficiency don’t go hand in hand. In today’s fast-paced business world, you need to increase both business virtues, which can be accomplished with multiple powerful online tools. To start getting more done in less time, try these 15 recommended online services.

Use These 15 Tools to Maximize Productivity and Efficiency

Staying on task isn’t always easy, but these 15 productivity tools can simplify the process and help you save time while maximizing your content, marketing, and work output.

online tools for productivity

1. Asana for Word-Based Organization

As one of the leading programs dedicated to productivity and team organization, Asana helps everyone stay organized and on task. While not optimal for solo-workers, it will benefit teams of 5 or more who need to assign different jobs or projects to co-workers and organizations.

2. Trello for Visual-Based Organizers

If you prefer visual input over orderly lists, Trello is the organizational platform for you. By using photo-centric boards, lists, tasks, and labels, its interface catches your eye and engages you to click, navigate, and complete tasks. Trello’s drag and drop features help to maneuver tasks.

Also read: Virtual Water Cooler for remote teams in 2021

3. Google Drive (Docs and Spreadsheets)

Google Drive is truly the new Microsoft Suite, as it lets users share files across the Internet that their recipients can edit in real-time. You won’t have to send files back and forth multiple times to complete and edit with Google Drive, which saves you time and builds teamwork skills.

4. File Conversion Tools, e.g., PDF to JPG

Whether you need to convert PDF to JPG, merge files, or compress photos, file conversion tools come in handy in almost any workplace. If a client can’t use a specific file format, you can quickly convert it into another in under a minute, so you can collaborate quicker and easier.

5. Evernote for Note Taking

Time is often wasted in boardroom meetings trying to think about what topics to cover or when a manager misses something and has to continue the meeting or send an email. With Evernote, you can store everything you could possibly lose track of, like notes, articles, or receipts.

6. HootSuite for Managing Social Media Accounts

Most businesses have more than one social media account across multiple platforms, and it can get confusing delegating tasks or giving out assignments for each network. HootSuite lets users schedule posts, give out jobs, measure performance, organize followers, and more.

Also Read: How to measure productivity at work in 2021?

7. IFTTT (If This Then That) to Automate Tasks

IFTTT allows users to automate tasks based on IF AND statements used in coding, but you need no coding experience to use it. For example, the app will post an Instagram post if it’s Tuesday. You can get creative with your IF AND statements to create endless combinations.

8. Toggl as a Time-Tracking Tool

It’s important to track your time to understand how long it takes for you to complete specific tasks and improve on your numbers. Toggl can help you do just that by adding a small widget at the top of your browser. Then, at the end of the week, Toggl will send a report to see your time stats.

9. Unroll.Me for Email Clutter

Looking over email clutter is incredibly stressful for most entrepreneurs, but they get so many messages a day it’s hard to go through the list and delete them all. Unroll.Me can compile all the emails you need into a neat box while also unsubscribing to email lists you don’t read.

10. LastPass for Password Keeping

All of the powerful online tools you’re going to use to boost productivity require a password. If you use the same password for each software or website, you could leave your company open to hackers. LastPass saves all your passwords for you and creates more secure passphrases.

Also Read: Virtual gift ideas | A comprehensive guide

11. Todoist for a Simple, Yet Effective, To-Do List

This to-do list tool has been around for some time, but it’s gone through a few critical changes. Todoist uses a color-code system to organize and separate tasks, sub-tasks, projects, and dependencies. You can attach due dates to tasks and categorize them based on priority.

12. Freedcamp for Organization and Project Planning

Freedcamp is another to-do list app and easy-to-use software that has a lot of functionality for free. You can add team members by syncing Google Calendar in the free version, but when you pay for Freedcamp, you can integrate add-ons, like invoices, CRM, and metric tracking tools.

13. Hemingway Editor for Better Content Creation

Copywriters swear by Hemingway, as it checks their grammar, highlights difficult passages, and locates adverbs and passive voice that may bog down your writing for free. SEO prefers blog posts that have a Grade 7 to 8 readability, as it makes the content easier to understand.

14. StayFocused to Help You Avoid Time-Wasting Websites

If you’re having a hard time staying away from websites that take up too much of your time, the free Chrome extension StayFocused can block specific websites for you. You can customize its functionality by limiting how long you can spend on your favorite pages or how often you stream.

Also Read: Time blocking | An ultimate read for best results

15. Pocket for Saving Interesting Blog Articles, Images, or Videos

It’s hard to remember a cool image, blog post, or video you saw after a long work session, so it’s tempting to look at it immediately. Unfortunately, that can make us go off task, but Pocket, a free bookmark toolbar that syncs to your devices, can save your articles with a click of a button.

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