Technology

Are you searching for remote graphic design jobs? Do you have a flair for creating visually appealing content and wish to work remotely? If yes, this is the blog for you. Read on!

 

The quarantine period calls for remote working. Remote working refers to work that is done in a remote location, away from an office. Remote jobs could have the elements of both, employment and freelancing. This depends on how the employer wants the work to proceed.

Market opportunity for remote graphic design jobs

With the world facing pandemic, remote jobs are more preferred over the work-from-office. Every sector is undergoing changes, and the same goes for remote graphic design jobs. The market opportunity for remote graphic design jobs is tremendous in the present circumstances.

As per a survey, it has been found that 67% of businesses think that the importance of graphic designing for business will grow exponentially in the coming five years. This clearly shows that the demand for creative graphic designers is not going to reduce anytime soon.

Further, freelance remote graphic design positions account for almost 90% of total industry participation. Graphic designing is a well-established industry, and it provides services to different industries like advertising, media, software industry, manufacturing, fashion, textile, and any other industry you can think of.

The world is going digital, and all digital platforms and social media platforms are using visually appealing graphics along with content to make a good impression among their target customers. Thus, if you are thinking about taking up graphic design remote jobs, there is no dearth of opportunity in the sector.

But, the opportunities are not served on a silver platter. You have to improve your skills and knowledge to get the best job opportunities in the graphic designing sector.

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Types of remote graphic design jobs

• Full-time – In a full-time position, you will have to dedicate your time to one remote job. 
• Part-time – In a part-time position, you will be obligated to work only for a few hours. 
• Contracts – In a contract position, you will be expected to work dedicatedly for a specific amount of time as entailed by a contract. 

Looking for the best remote graphic design jobs can be a daunting task. But, you don’t have to worry. We have all the information you will need to get the most beneficial remote graphic design jobs.

Tip: Connecting with people on LinkedIn can open up many possibilities for a great remote graphic design job.

Job titles and career paths under remote graphic design jobs

Graphic design remote work is the coolest job position and career path we have ever heard of. You will wake up every day doing something that you love. This is a creative career path, but it offers numerous opportunities. The typical remote design jobs begin as a junior designer after you have completed your degree or certification in this field.

You can work for a creative agency. From there onwards, you can progress to midweight remote graphic artist jobs. After that, you can get an opportunity to become a senior designer, art director, creative director, and even beyond. Thus, there are multiple career paths that you may follow.

Good designers with creativity and the needed skills are always in demand. You may get an opportunity to design book covers, packaging design, motion designer, animator, 3D designer, game designer, and many more.

Another industry that is always open for graphic designers includes advertising and media. You can even take up the job of teaching if you have the needed training and experience. Some of the most important positions in a remote graphic designing job include UI/UX designer, email marketing designer, game designer, muralist, packaging designer, and many more.

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Roles and responsibilities of remote graphic design jobs

Remote graphic designer jobs need candidates to perform their roles and responsibilities with utmost honesty and sincerity. Thus, it is important to have complete knowledge about the roles and responsibilities of remote graphic design jobs. Following are the major roles and responsibilities,

1. Conceptualizing visuals depending upon the expectation of the client or the company
2. Creating images and layouts by hand or by using design software.
3. Testing different types of graphics across different media
4. To create graphics that can capture attention and communicate the right message about the brand or the product.
5. Ability to translate requirement into design and visuals
6. Study the design brief and determine the requirement of the client
7. Schedule different projects and define the budget constraints
8. Conceptualize different types of visuals depending upon the requirement
9. Prepare a rough draft and present ideas to the client.
10. Develop illustrations, logos, and other design by using software
11. Using appropriate colors and layout for each design
12. Work with the copywriter and creative director to produce the best design.
13. Test graphics across different media
14. Amend designs (If needed) after the feedback
15. Ensure that final graphics and layouts are visually appealing as per the need of the brand or the product.

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Qualification needed for a remote graphic design job

You don’t have to follow a hard and fast rule in terms of getting appropriate qualifications to get a remote design job. Having a bachelor’s degree in graphic arts may be the best degree you can complete to get remote designer jobs. Even a bachelor’s degree in arts and science can suffice for a remote graphic designing job.

Your creativity and skills determine the type of job you will get. Different sectors need different qualifications for candidates. Thus, if you are thinking of working in the advertising and media sector, knowledge about marketing may be expected. If you are thinking about working in the IT sector, knowledge about different computer applications and web applications may be expected.

For people who want to go towards the field of UI and UX designing, knowledge about websites and different elements may be expected. Thus, it depends upon the industry you want to work for that will determine your qualification. After your bachelor’s degree, you can also complete your Masters’s degree in graphic designing to get senior positions as a remote graphic designer.

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Remote graphic design job skills

In your application, you will have to assure your potential employer of certain remote graphic design job skills that you have.

1. Communication skills – You could portray these skills through your application. Usage of clear and precise language is necessary. If you are ever in a state of doubt, ensure that you choose over-communication instead of under-communication. 
2. Self-management skills – It is highly recommended that you mention your hobbies, routine, or experiences in the area of work and outside that require you to follow a strict schedule. This will reflect highly on your discipline.
3. Previous experience – This could be any experience you possess in the domain of graphic designing. It could include previous online graphic design jobs, freelancing, or volunteering. 
4. Experience with tools of communication – Work from home freelance graphic design jobs utilize many new communication tools such as Slack, Join.me, and the like. You could mention any experience that you have had with these tools. 
5. Experience with tools of project management – All remote freelance graphic design jobs rely heavily on project management tools. Ensure that you mention any experience you have had working on tools like Trello and the like. 
6. Graphic designing skills – This is definitely the most obvious one among all. Build a good portfolio that reflects well on your graphic designing skills. Mention the software that you have experience with and convey to your potential employer what exactly you have to offer to them.

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Certifications to get remote graphic design jobs

You may need different types of certifications to get remote graphic design jobs. But, the need for certification may vary depending upon the type of sector and industry you are working for. Following are some of the major certifications needed for graphic designer remote jobs,

1. Adobe Creative Suite – This certification is needed even for entry-level remote graphic design jobs. Adobe offers this certification to showcase the proficiency of the candidate.
2. Animation – Graphic designers who have a degree in animation have more marketable skills, and they can get lots of opportunities in the gaming sector and IT companies. Since graphic designing is going to be movement based in upcoming years, getting a degree or certification in animation can be a good option.
3. Adobe Illustrator – This certification can be quite helpful for budding graphic designers as well as for pro designers. This certification will enable you to capture your creative vision with different shapes, colors, effects, and typography.
4. Canva – Getting a certification in Canva can help you to create a large variety of engaging content quickly and effectively.
5. Photoshop – Adobe Photoshop is one of the most critical tools for all types of graphic designers. Certification in Photoshop will help you in image editing, retouching, creating image composition, and website mockups.

How to build a great graphic design portfolio?

To attain professional success in remote graphic design jobs, having a solid portfolio is a must. It stands as a visual representation of your skills and accomplishments. 

1. Include only your best work

Every work of yours that goes into the graphic design portfolio must reflect best on your capabilities. This is why including only your best work can give potential employers a sense of what you can offer to them. If you are a beginner in graphic designing, your portfolio might be short.

However, even one strong page can create a very good impression of you in the eyes of the recruiters. Ensure that you add the variety of work you have done so that they can see your potential and expanded abilities. You can include good work that you have created for personal use as well. Labeling the designs as paid and self-initiated is a professional way of doing do.

2. Avoid questionable work

You should leave out all the work that you are unhappy with. Every graphic designer sometimes fails in producing great content. You can improvise on that but ensure that your portfolio does not see any of your downfalls. You might really want to add those designs and explain why they did not get accepted by clients.

Doing so will only result in a negative impression about you in your recruitment process. Also, do not add several samples of the same style of work. You can choose the best five for your portfolio.

3. Choose a good formatting website

It is essential for your portfolio to have a good format. Research the websites that seem convenient for you to create a profile and upload your work. Ensure that your chosen website accommodates highly visual content in good quality and lets you design your portfolio aesthetically.

Choose the templates that you find best suited for your samples. You can even create mini-portfolios for each style of work that you have created so that when they are compiled, it becomes easy for the employer to identify all your skills.

4. Tell a story through your portfolio

To make your portfolio easy to navigate, you could give it a narrative arc. Your work could have a beginning, middle, and end. You can place the strongest of your work in the beginning and end. This will give a good impression of your skills and ensure that potential employers are left thinking of your best work even after they close your portfolio.

Keeping your captions short is advisable because those who will be hiring you would not have the time to read a lot of text. However, ensure that your contact information is clearly mentioned.

5. Include your social media handles

In your portfolio, you can include your social media handles. It would give recruiters an idea about your online presence as a graphic designer. Social media handles are very effective platforms for building your brand.

You could retweet a web poster designed by you for an event, or show your Instagram feed. Choosing to include your social media handles also lets the employer get a sense of who you are as a person. It is important to keep your feeds professional.

6. Update content regularly

Portfolios are not stagnant. They must be growing constantly. You must update your portfolios with newly created content regularly. As you gain more experience, the work done will be better.

After building your portfolio, you can assess whether or not it looks fresh and carefully curated. When you feel confident with the final result, you can submit it to your potential employers.

Tip: To gain good work experience, you can start freelancing before searching for full-time jobs.

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Top 10 tools needed for remote graphic design jobs

Every graphic designer needs certain types of tools that they can’t live without. Following are some of the top 10 tools needed for remote graphic design jobs.

1. Notebook – No creative person can think about showcasing their creativity without having a netbook in front of them.
2. Creative software – Creative software like adobe, sketch, and canvas is a must on your computer if you want to get remote freelance graphic design jobs.
3. HD monitor – A simple monitor won’t work for a good graphic designer. A large HD monitor is more like a need rather than a luxury for most graphic designers.
4. Wacom tools – No tool can suffice if a remote designer does not have the line of digital assets by Wacom. This includes a list of digital tablets, styluses, and software that are as per the industry standard.
5. External Hard Drive – Every graphic designer needs to have lots of storage space, and thus, an external hard drive is extremely important for most designers
6. Ergonomic chair – You may have to sit for longer if you get remote jobs graphic design. Thus, you will need an ergonomic chair that can help you to create your cozy and creative corner in your home.
7. Headphones – Headphones are not specific to graphic designers, but they are important if you are working on a gaming design or an animation design.
8. Behance – Behance is a social media platform that helps designers to showcase their skills and gain inspiration from other designers.
9. Cloud storage – To help you get rid of any type of unforeseen circumstances in which you may lose all your designs and samples, using cloud storage can be the best option.
10. Antivirus protection – Your computer system needs the best antivirus protection so that you can work on the internet without facing any inconvenience.

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Top 25 dream companies for remote graphic design jobs

Are you sure about finding freelance graphic design jobs remote? If yes, this list of top 25 companies should be your best place to start your job hunt for online designing jobs. Check this list of top 25 dream companies for remote graphic design jobs,

Name of the company	About the company
Pentagram	This is the world’s largest independently-owned design studio.
Landor	Landor is the world’s most famous brand consulting firm.
Wolff Olins	This is a brand consulting agency
Meta Designs	Famous design firm in the world located in San Francisco.
Happy Cog	This is a web designing company
The Chase	Known for innovative corporate branding
Pearlfisher	The company is known for creating designs for life.
Charlie Smith Design	Offers services like packaging design and digital designing services.
Mucho	This company is involved in the brand management of brands like Apple, BMW, and GAP.
Saffron Brand consultant	They transform brands with the clarity of rigorous thinking and by using bold ideas.
Anagrama	This is a self-proclaimed brand intelligence group.
Studio Dumbar	They have created meaningful brands from strategy to reality.
Fireart Studio	This is a Warsaw-based company that has clients ranging from startups to big brands.
Spin	Spin is all about bringing elegant and clean ideas in terms of design.
House Industries	This is one of the most famous typography companies in the world.
SocioDesign	They are known for their minimal and reductive style of design.
Triboro	They create creative, colorful, and hip designs with a small team.
Only	This is a strategy and design consultancy.
Frog	Frog is the only design company that advances human experience through different types of designs.
Made by Alphabet	They are a team of youthful designers who create playful designs.
DIA	This company specializes in a flexible designing approach.
Radish Lab	This is a graphic designing company that has made a name for itself by working on different social change projects.
Hey	Hey is a company that focuses on geometry, color, and direct typography through brand identity design.
Franklyn	Franklyn is known as the most creative graphic design studio.
Design	This graphic designing studio has achieved numerous awards and recognitions for its amazing design capability.

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Remote graphic design jobs checklist

To help you land the most desirable graphic design jobs remote, we have here a remote graphic design job checklist. 

1. Learn the perspective of your employer

To apply to graphic design remote jobs, you need to present yourself in the best possible manner to an employer. You must also give employers what they are expecting. This aspect is particularly relevant to graphic design remote jobs where the needs of your employer will be very different from any other regular organization.

The questions you will need to ask yourself are – What does my potential employer expect from me as a remote graphic designer? What is the particular problem that they want to be solved? How can I positively contribute to that position?

2. Understand and work with the barriers of remote graphic design jobs

Applying for remote freelance graphic design jobs requires you to bring more skills to the table. The most problematic aspects of work from home graphic design jobs are,

• Communication – It is relatively easy to miss out on things when you cannot communicate with co-workers in person. Especially for remote freelance graphic design jobs where creativity is involved, direct communication can greatly delay the process of bringing approved content out.
• Discipline – While doing online graphic design jobs, there is no one to monitor you. It becomes easy to take the luxury of time and flexible work hours for granted.

These are the problems that the employers of most work from home graphic design jobs face. You will have to convey to your employers that you can promise effective communication and good time management. 

Tip: Keep sharing your work online and build networks to increase your credibility as a graphic designer.

Now that you have the foundational information on applying for remote freelance graphic design jobs, you can begin your search. 

Tip: Get certifications in graphic designing to give yourself more credibility.

How to find remote graphic design jobs?

Before you wonder how to find graphic design jobs, it is important to note that remote graphic design jobs require an approach that is different from that of office spaces. Your pitch, presentation, and positioning have to connect with the specific remote job opportunity. Moreover, if you wish to get top graphic design jobs remote, understanding the dynamics of the remote working life is crucial.

Best websites for remote graphic design jobs

We have compiled for you a list of the best websites for remote graphic design jobs. The criteria used to select these sites are,

• Provision of high quality remote graphic design jobs 
• Acceptance of freelancers from around the world 
• Flexibility in work hours 

The best websites for remote graphic design jobs are,

1. FlexJobs – One of the best sites for remote work is FlexJobs. There are over 50 categories of remote work on this site. It provides a good quantity of quality remote graphic design jobs every day. This means that there is always an opportunity for you to use your skills. There is a fee for a membership that is to be paid every month. However, the fee is very affordable and can be earned back with a job.

2. unremot.com: This is one of the most technologically advanced remote collaboration platform for remote graphic design jobs. One can find freelance/remote work from across the recruiters around the world, while also collaborating with them over video-based virtual rooms and chats.

3. SolidGigs – SolidGigs efficiently curates a list of freelance jobs on a daily basis. The SolidGigs team goes through several dozens of freelance job boards every weekday and displays the top 1% of the jobs on their website’s freelance job stream.

The category of graphic designing is one of the most active categories on SolidGigs. A great feature of this site is that it has a growing library of fantastic resources like courses, scripts, and interviews that can actually help you get the remote graphic design jobs that you desire.

4. Remote – Remote specifically displays online jobs that are fully flexible with location. Graphic designers can find remote jobs from several well-known companies like Amazon and InVision through this website. Remote was co-founded by Sara Sutton, the founder of FlexJobs. You do not have to pay any fee to join this website.

5. Freeeup – A new marketplace for freelancers, Freeeup has the goal of establishing connections for the client with the top 1% of freelancers. This means that you will have to sign up on Freeeup and wait for clients. You will have to fill up an interview-like 5-step questionnaire. Most importantly, this process means that the jobs that you will land will have an above-average pay scale.

6. Hired – Hired is a site with a very unique feature. Instead of making you apply to a client, this website makes the client application to hire you. You can also conceal your profile and other information from employers, both previous and current if you want to work on your own business after working hours.

7. Toptal – A premium freelance job website, Toptal is famed for its practice of pre-vetting freelancers so that they provide a worthy experience to clients. All the mentions on this site pay above-average rates to graphic designers.

Toptal has a very attractive client pool history. Hewlett Packer, Pfizer, Airbnb, and many other major companies use Toptal to hire remote workers. Pass the rigorous interview to sign up on Toptal and land the job you like.

8. Virtual Vocations – Founded by Laura Spawn and Adam Stevenson, Virtual Vocations is a great website to search for remote graphic design jobs. This website has been running since 2007 and has a vast and vibrant list of online graphic design jobs that get updated regularly. Although you are required to pay to be a member of Virtual Vocations, the kind of jobs on the list are sure to make the fee seem worthy.

9. We Work Remotely – One of the biggest communities on the web to discover remote jobs, We Work Remotely regularly updates its list of graphic design remote jobs. Signing up on this site would give you the benefit of receiving timely alerts on your email with filters.

This works best if you cannot find the time and memory to check the site often. Although a majority of the job positions on this site lean towards UX design, product design, and other related fields of technology, several great graphic design positions are also available.

10. Remotely Awesome Jobs – Mike Desjardins, a remote worker, started Remotely Awesome Jobs. This website displays Mike’s 10 favorite remote job boards every day. These boards have a great variety of remote graphic design jobs. One of the major advantages of the site is that you do not have to sign up for membership.

You can access the frequently updated feed whenever you want. However, the drawback of Remotely Awesome Jobs is that 10 is a very small number of jobs to get displayed. You could use this site as a starting point before venturing into the others.

11. Dribbble Jobs – Dribbble Jobs is a website that was born from a company that has been catering to designers for almost a decade. This has always been a great platform for graphic designers to showcase their work for clients and other designers. The job board on Dribbble lets you find great remote jobs in graphic designing from all over the world. You can choose whether you wish to work in a contract, part-time, or full-time basis.

12. Authentic Jobs – Authentic Jobs does live up to its name. It is known for providing authentic remote jobs to people from across the globe. Founded by Cameron Moll, this site has many full-time job positions. There are also several fascinating part-time and contract positions for side hustlers.

13. Working Nomads – Most of the job positions that get displayed on Working Nomads are full-time positions. The graphic design category of this website is enormous. It also posts part-time and contract positions for graphic designing from time to time. You can find them through the “Search” option.

As the website was founded by a few nomadic workers who traveled from city to city and worked anywhere in the world, the list of remote graphic design job positions mentioned on it are of great quality.

14. Remote OK – A quality site for finding every kind of remote job, including remote graphic design jobs, Remote OK provides a board of good companies for you to apply to. The list gets updated frequently.

15. Freelance Graphic Design Jobs from Home – Freelance Graphic Design Jobs from Home is not a website. It is a Facebook group. Although it is not a great source of remote graphic design jobs, several decent job positions do get shared here. You must have a Facebook account to be a part of this group. To know immediately when a job position is available, you can adjust your Facebook alert settings and be the first to know of it.

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Top resume elements of remote graphic design jobs

There are certain elements that you can’t miss to include in a work of remotely graphic design jobs. So, include these top resume elements of remote graphic design jobs to get the perfect opportunity.

• Don’t miss to include a separate section that can show your complete profile as a graphic designer.
• Try to include a separate box that may include your top achievements as a graphic designer.
• It is very important for people who are looking for remote web design jobs to add their key skills and capabilities to their resume.
• You can also include a separate section to showcase your technical proficiency.

Remote graphic design jobs pay structures

Most candidates who are looking for offsite graphic design jobs get worried about remote graphic design jobs to pay structures. But, the truth is you don’t need to get worried as graphic designers get good salary packages as per their skills and experience. People who get graphic design jobs remote and who are working as beginners earn an average compensation of $43,519 per year.

Candidates with 5-9 years of experience get a salary package of $49,619 per year. An experienced graphic designer with more than 10-years of experience can earn up to $50,884 per year. On average, employees have an average package of $52,639 if they have more than 20 years of experience.

Entry level remote graphic design jobs

If you have just started your career, you can get positions like Junior graphic designer, instructional designer, and mobile graphic designer. Entry-level part-time design jobs can help you get average compensation of $40,595 each year. You will need basic skills of Canva, Photoshop, and different Adobe tools to start working as a junior or entry-level graphic designer.

Do your research, build a portfolio, and start searching for the best remote graphic design jobs now!

Can you work remotely as a graphic designer?

Yes, a graphic designer can get different positions if he/she wants to work remotely from the comfort of their home. They can work remotely by applying to a design agency, or they can start working by getting different freelance projects. As per a recent survey, the graphic designing industry is growing at a rate of 2.7%, and it is a $14.8 billion industry. Thus, you can get numerous opportunities if you want to work remotely.

Is graphic design a dying career?

No, graphic designing is not a dying career, especially in the present time of the digital revolution. In fact, 67% of businesses feel that the importance of graphic designing for businesses will grow exponentially in the coming five years.

What are the highest paying graphic design jobs?

The positions of creative service manager and Art director are the highest paying graphic designer jobs. They earn an average income of $86,250 for these positions. Some of the other high paying positions include creative director and UX director and designer.

What jobs can you get with a graphic design qualification?

You can work in different industries and sectors with a graphic design qualification. You can get employed in an ad agency, design studio, and even a web designing firm. You can get positions like senior graphic designer, UI & UX designer, web designer, animation designer, and creative designer.

Do graphic designers get paid well?

Yes, all graphic designers get paid well. The average compensation for an entry-level graphic designer is $40,595 each year. If you have the right skills and creativity, you will be paid well in all types of graphic designing jobs.

Is graphic design a good side hustle?

Yes, if you are looking for a side hustle opportunity, graphic designing can offer you multiple opportunities. You will get the opportunity to be creative even if you want to work remotely. Thus, for people who are looking for a part-time job, graphic design can offer multiple opportunities.

Can I work from home as a graphic designer?

Yes, you can work from home as a graphic designer.

Where can I find remote graphic design jobs?

Remote graphic design jobs can be found on sites like FlexJobs and unremot.com.

How do graphic designers work remotely?

Graphic designers can work remotely either by applying to a design agency or by starting a freelance business.

How do I get into graphic design with no experience?

You can get into graphic design by taking courses, investing in design tools, mastering the software, and understanding the business of design.

Are you a data analyst who does not want to travel to work every day? If yes, then this is the perfect article for you. We have for you a complete guide on remote data analyst jobs.

Remote data analysts use specific data obtained from a company to construct maps and data presentations and apply different analytical methods to arrive at potential outcomes. They also interpret data in concise terms that can be readily interpreted by their clients and present the findings for use in strategic decision-making.

Accuracy, analytical thinking, and timeliness are just some of the important skills that any data analyst needs; so if these skills are right up your alley, you may want to start applying for those positions!

Read: Managing Remote Teams: 13 tips that will come handy

Market opportunity for remote data analyst jobs

Data analytics is required in almost all industries as it helps companies make sense of their data. It helps in transforming raw data, organizing it, and drawing conclusions based on the data to draw predictions.

Data Analytics has become a ubiquitous role across the industry due to the increasing amount of data. Data analyst is forecasted to be one of the most sought-after jobs in the year 2022 calling for almost 2.7 million job postings. The talent gap makes data analysis a promising job market for young professionals. 

To get a remote analyst job one must have good analytical skills and be comfortable with mathematics and statistics. Good knowledge of SQL and Excel is a mandatory requirement for employers. The World Economic Forum has predicted that close to 85% of companies will adopt big data and analytics technologies.

WEF has also found that 96% of the companies have plans or likely to have plans to hire permanent employees for data analyst positions with relevant skills and knowledge to fill the analytics related roles. This will also lead to rising in work from home data analyst jobs, remote jobs data analysts can do without being location dependent to keep up with the advancing times.

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Job titles and career paths under remote data analyst jobs 

Data Analyst is a highly rewarding career that offers several career paths to choose from based on your interest and preference. We have mentioned here job titles and career paths under remote data analyst jobs that you can consider,

1. Entry level data analyst roles

If you are willing to start your career in the field of data analytics but have no experience yet, there are several entry-level roles available depending on what career path you choose. Get started as a junior data scientist, junior data engineer, data analyst, BI developer as an entry-level professional.

2. Mid level data analyst roles

Once you gain experience as a data analyst and consider yourself proficient with the basic tasks and tools used in data analysis, look forward to advancing in your career. Getting a certification is a good option to get better roles and salaries. A mid-level data analyst can work as a Senior BI, Senior Data Engineer, Senior Data Analyst, Senior Data Scientist, etc.

3. High level data analyst roles

You have spent years of learning and honing your skills in the field of data analysis and finally, feel ready to take up higher roles. An advanced management certification or a master’s degree in the field of analytics, or big data would help in getting you high-level data analyst roles.

Some of the job titles one can aim for while moving up the ladder are Lead data scientist, Director, VP, Product Manager, Lead data analyst, Lead data engineer, HOD, Team Lead, etc.

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Responsibilities of remote data analyst jobs

Remote analyst jobs require searching for data and offering reports and visualizations to clarify what information the data hides. If someone helps people around the organization understand specific questions with charts, the position of the data analyst (or business analyst) is filled out.

Remote data analysts are in some ways similar to junior data scientists, or a remote data analyst job could be said to be the first step on the road to a typical remote data science job. A remote market analyst is similar to work from home data analyst, and is more concerned with the market consequences of the data and the subsequent behavior.

For example, will the firm need to spend more in Project X or Project Y? Data analysts would use the work of the data science team to convey a solution.

The opportunities for remote data analyst jobs are

• Full-time – If you choose full-time remote data analyst jobs, you will be expected to dedicate every working day to one company only.
• Part-time – If you choose part-time remote data analyst jobs, you will be obligated to work for only a few hours. You can be a freelance data analyst with this choice.  
• Contracts – In contract remote data analyst jobs, you will have to serve a company for a specific time duration as mentioned in the contract.

Tip: Work continuously on the analytical tools preferred by a company of your choice before applying for a remote data analyst job there.

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Qualification needed for remote data analyst jobs

We are listing down the qualifications needed for remote data analyst jobs in a 5 step guide below,

1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

Get a bachelor’s degree in the field of finance, statistics, information technology, computer science, etc. Keep focused on project management or database management subjects during these courses. Few universities that offer bachelor’s degrees in analytics are Florida International University, Iowa State University, Virginia Tech, etc. 

2. Learn basic data analysis

Take an online course, or get yourself an internship to learn the basics of data analysis. The chances of getting a remote analyst job are low for inexperienced professionals. You can also take up freelancing work to gain some knowledge in the field of data analytics.

3. Go for Certification courses

To further enhance your skills, expertise, and knowledge in the field of data analysis, consider enrolling yourself in a certification program. It will help you get an edge while applying for a role as an analyst. Also, look for data analyst jobs remote work requirements to work from home.

4. Get an entry-level data analyst job

After you have gained some experience and a basic understanding of data analysis get yourself an entry-level job or work as a junior data analyst. A positive mindset, quick problem-solving skills, and critical thinking are few skills that employers look for while hiring as a data analyst.

5. Consider a master’s degree

After six months to one year, if you are proficient in your work, it is time to move up the ladder. Take up an advanced certification course or go for a master’s degree in data analytics, big data management, or data sciences.

Many universities partner with companies to help you get a master’s degree while working. George Washington University, Virginia Tech, University of Delaware are some good universities that offer master’s courses in analytics.

To summarise, below is a list of requirements that you will have to fulfill certain remote data analyst job requirements before applying to companies.

1. A bachelor’s degree in computer science from an accredited university or college
2. Experience as a data analyst, or a similar job position
3. Ability to collaborate with other parties to determine possible risks
4. Ability to analyze existing databases and tools, and provide recommendations for software solutions
5. Capacity to translate market needs into words that are non-technical and lay
6. High level experience in large scale database management methodologies and processes
7. Established expertise in managing big data sets and relational databases
8. Knowledge of addressing and metadata standards
9. Great communication skills, both written and verbal
10. Quiet workspace 
11. Good internet connection 
12. Efficient work schedule

Also read: 34 Best Remote work communities on Reddit, Slack, Facebook

Remote data analyst job skills

Some of the most important remote data analyst job skills are,

1. Analytical skills

To do well in data analysis, you will need a general analytical mindset. Remote data jobs require problem-solving. You will need to be skillful in facing certain problems and applying logic methodically to solve them.

2. Mathematical skills

It can get unwieldy when the data becomes big. The data you deal with will need to be analyzed and organized using mathematics. The level of mathematical skills depends on the details of your job position and its responsibilities. Yet, it is fair to expect that the average data analyst will be well-versed with statistics, linear algebra, and calculus.

3. Statistical skills

You will need statistical skills to play with the results. Data allows you to make use of it to slice and dice, and gain the information you need to draw logical conclusions. You need to learn statistics to derive information on larger populations from smaller data sets. This is the basic law of data analysis.

4. Data interpretation skills

Data analysis all about the process of transforming numbers into insights. A data analyst in the corporate world should concentrate on analyzing vast data sets and linking them to activities that can generate business impact.

5. Data visualization skills

The final review of the data is only half the fight. You will need to persuade others to believe and follow your ideas to achieve an effect. People are visual beings. For us, processing information by analyzing a thoughtfully created chart or graph is usually much simpler than looking at a spreadsheet.

6. Algorithmic skills

An algorithm is a well-defined series of steps for solving a particular problem. Data analysts use algorithms to guide computers to obey a set of rules or patterns. Understanding how computers can be used to do the job is important for processing and analyzing data sets that are too big for the human mind to handle.

7. Machine learning skills

Machine learning is the set of algorithms used to make predictions based on a collection of known information. It helps Amazon recommend items that are focused on the history of your purchase without any human intervention. This collection of algorithms will use the power of computers to discover knowledge for you. To manage large data sets, you would need to use computers to expand your thoughts.

8. Deep learning skills

Deep learning usually refers to the collection of machine learning algorithms that expand a simple neural network to higher complexity levels, allowing them to operate on much larger data sets and perform far more operations than standard models. Typically, the data becomes this big with the processing of images and signals.

9. Natural Language Processing (NLP) skills

Natural Language Processing (NLP) utilizes computer science, linguistics, and machine learning techniques to interpret the human language, usually as unstructured text. Popular NLP applications include: text classification (for example, is this news story false or real?), sentiment analysis (for example, how much do consumers like my product?) and topic modeling (for example, what are some popular themes that people speak about?).

10. Business skills

Data means nothing if it is not contextual. Most businesses rely on their data analysts not only to mine data sets, but also to communicate their findings to different stakeholders and to bring forward suggestions that can be implemented. Communication is an ability that is often underestimated but can make or break a project.

Not only do the best data analysts have the ability to work with massive, complex data sets but they also appreciate the intricacies of the enterprise or company for which they work. Having general business knowledge enables them to ask the right questions, and come up with insightful solutions and suggestions that are actually feasible despite any constraints that the company may impose.

11. Communication skills

As a remote data analyst, you will need to have in-depth knowledge of your organization and also understand the wider market in which it works so that you can interpret the insights effectively. Once your interpretation is complete, you will have to be able to convince your organization and other parties involved to accept and approve your solutions and suggestions. Communication skills are key to getting your analysis across and creating a difference for your organization.

Also Read: 14 Best Productivity Tips to Achieve More At Work & Life

Certifications to get remote data analyst jobs 

Data Analytics is a popular field required to measure the success of companies by analyzing their data. Data and big analytics have become the lifeline of several businesses. Data analyst jobs work from home has become the most sought after role in the field of technology. There is a skill gap between the number of positions available and skilled professionals.

If you are interested in remote analyst jobs, a certification program will help you get into the entry-level roles. A certification course helps you gain the expertise and knowledge required to grow in the field of data analytics and big data. There are several certification programs that you can opt for to gain skills and experience and get a higher salary in the data analytics field. We have listed down the ten most popular programs for remote analytics job below,

1. Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Data Management and Analytics
2. Cloudera Certified Associate (CCA) Data Analyst
3. Certified Analytics Professional
4. SAS Certified Data Scientist Using SAS 9
5. EMC Proven Professional Data Science Associate
6. Microsoft Certified Data Analyst Associate
7. Microsoft Certified Azure Data Scientist Associate
8. Associate Certified Analytics Professional
9. SAS Certified Advanced Analytics Professional Using SAS 9
10. Amazon Web Services Big Data Speciality Certification

Also Read: How to work from home successfully?

Perks of data analyst remote jobs

The below is a summary of perks of being into remote data analyst jobs,

1. Flexibility

In a job that can strain the eyes and exhaust the brain, a flexible schedule would let you take breaks when your body needs them. Additionally, a flexible schedule allows more flexibility for non-work related tasks, meaning you would not forget to feed your cats or frequently clean your house.

Working at your own speed will lead to a greater understanding of the job you are doing and a lower risk of professional burnout. Remote finance analyst jobs with a flexible schedule will give you the freedom to work in a manner most convenient to you.

Co-working rooms, coffee shops, the local park or your home office can be picked for your work. Wherever you determine that you are most successful is where your remote finance analyst jobs can be done.

2. Convenience for ambiverts

Ambiversion is a concept not so commonly recognized as extroversion or introversion. Remote business analyst jobs may be a dream occupation for ambiverts, who can cope with moving from introverted to extroverted personalities.

The introverted side would appreciate that working with colleagues remotely restricts interactions and helps you to work at your own pace, without waiting for others. Remote working also makes for a more comfortable atmosphere without noise, disturbances, and unnecessary experiences that stem from anxiety.

Although this may restrict the practice of certain social skills, there is always the possibility of keeping in touch through video calls. You will also be called in remote work to actually show the analyzed data, which is where the extroverted aspect of you comes into play. A good dose of daily contact is a perfect refresher for social situations.

The best thing is that you can analyze your data in isolation and develop your presentation skills so that you can deliver your results without a delay on the day of submission of data analysis.

3. Better productivity

Considering that you are a self-motivated person who needs little or no guidance, you will find that when working remote business analyst jobs, the quality and quantity of your work increase. With fewer distractions and the comfort of working in your own office, you may find extra motivation and become more successful in getting things done.

Sometimes, the breaks you take will be your driving power, resting you for a fraction of time. They can be a big factor in enhancing the quality of your work in an area like data analytics, which demands the utmost attention and concentration.

4. Independence

When you are a work from home data analyst, you are basically your own boss when it comes to performance development methodology. You need not wait for someone else’s data or work needlessly for systems that only slow you down.

When remotely working on data you will sharpen your decision-making skills and select the most appropriate analytical techniques and presentation approaches to convey your findings.

You can also practice and improve your self-disciplinary skills and cultivate appropriate work habits without someone looking over your shoulder all the time. With this advantage, you can even be a freelance data analyst.

5. Broad application of data analytics

People usually point out the difficulty of blurring the line between home and workplace while operating remotely. Yet from a different viewpoint, it is likely that the skills you learn at work can be the same skills that can support you in life.

Working in data analytics can sharpen your eyes to become more accurate and fine-tune your focusing abilities. You can also be motivated to make informed decisions by using your data analysis skills, like almost knowing the exact outcomes you should expect from a situation and planning accordingly.

Keeping these five benefits in mind, it is clear that remote data jobs provide versatility and freedom that will boost the work-life balance that everyone yearns for. They will also help you avoid long and tiring commutes, droning meetings, and much more.

Tip: Consistently sharpen your statistical and technical expertise to gain more success.

Suggested read: Synchronous & Asynchronous Communication For Remote Work

Top 10 tools needed for remote data analyst jobs

Here is a list of the top 10 tools needed for a remote data analyst job,

1. R-Programming/ R-Studio – R is the leading data analytics tool used for statistical analysis and data science. RStudio is the most widely used integrated development environment. 

2. PYTHON – Python is an extremely convenient programming language compared to others. It is used for data crawling, cleaning, modeling, and constructing an analysis algorithm in data analysis.

3. SAS – SAS is a programming language used for data manipulation. It is easily accessible, manageable, and used for data analysis from any source.

4. TALEND – Talend is a tool used by data analysts who focus more on the technical part of data management. It is a Java-based ETL tool and data integration platform used by experts.  

5. Apache Spark – Unified Data Analytics Engines like Apache Spark support big scale data-processing with the help of an extensive ecosystem consisting of Spark SQL, streaming, machine learning, graph computation, Python APIs, etc.

6. Excel – Spreadsheet applications are one of the most conventional forms of data analysis tools. Excel can be used in data analysis for quick analysis of data where complex computation is not required. 

7. Splunk – Splunk is a data analysis tool that helps in searching and analyzing machine-generated data. Users can pull all kinds of data, perform analysis on it, and present it in several formats.

8. Rapidminer – Rapidminer is one of the top data analysis software used for remote analytics jobs. The tool is powerful enough to generate analysis based on real-life data transformation settings. 

9. Highcharts – Highcharts is a data visualization tool and platform. It is a multiplatform-library that helps developers in adding interactive charts into web and mobile projects.

10. Tableau Public – Tableau Public is free software that will connect any data source to real-time updates presenting on the web which can further be shared on social media or with a client.

Good Read: Time Blocking: All you need to know about this powerful technique

Top 25 dream companies for remote data analyst jobs

Here are the top 25 dream companies for remote data analyst jobs,

1. Microsoft is an American Multinational Technology Company. It has several part-time remote data analyst jobs to offer.
2. Exzac provides professional consulting services and risk management. It is one of the major data analyst remote jobs providers.
3. Hallmark Global Technologies is a world-renowned end-to-end IT services company.
4. Nicholis State University is a public university in Thibodaux, Louisiana. It offers several roles in the field of data analysis.
5. Pure Storage found in 2009, develops all-flash data storage hardware and software products. 
6. Ulab Systems is developing groundbreaking technology for digital dental treatment planning.
7. Sigma Data Systems is known to provide its expertise in the world of Big data. It helps clients by understanding the problem and providing a solution using several tools and frameworks.
8. SPEC INDIA is a company with 30+ years of established experience.
9. MobiDev has 11 years of experience in providing end-to-end delivery from consulting to design to product support.
10. Light IT is a data science company that provides software solutions of all kinds.
11. XenonStack is an enterprise data and AI platform development and solutions company for Hybrid, Multi-cloud environments.
12. HQSoftware is a business software development company with offices in Europe and the USA.
13. Prolifics is a global digital transformation company with expertise in data and analytics.
14. Xplenty offers solutions for marketing sales, customer support, and developers in several industries like retail, hospitality, advertising, etc.
15. SG Analytics is one of the leading companies working in the field of data research and analysis around the world.
16. Sumatosoft provides expertise in the field of data analysis and the Internet of Things.
17. Sciencesoft is based in the U.S. It is an IT consulting and Data Analytics company.
18. Pragmatic Works has over 25 years of experience and has an official partnership with Microsoft.
19. Beyond the Arc provides valuable insights into Data Analysis, Data Management, and Content Marketing.
20. PSL Corp has an industry hold in the fields of Advertising, IT, Cloud computing, etc.
21. Trianz is an American based company known for Digital Transformations.
22. Beyond Key Systems is a software development and IT consulting company that offers data analyst remote jobs.
23. Geomotiv is a software development company with specialists in a wide range of technologies.
24. Accubits is a global solutions provider that applies Artificial Intelligence and blockchain technologies.
25. HoC Solutions is a U.S. based blockchain development company.

Read: 14 Best Remote Job Sites: Start your job hunt at the right place!

Top job boards to find remote data analyst jobs

Now that you have all the skills and a great resume, you must be wondering how to get a data analyst job remote. Online job boards are the best places to find remote data analyst jobs.

Tip: Develop good connections on LinkedIn for better job prospects.

1. Working Nomads – Founded by a couple of nomadic workers who traveled from city to city, Working Nomads provides a great list of authentic and high-quality remote jobs. Almost all of the job listings on Working Nomads are full-time positions. The category of remote data analyst jobs is very appealing. From time to time, part-time and contract positions also get listed on this website.

2. unremot.com: This is one of the most technologically advanced remote collaboration platform for remote data analyst jobs. One can find freelance/remote work from across the recruiters around the world, while also collaborating with them over video-based virtual rooms and chats.

3. Remote OK – Remote OK is an online job board of great quality where you can find a range of remote jobs, including remote data analyst jobs. It has an impressive and regularly updated list of job opportunities for remote data analysis.

4. FlexJob – Founded by Sara Sutton, FlexJobs offers over 50 categories of remote work. Many reputed companies post openings for remote data analyst jobs on this job board. You can gain access to these job listings with the payment of a small monthly membership fee.

5. Remote – Remote dot co was co-founded by Sara Sutton. It is a great website to find remote data analyst jobs. Several well-established companies are tied up with this job board. The job listings get updated regularly so you can always apply for a remote data analyst job. There is no membership fee to discover jobs on Remote.

6. Simply Hired – Simply Hired is an online platform that offers very appealing opportunities for those who seek remote data analyst jobs. This job board also regularly updates its list of job openings.

You can now apply for the best remote data analyst jobs and work from the convenience of your home!

Important resume elements for remote data analyst jobs

Your resume is what will speak for you when you apply to remote data analyst jobs,

1. Personal details including name, age, sex, nationality, and contact information. 
2. A professional summary that highlights your experience, skills, and candidacy. Your most definitive characteristics must be mentioned in two to four lines. 
3. List out your objectives so that the recruiter understands what you expect to gain from his or her organization and what your contribution will be. 
4. Highlight the skills you possess which are relevant to remote data analyst jobs.
5. Educational qualifications must be mentioned. 
6. Any additional certifications or training must be included. 
7. Mention all of your data analyst experiences along with their assigned responsibilities.
8. Write about your accomplishments relevant to data analysis.  
9. Mention your interests. 
10. Give valid references.

Read: Best resume software | Give the finest first impression

Remote data analyst jobs pay structures

An entry-level remote data analyst is not paid much when compared to average US income but it is still pretty good. An entry-level data analyst earns around $34,500 annually which keeping in mind the complexity of the job is decent.

Once you have gained some experience and got promoted to the role of a junior data analyst, the pay gets significantly better. According to Glassdoor, a junior analyst gets a salary close to $70,000 per year. Making the number higher than the average salary.

With more experience, as you progress to be a senior data analyst, you can earn a bit under $107,000. Data Analyst can be a high paying and rewarding job for someone skilled and experienced. At a higher level, it gets easier to find data analyst jobs from home.

Entry level remote data analyst jobs 

A data analyst needs to have a bachelor’s degree in either finance, economics, statistics, mathematics, etc. An entry-level data analyst can earn anywhere between $40,585 – $78,832. To work efficiently as a data analyst one must be proficient in any one of the programming languages.

High decision-making skills, comfortable in Microsoft excel, excellent communication skills are some of the desired attributes to become a data analyst. A data analyst can get started in the industry as a junior data analyst and move further ahead as the experience increases.

If you are entering the field of data analysis without any prior experience, consider taking an online course and certification. After successful completion, look for an internship or some freelance work before applying for a high profile data analyst job.

What is the career path for a data analyst? 

There are several roles a data analyst can hold during their career span. A data analyst with no experience can get started as a business analyst or a junior data analyst with a basic certification course in data analysis.

After one to three years of experience, one can get promoted as a data analyst. After two to three years in the field, you can progress to be a senior data analyst, a data analytics consultant, or a data scientist.

Can a data analyst work remotely?

If the question “ can a data analyst work remotely” has crossed your mind then the good news is yes, it is completely possible to be location independent while working as a data analyst as they have to work individually on a personal system.

Remote data analyst is required to analyze and examine data for drawing predictions for their clients. Part-time remote data analyst jobs are also available for people who do not wish to work full-time.

What are the top 3 skills for data analyst?

1. Structured Query Language, SQL is the most important skill that a data analyst should know. SQL is a necessary tool required to manage and store data and a data analyst should be familiar with SQL query to analyze and manage large databases.
2. Critical Thinking Ability helps search for a solution for a database query. It also helps in understanding what data to collect and how to process it.
3. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel is required for a quick analysis. Excel is not suitable for handling large data but advanced Excel methods like Macros and VBA are still widely used.

Is data analyst a hard job?

Data analyst is not a hard job. You have to be consistent in your learning and slowly and gradually you will start getting it. If you love numbers and solving problems, the role of a data analyst can be fun and extremely challenging. Familiarity with a programming language will make it easy for you to be a data analyst.

Is data analyst a stressful job?

Data Analyst requires to sot through a huge number of data and solve complex problems using data analytics techniques. It requires you to work independently work for long hours and can be stressful if you do not find it interesting. For someone who loves working with numbers and finding solutions to complex problems, being a data analyst can be fun and adventurous.

Can data scientists work from home?

Data Scientists can work from anywhere remotely as it majorly consists of analyzing data, crunching numbers, coding, presenting insights, and creating prediction models based on it. Data Analyst work from home option is not new to the industry as more and more professionals are looking to work remotely. Data Analyst works remotely as their work is independent and can be done on an individual system.

Are remote data analysts in demand?

Yes, the changing times and the fast-paced digital world have raised the demand for remote data analysts.

What does a remote data analyst do?

A remote data analyst helps companies make better decisions through analysis of data like sales figures, transportation costs, and market research from a remote location. Remote data analysis also involves translating numbers into simple English.

What are the remote data analyst skills?

Remote data analyst skills include – mathematical, analytical, problem-solving, and programming skills, to name a few.

How do I get a remote data analyst job?

You can get a remote data analyst job through online job boards like unremot.com, Glass Door, and Indeed.

Here’s a comprehensive article explaining how to measure productivity, the formula involved, various parameters that play a role, and tips on how work output can be boosted?

How to measure productivity?

There are several variables, including the quality of your equipment, material flow management, and overall economic considerations (for example, inflation or recession), that can affect your company’s profitability.

Yet, the profitability of your company ultimately depends on the consistency of the output of your employees. And so comes the question “How to measure productivity of employees?” You may assess the efficiency of the work of your employees by utilizing efficient measures of productivity.

Did you know? Since the 1980s, Tuesdays are known to be the most productive days.

In this article, you’ll learn all about how to be productive at work, as well as how to measure the productivity of your teammates. Maximizing individual and team productivity is critical for businesses to succeed and work outputs to increase.

The problem is that it has become much more challenging to carry out productivity measuring in a consistent way. So, how can today’s employers in a knowledge-based workforce assess and boost productivity? It turns out that some fascinating and creative productivity measurements have emerged for businesses.

“Porductivity measurement is not as simple as the number of bushels that a worker collects in an hour.”

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

Why productivity must be measured?

Measuring Employee productivity in businesses is crucial for understanding problem areas and providing the required support to the staff members. Productivity measurement helps in understanding how operations productivity is in real-time and makes investment decisions based on it.

It also helps to assess employee effectiveness and abilities based on which management can hand out tasks and responsibilities. A productivity measure is also required as it reveals the problem areas in the system and managers can make changes based on the result. It helps an organization to utilize its resources fully to achieve customer satisfaction.

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What is productivity?

What does productivity mean? Productivity is the measure of the efficiency of different resources such as a machine, person, or factory. It is the ratio between the output volume and the input volume. Productivity in the workplace is a measure of production input’s efficiency to produce a desired level of output.

The output here can be products or services and the input can be people, capital, or machines. Productivity is not about wages or time. Spending more time doesn’t mean that a production unit is more productive. It is a measure of the overall productivity of the resource. 

Define productivity

As per Wikipedia, productivity can best be described as a ratio of aggregate output to a single input or aggregate input used in a production process. As a business or an individual, we all wish to be more productive. Productivity is a measure of the efficiency of production. 

When an employer hires an employee, they measure employee productivity by checking how much work they are doing and how efficiently they are doing it. The quality and quantity of the work are both equally important to assess a production unit’s productivity. Each company has its way of measuring productivity.

Productivity formula

How to calculate productivity? The formula for productivity is fairly simple,

Productivity = Aggregate Output / Aggregate Input

However, different industries use this productivity equation in different ways. Let us look into examples of productivity in a company. For example, the company takes 10 employees to produce 100 units of a product. The Output here is 100 units and the total number of employees required to produce the product is the input. Based on this information, we can calculate the company’s productivity,

For example: Productivity  = 100/10 = 10 units

Hence, we can conclude that one employee can produce 10 units of the product. 

Productivity definition economics

What is productivity in economics? Productivity definition economics is the ratio of what is produced to what is required to produce it. Any factor of production such as land, labor, capital can be used as an input in the denominator of productivity ratio.

Productivity calculations can either be done by taking one input or a combination of inputs. The former is known as labor productivity while the latter is more commonly known as multifactor productivity. Productivity in a country means combining capital and labor to produce more with the same level of factor inputs.

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Labor productivity

Labor Productivity is also popularly known as workforce productivity. It is a measure of economic performance that compares the amount of output produced in terms of products or services with the number of hours spent to produce those goods and services.

It means that if a worker can do more work in fewer hours then productivity is increased. For example, let’s calculate productivity of a country’s labor, the total output should be divided by the total number of hours. The increment in labor productivity is dependent on three major factors,

• Technological Progress
• Human Capital
• Investment in Physical Capital

Labor productivity formula

Now that we understand what labor productivity means, let us see this labor productivity ratio formula used for labor productivity calculation,

Labor Productivity = Monetary value of goods and services produced / Total number of working hours

The result from this labor productivity formula is usually expressed in terms of output per hour. Labor Productivity is measured by plotting values on a trend line and seeing if there had been any changes in the productivity in a given time duration.

The labor calculation productivity can be increased by introducing new production techniques, targeted training for employees, streamlining the production process, etc. More detailed analyses on various methods of labor productivity calculations, examples, and industry statistics are available in the ILOSTAT offered by ILO.

Multifactor productivity

In the real world, there are several factors apart from labor that affect productivity. Multifactor productivity is a measure of all such factors which go beyond labor and include other factors such as capitals, labor, energy, purchased services, land, and materials. The formula for multifactor productivity equals the ratio of the output unit and all the input units.

Productivity = Output Unit / Input Units (Units of Labor + Units of Capital + Units of Material)

The multifactor productivity formula gives a more realistic ratio than considering the labor productivity formula alone. It is said to be a more comprehensive measure of productivity.

Productivity index

Productivity is a relative measure and for it to be relevant it needs to be compared to something. This could be the productivity of other companies or other departments of the same company. 

A Productivity index is the ratio of productivity in a certain time period to productivity in the base time period. For example, If the base productivity of a business is calculated to be 1.50 and the consequent period’s productivity is 3.00, then by applying the productivity index formula,

For example: 1.65 / 1.50 = 1.10

This would indicate that the firm’s productivity increased by 10 percent.

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

How to calculate work?

Work done is an indication of how productive an employee has been in a given time period. To improve productivity, it is important to measure work done. Which brings us to our next question, how to calculate work? Work done is the ratio of the total output and the total input.

For example, a barista serves 200 drinks (output) in a shift of 8 hours (input). To find out the work done by Barista, we would divide 200 by 8, which equals 25. This means that the barista serves 25 drinks per hour of work.     

What is work measured in?

The measure of work is time taken to complete one unit of work.  The equation of work helps in indicating the time taken by an average worker to carry out a specified task at a pre-defined level of performance. There are several methods suggested for measuring work, among which Time Study is the basic technique.

The time study method records time and rate of work to carry out specific tasks under specific conditions to obtain a standard time required to carry out a job up to a defined level of performance. The job to be studied can be timed by using a stopwatch.

Calculate work needed using data

Calculating work expected from an employee beforehand helps in setting productivity standards. The work rate formula can be used to calculate work required from an employee in a given period of time under specified circumstances. Managers need to have measures to calculate time to complete specified tasks.

For example, the data acquired by the company tells that goods and services worth $60,000 are made in 1200 labor hours. It means that the company generates $50 per hour of work. Improving this number by making changes can make the company more productive and efficient.

Also Read: Trust remote teams | A comprehensive guide

Calculating work delivered after completion

Managers who work with remote teams have a hard time measuring work done by each employee. How to calculate production efficiency? How to calculate Labor Efficiency? How to determine efficiency? These are all important questions that help in calculating if the work delivered is the same as the work expected.

Work productivity definition implies whether the work output is same as the set standards by the company. Work Efficiency definition tells if the work is done in the right way as per expectations. Employees productivity is dependent on calculating work delivered after completion and time took.

Equation of work

What is the formula for work? The work measurement method includes determining the total number of tasks completed and man hours calculation. The amount of task completed in a given time duration is work done by an employee. Productivity equations help managers to determine work done.

There are two types of work done in a company. Manual work and Knowledge work, where former focuses on quantity while aiming to maintain minimum quality requirements and latter focuses on both quality and quantity equally. You need to determine the type of work done in your company to determine manufacturing productivity values.

Work efficiency calculations

Efficiency measures how much work a person can do in a day. For example, a person completes a job in two days. Then his efficiency is 50% as he is able to complete half job in a day. The formula for efficiency involves converting work into fraction format and then multiplying it by 100 to find percentage. 

The efficiency equation represents the ratio of output to input in percentage form. The Labor Efficiency formula is another way of calculating the work efficiency of an employee. Productivity Efficiency is a great way to identify opportunities to reorganize staffing, making changes in the process, etc.

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How to calculate efficiency?

For calculating efficiency, divide the labor hours by the total amount of time spent working and multiply by 100. The closer the result is to 100, the more effective your employees are. Managers should keep in mind three things to have better efficiency,

• Ensure the employees are provided with good equipment for completing their tasks.
• Set realistic goals for the employees
• Provide regular feedback to the employees based on their work.

A high-efficiency level indicates a minimal amount of wasted time, effort, productivity capacity, materials, etc.  Work efficiency is simple as the output divided by input.

Efficiency formula

Employee Efficiency is a measure of outputs produced by the efforts and achievements of an employee. Different kinds of efficiency in the workplace can be calculated using the below formulas,

Efficiency Formula: Efficiency = (standard labor hours / actual amount of time worked) X 100

Operational Efficiency formula: Operating ratio = (operating expenses + cost of goods sold) / net sales

Labor Efficiency Variance Formula: Labor Efficiency variance = (actual hours – standard hours) X standard rate

Productive Efficiency Formula: Productive Efficiency = (Output rate / Standard Output rate) X 100

Now let us see what is efficiency measured? Efficiency has no unit and is usually written as a decimal or in a percentage format. 

Productivity vs efficiency

1. Productivity is a measure of quantity whereas efficiency is a measure of quality. A high value of productivity doesn’t give any insight into the quality of work done.
2. Productivity is output per unit time but efficiency is the best possible output per unit time. It aims at doing things the right way to achieve the maximum level of efficiency and productivity.
3. The sum of both productivity and efficiency is true productivity.
4. Productivity does not consider underlying cost into account but efficiency does.
5. In productivity versus efficiency, the former is simple performance whereas the latter measures how well you have performed in the given time.

Also Read: Team communication | A complete guide

What is Classical Productivity Measurement?

The basic formula for employee productivity tracking is productivity = outcome divided by input. This would let us know how much (output) was produced over a given period (input).

It seems pretty simple, doesn’t it? But, when we begin to look deeper, we can notice a few cracks in this method. What is “produced” in knowledge work? What is the value of that output? Does time matter anyway? If so, then when?

Productivity is challenging to measure when it comes to knowledge work. As Professor Lynn Wu of the Wharton Business School Operations and Information Management says, “It is not as simple as the number of bushels that a worker collects in an hour.” 

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

How traditional productivity measurements are failing us?

Here is a bunch of reasons why traditional productivity measurements are missing for the real-world scenarios,

1. Lack of emphasis on quality

Researchers are attempting to find ways of assigning value to knowledge workers’ output. Our incapacity to have a consistent employee productivity tracking measure makes it difficult to calculate the productivity of knowledge workers.

Evaluating developers by the lines of code written in an hour or doctors by the patients treated in an hour, for example, leaves little space for the quality factor. What if another developer is writing half as much code as another, but twice as good as that? And what if a doctor has half the number of patients as another, but his good results are twice the other person’s?

How to measure productivity of employees in terms of brain output? If we take the developer’s example further, developers are seen as problem solvers, not code machines. They spend hours brainstorming through problems and testing solutions, but no single output in the code line is produced.

2. No questioning of the task’s nature

Typically, there are many different types of tasks in one job. Knowledge jobs are complex and possess many variables, especially when compared to structured and repeatable processes in production. The task is always apparent in manual labor.

This is seldom the case in knowledge work. Think about how a digital marketer should address that question. Attempting to answer, “What is the task?” can have a range of options from attending a meeting to set up a retargeting plan and anything in between.

From patient care to paperwork, a doctor could answer with anything. A salesperson might say driving, making calls, or any of a dozen other alternatives to networking conferences. Furthermore, not all activities generate the same value for an organization.

The question “How to measure productivity of employees?” is indeed quite dicey in this sense. Does an email response build as much value as it does while working on a feature article? Many of us on the surface will just say, “no.”

But what if that email connects with a contact that becomes a critical investor down the road. With too many unknown variables in the equation, it is difficult for managers to systematically calculate and maximize productivity.

3. Lack of the human dimension

Employees who would like to work with you would be delivering high-quality jobs promptly. The organization owns the means of production in the manual-work case, usually machinery or other devices, and the worker simply iterates tasks within that device.

Nowadays, the “self-evident” shared interests held by managers and staff are even more visible. In the knowledge-based economy, workers are the means of production, by way of their knowledge and skill. The output is the sequence of inventive decisions they have made in a day.

This is an essential element to be kept in mind when answering the question, “how to track employee productivity?” Management also involves monitoring the happiness of workers and creating stronger teams. Productivity optimization relies on such a human dimension.

Did you know? A Harvard report found that sleep deprivation and lack of adequate rest costs companies about $65 billion a year.

Researchers at the University of Michigan found that work environments where workers showed positive and noble behaviors scored higher on organizational success measures.

Positive practices that score high on organizational success measures,

1. Showing kindness 
2. Providing help 
3. Looking to have colleagues as friends 
4. Concentrating on meaningful work 
5. Evicting guilt and forgiving wrongs 
6. Being respectful to others 
7. Expressing gratitude

Today, growing numbers of companies are considering that happier employees contribute to a better business while looking into “how to track employee productivity.”

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

Best 5 strategies to measure productivity for remote employees

Here is a list of the 5 best strategies on how to measure productivity for remote employees,

1. Set clear goals and deadlines for your employees

It is important to set clear goals and deadlines for each and every task as you would in an actual office. It helps employees prioritize their work and keep track of their progress. Defining KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) is another great way of defining expectations beforehand.

Each job has a different metric when it comes to measuring productivity hence defining KPIs for every role is essential. The productivity manager and the team can work together to choose KPIs based on which year-end performance can be measured.

2. Use a task or project management software to keep track of work and create visibility in the workplace

As the remote work culture is expanding, there are several online tools that provide ways to measure time and productivity. WorkFlowMax is one such Project management tool that can come in handy. This tool lets users submit timesheets electronically and lets employers run a performance-based test to see which employees are logging most hours or finishing more jobs.

Managers should consider using different project tracking systems for different departments. JIRA is an excellent tool for tracking software development projects whereas Trello and Asana are great for Marketing teams.

3. Implement a robust productivity reporting structure

Timely and regular reports help you stay on top of everything and identify potential problems. Taking timely actions to resolve issues is crucial to meet deadlines. It depends entirely on your comfort whether you wish to get daily or weekly updates from your employees. 

Productivity measuring via reports is a proven method. Daily accomplishment reports can either be sent via a tool or by sending an email at the end of the day. A bullet list of daily tasks is sufficient for daily reports. Monthly reports can focus more on progress towards goals.

4. 360- degree feedback practice

A 360-degree feedback strategy is great for smaller tight-knit teams. This strategy measures productivity by letting you use the feedback generated from the co-workers. Each employee has their productivity evaluated by their peers (both who are senior or junior to them) in terms of how well they have contributed towards the overall company’s goals.

It is important that each employee provides their honest assessment of an employee’s performance towards team goals and not let personal prejudice come in the way. Managers should train employees so that they understand the correct way of providing feedback.

5. Create a Policy for measuring the efficiency and productivity of remote employees

Productivity is the number of goods and services produced by a group of employees in a given amount of time. Productivity measures help employers in assessing their profits and finding problem areas. Any of the productivity measuring formulas can be used by an employer.

A simple way to do this is by choosing input and output units and dividing the output unit by input unit. The resulting value is your productivity. Have a policy in place that lets employees know how their performance will be measured in the end.

Also Read: Productivity tips | A how-to guide for everyone

Tips on how to measure productivity of employees effectively

The old productivity measure did have some flaws. Nonetheless, successful firms have found innovative ways to answer the question, “How to measure productivity of employees?”

1. Establish a baseline

Establishing a baseline involves using the operation production numbers to set an average for a regular business day. The total is divided by the employee number, either for the whole organization or for specific divisions. A realistic example of this is a small business repair shop that takes advantage of the average maintenance services it provides. This number is then divided by the employee number needed to decide the baseline.

2. Determine goals and targets

Targets and goals change based on industry. Nevertheless, most organizations choose to set parameters that represent their business goals. Productivity targets can be adjusted based on abilities. What this could mean for customer service representatives, for example, is an awareness of their inability to manage their workflow. Their output is influenced directly by their primary task: to accept calls. In this case, the productivity target may need to be lowered by employers.

3. Allow scope for employee autonomy

The modern knowledge economy necessitates that we enforce responsibility on the individual knowledge workers themselves for their productivity. This is a great answer for “how to measure productivity?” 

This autonomy is one of the primary reasons why the old productivity measuring model falls flat. It ensures that knowledge employees have the opportunity to construct their workdays in ways they know will make them more efficient.

In a study, the nurses in a hospital were asked which duties stopped them from being successful. Primarily, the responses included tasks unconnected to the knowledge and skills of the high-value nurses, such as answering phones and arranging flowers. When those tasks were transferred to non-nurse clerks, patient satisfaction doubled within four months, and nurse turnover decreased considerably.

Automation and delegation allow us to do high-quality work in the same amount of time to improve productivity, even if we are unable to quantify the work’s objective quality.

What managers could do on a team level? 

1. Consult with team members to ensure they focus on projects aligning with their strengths. Help them identify ways to increase the amount of time they work on what they find meaningful and reduce the time they spend on all else. 
2. When measuring team performance, think about what you are measuring. Benchmarking individual productivity to business goals is challenging. You must be able to tie your teams to the timely release of minimally viable products, client satisfaction scores, closed leads, and so on. Make sure employees are involved in setting these goals. 
3. Consider developing a streamlined yet flexible goal-setting structure. Employees themselves can determine what it looks like to be productive.

Creating these kinds of programs provides individual, team-wide, and company-wide metrics while paving the path to achieving common objectives.

4. Bear in mind the human dimension

At the root of the team, efficiency lies in personal productivity. The key to a high-performance team is to bring together individuals having strong engagement with the organization’s mission and precise control of their team’s activities.

The researchers on Google’s “Project Aristotle” investigated the impact of less-tangible influences on team cohesion and efficiency through a study. In an environment like Google, where every detail is tracked, reviewed, optimized, and tested, the search for the makeup to the perfect team has yielded some non-technical results.

As it turns out, making the best team has less to do with integrating individually tailored rock stars and more to do with how members listen to each other and demonstrate sensitivity. Measuring cultural elements such as positivity and diversity can be approached the same way you approach measuring progress towards your production goals.

Did you know? The University of Sussex conducted a study that found that your brain is continuously damaged when multitasking. Also, attempting multitasking will significantly decrease productivity by 40 percent while increasing stress levels.

5. Decide which similarities are appropriate

The job role determines the day of an employee and is not always calculated by a single task. Alternatively, it would calculate the entirety of an employee’s job. Typical job functions on any given day reflect a mix of different programs, tools, and data powered by the internet.

Add email and social media usage to the mix, and managers can quickly discover that several behaviors can decide how successful an employee will be in completing various tasks.

Furthermore, comparing one employee’s everyday activities to a peer group helps managers recognize the top performers and their best practices. This information serves as a standard of efficiency for making appropriate comparisons.

6. Identify redundant procedures

Comparisons can also illustrate redundancies in routines that once removed increase output. An example would be plumbing technicians who return to the office for parts multiple times during their working day. It may be as easy as storing work vans or revamping the day’s calls for service efficiently. The goal is to ensure that technicians have everything they need for assigned calls of service.

7. Request updates every day

While employees admire the freedom to do their job without a micromanager, it does not always guarantee productivity. Many people might suffer from procrastination, which interferes with levels of productivity. Asking workers for end-of-day notifications can, however, act as a motivator. When employees are aware that accountability is expected, they are more likely to keep pace with targets.

8. Utilise motivation

There are other workers whose productivity improves with their employer’s encouragement. In practice, it looks like,

• A culture in which employees believe that they are essential to the company. 
• Clear work-related expectations so that employees fully understand their role. 
• Employees need to have adequate training to achieve those goals. 
• Acknowledgment when employees meet or exceed objectives relating to work.

9. Ask for employee feedback

Employers must value employee feedback because this keeps employees involved in the measuring process. Obtaining the thoughts of workers about goals and success metrics eliminates the illusion that they are just faceless numbers on spreadsheets.

Large and small companies profit tremendously when the workers feel that their opinion counts. When employees feel voiceless, not only could this cause lower productivity rates, but some businesses may even experience high turnover rates.

10. Notice the mitigating circumstances

Extenuating or unusual circumstances could affect how employers measure their employees’ levels of productivity. Picking up a new job or system can skew numbers in productivity. Issues such as equipment failures and network problems during regular operations would also cause those numbers to decrease. None of these affects staff, but as a reminder, they are still worth noting.

Also Read: Decision fatigue | An ultimate read for best results

How to measure productivity of your remote employees?

One of the primary reasons why most managers hesitate about remote work is the lack of visibility. How do they know when members of their team are working? How to measure productivity of their remote team?

By default, remote work allows managers and employers to have faith in their employees. But, this does not have to mean that they remain ignorant about the appropriate minimum time that an employee spends.

With this in mind, unremot has added productivity reports that let both employers and employees monitor team and individual productivity. This feature also acts as an attendance report to give the employers some visibility.

unremot’s productivity reports can be used for,

• Managers can monitor individuals’ daily check-in and check-out time.  
• Managers can check daily productivity and average individual productivity.  
• Managers could keep a weekly and monthly track of the above.  
• Individuals could review their check-in and check-out time.  
• Individuals will be able to track their average and daily productivity.

To avail of a free trial of 14 days, sign up on unremot now!

The answer to “how to measure productivity of employees” changes in approach across industries. Labour and material have taken a back seat for some companies to allow the use of technology to complete tasks. It is all about recognizing productivity boosters at the end of a working day.

Delays, unreasonable expectations, and lack of employee involvement all result in processes that impede a thriving workforce. Also, the use of boilerplate methods or processes will soon be overrun by individual business goals and outlooks. In the end, changing productivity expectations necessitates proving the value of how each employee’s efforts align with their employer’s.

Effective team communication is one of the utmost important aspects to be taken care of while handling large remote teams. Here is an article that talks about how to handle team communication efficiently. Read on!

To make sure a proper running of a company, the completion of projects on time, ensuring a good synergy with the clients requires effective team communication between the members of the team. It’s an essential skill to help you work together in a better way especially if you are a remote employee. In this post, you’ll learn how to quickly improve communication within your team.

Also Read: Problem solving activities | Everything you must know

What is team communication?

In simple words, conversation or exchange of information between two or more persons, either verbally or by written (via message, mail, etc.) is called team communication. In the workspace, where everyone works independently, it is necessary to have proper communication with the team members.

Proper communication enhances the quality of work or makes it much better when there exists proper communication between the team members. 

All interactions and exchange of information in a team is team communication. In an organization where many individuals work independently, team communication is essential in completing the projects, meeting deadlines, and mainly working in harmony.

Team communication

Team communication is essentially the exchange of information between the members of a team, located either virtually or physically within the office premises. It can be verbal mode, written mode, or digital mode of communication.

The interactions involve an exchange of ideas, sharing daily progress status, discussions on risks and issues, and many more. Various team communication software like Zoom, Google Meet, Slack, Microsoft Teams, etc. are leveraged to facilitate easier and faster communication in teams.

Employees working in a remote environment need to frequently interact and collaborate for better efficiency and productivity. Therefore team communication plays a vital part in the success and overall performance of the team.

Read: Synchronous & Asynchronous Communication For Remote Work

Communication in the workplace

Communication in the workplace comprises of interchanging ideas and information among two or more different individuals or groups. Companies are more and more focusing on an effective communication framework to build an environment of trust and harmony among the employees.

Eventually, it results in increasing the motivational level, and inspirational level of the employees; thus enhancing the productivity of the company. Team communication or individual communication proves to be an effective method to decipher any critical issues and bring in innovations and ideas.

There is minimal fear of conflicts between the employees of an organization. From the leadership level to the new joinee level, it is crucial to maintain transparency in team communication. To strengthen team communication in the workplace, you must create a receptive atmosphere where the members are tolerant towards each other.

The conversations must be simple, easily understandable, and must not be confusing. This facilitates openness and confidence in the discussions. In certain situations, face-to-face interactions are vital to develop a sense of respect and belongingness. Imparting training to enhance competency is also another proven means of communication in the workplace.

Workplace communication

Workplace communication is predominantly beneficial for both formal and informal means of exchanging conversations between team members or teams. It increases the ability to work in a team with greater efficiency and effectiveness.

The members are expected to be proficient in verbal as well as written communication skills; a preferred check by recruiting companies during the hiring process. Strong and interactive communication at work eliminates the possibility of any toxic relations between the team members.

Besides, it facilitates the resolution of issues jointly; thus leading to faster time to market. Additionally, the informal means of team communication reduces delay in decisions by reducing conversational gaps.

Many companies prefer using visuals for imparting their messages to their employees. Especially leaders who are in strategic positions prefer promoting their viewpoints, ideas, thoughts, and company’s vision and mission via visual presentation tools. The employees are easily able to grasp the essence of the conversations and can adhere or align themselves to it.

Also Read: Voice echoing | A complete guide

Communication and teamwork

Communication and teamwork are inter-related, boosting team bonding by easing the communication bridges. Important is to follow the rules since team members from different diverse cultural background and languages are involved in an organization. Hence to reduce the communication barriers, it is vital to engage in teamwork.

Both communication and teamwork prevent missed deadlines, enhancing the company’s visibility in the international market. Misunderstandings are eliminated, fostering a sense of coherence among the team members. Companies thus organize team events to nurture a sense of mutual respect among each other.

Team communication eliminates any obstacles or hindrances in conducting project or program activities or tasks in an organization. It is advisable to conduct a communications group review at frequent intervals to judge the effectiveness of the activities and games conducted to enhance team communication.

This exercise will help analyze the impact of team communication on the productivity of the employees and the overall team performance. If you find that the communications team enhanced, you can rest assured of the ways and methods adopted for building up a strong communication framework between the teams.

Team building communication

Effective communication within a team instills greater problem-solving and the generation of innovative ideas and thoughts. Hence encouraging team building communication is a mandatory aspect in companies and organizations desiring to achieve their goals faster.

The team members think creatively based on individual talents and skills. They assist, guide, and support each other for better alignment to the company’s objectives. Potential conflicts are mitigated.

To answer a basic question, “Why is communication important in teamwork?” An analysis was conducted by Small Group Research. The group surveyed almost 103 samples and concluded that the positive impact of teamwork communication on a company’s productivity can be measured.

A division in communication in successful work teams may lead to reduced staff morale and low motivational levels. Companies are therefore stressing on creating a friendly and cooperative environment through communication team building initiatives.

Also Read: Synchronus & asynchronus communication | A complete guide

One to group communication

One to group communication comprises 2 types – group communication between 3 or more people or in a group and inter-personal communication which involves face-to-face interactions. Both types aid in building up a relation of friendship.

The communication mode can be in the form of emails, phone calls, messages, chats, etc. Both in the academic world as well as in the professional world, one to group communication leads to positive results. Feedbacks and comments on any issues or any deliverables are easily sorted out without any significant delays.

Communication in groups and interpersonal interactions even enhance the competency level of individuals through knowledge sharing via experience and expertise. While talking about individual communication vs group communication, there is a subtle difference between the two.

One necessitates understanding the personal feelings and emotions of each other even in the work environment. While the group communication in teamwork demands strong bonding and harmony between more than 3 members. It needs more coordination, patience, and empathy from the participants.

Inter team communication

In the majority of organizations, multiple departments or teams need to work in close coordination for achieving program or project objectives. For example, a manufacturing firm will involve the production department, inventory department, logistics department, financial department, etc.

Without a well-defined inter team communication framework, the chain of activities within the teams may break. In other words, the inter team communication definition is a concept of promoting the different stakeholders to collaborate and support each other, even though they belong to separate business units or departments.

There are several challenges in inter team communications. The reason being the teams do not operate at the same time or on the same premises. They do not meet in the regular cadence calls. Hence companies have to open up various means of channels to promote inter team communication meetings and conversations.

Use collaborative tools, audio and video conferencing technologies to facilitate more engagement between multiple teams. The expertise and efficiency of inter teams usually vary. Sometimes teams may be located in different regions and need to connect remotely.

Unless there are harmony and goodwill among the teams, the overall performance and stability of the company will be jeopardized. Hence defining an effective inter team communication framework is one of the key success criteria for any organization.

Also Read: Virtual water cooler | A how-to guide for everyone

Group communication skills

A group in an organization majorly comprises of a supervisor or manager, module leaders, and team members; entrusted to achieve a specific objective or goal for a program or project. Group communication skills are an art that all companies must aspire for; to achieve better customer experience and productivity.

Different communication group styles can be adapted depending on the interactions required. It can be dominant or result-oriented, influencer or relationship-oriented, steady or cooperative and conscientious or value-driven.

Using the right communication media is also vital, for example leveraging team meetings, conference calls, group chats, informal gatherings, etc. Identification of barriers relating to language, culture, emotions, perceptions, etc., and resolving them is also a vital part of communication in groups and teams.

Team communication skills

The most important team communication skills are elaborated here,

1. Listening to colleagues is one of the most important aspects of team building communication skills. It helps to understand the logic provided by the speaker as well as the feelings expressed by the person. Eventually, it guides the recipient to engage in expressing feelings or opinions relevant to the discussion and topic.
2. Understand and use the non-verbal mode of communication to help better connect with fellow team members. Research conducted by SalesForce has proved that 93% of communication in group work via the non-verbal mode of conversations. It can be in the form of gestures, reactions, etc.
3. Ensure the team members are not mentally and physically stressed out during the group communication process as it may hamper seamless interactions.
4. All verbal and non-verbal communication in group work must be respectful, polite and not harm the beliefs and sentiments of the fellow team members.
5. All team members must think before expressing their opinions and ideas. The information imparted must be relevant, related to the topic being discussed, and logical.
6. Accept arguments with grace and ensure a balanced approach to provide justifications on potential disagreements.
7. A person in a team must lead a discussion without waiting for the others to start the conversation. It is one of the smartest team communication skills.

Also Read: Deep work summary | An ultimate read for best results

Importance of team communication

Team communication is essential to keep the team members productive, effectively allocate the work to the professionals, and in turn, achieve the goals of the organization. But lack of team communication deteriorates the performance of the employees, especially if it’s a remote team.

Good communication helps in achieving productivity, output and improves morale in general. The importance of strong communication is essential to succeed in business. When managers are good and strong communicators, they would be able to solve the issues within the team, manage the conflict, and build a good relationship with the members.

Strong communication of the management is not just to solve the ongoing issues but also to empower and encourage the team members. Only when there is a good channel of team communication, innovative ideas are communicated without any hindrances.

Employees should be encouraged to communicate openly without any fear, and this totally relies on the communication style of the organization. All these attributes to the growth of the business. Team communication is the basis of everything from the beginning till the end that helps in achieving the goals of the organization.

Also Read: Depth of knowledge | A priceless list of tips to succeed

Methods of Communication

Methods of communication can simply be classified into 2 types. 

1. Verbal communication

Any interaction or exchange of information that takes place verbally between two or more persons is called verbal communication. Verbal communication includes face-to-face conversations, group meetings, conversation in phone calls, online meetings, etc.

2. Non-Verbal communication

Any interaction or exchange of information that does not take place verbally and takes place as written/documentation in a letter, email, group chats are termed as non-verbal communication. Non-verbal communication includes email, postcards, WhatsApp groups, Telegram groups, Messenger, etc.

Suggested read: Guide to conducting & attending Remote Interviews

Effective Team communication strategies

Work doesn’t go well if there isn’t a proper way of communication. Every company, especially companies that has its employees in different time zones, has to ensure a good flow of communication. The 3 effective team communication strategies are listed below.

1. Regular meet-ups

Scheduling regular meet-ups to strategize the work is important. This gives a chance for everyone in the team to present their ideas and discuss them relevantly. It also helps in understanding the current status of the ongoing project. Preparing an agenda of the meeting and specifying the time limit of the meeting also helps in reducing the time wastage of everyone.

2. Online tools

Using online tools effectively helps in saving time. In today’s technologically advanced era, it would be difficult for everyone to turn up to the office; rather it would be a waste of time for the remote workers to travel a significant time and attend the meeting. Online tools help in effective communication and reduce the wastage of time.

Some of the online tools are unremot, Skype, Google Hangouts, Slack, Zoom, etc. According to ‘Lifesize 2019 Impact of Video Conferencing’, 48% of business professionals use video conferencing more frequently than they did 2 years ago. 

3. Clear, transparent, and inclusive

It is necessary to be inclusive, clear, and transparent in conducting a meeting. Prior to the meeting, the mediator should be clear about the agenda of the meeting, the motto of the meeting, who should participate (the stakeholders), and the desired result.

Inviting the right people to the meeting and making sure that anyone is not missed is also an important task to the mediator. If any references to the previous meeting are about to be mentioned, it is necessary to inform the stakeholders who haven’t attended the previous meeting. 

Tips: Conducting team building activities helps in keeping the team members engaged.

Also Read: How To Build And Sustain Trust In Remote Teams

Strategizing team communication for remote teams

Strategizing team communication for remote teams is a bit different compared to team communication when they are commonplace. Remote teams are the future of work as it significantly reduces the rent, electricity cost, etc. for the employers.

Apart from that, it also saves the traveling time and energy of the employees. The ‘Global Mobile Workforce Forecast Update’ says 1.87 billion workers will be mobile by 2022 globally. Here are some of the real solutions adopted by companies to communicate effectively for remote teams. 

1. Conduct regular virtual meetings

When it comes to remote teams, it is necessary to schedule regular live meetings. The Messenger being there to update about the status of work, asking for other information, etc. it is important to have regular live meetings with the remote workers to know the issues they are facing. When it comes to remote teams, trust is an important aspect. Live meetings help in understanding or to read the body language, which reveals other things that they don’t intend to say.  

2. Specify the objectives

The communication method may be by a messenger or virtual. But it is important to clearly specify the objectives of the project. The responsibility assigned to them should be clearly communicated, which is the ultimate purpose of having her/him as a team member. Specifying the objective should be taken care of but not to micromanage the workers. If there are any doubts, they will get in touch, but micromanaging makes to feel them hassled. 

3. Do not bombard the group with messages

The messaging groups are meant to specify the objectives and to be specific to the point. Be clear about what to say/ask. Don’t bombard the online groups with a lot of messages which make them feel annoying. Let the group strictly be used to pass the information. Birthday wishes, individual conversations should be strictly avoided in the groups. An unofficial group could be used for all such purposes.

4. Meet-ups

Apart from regular virtual meetings, inviting the remote employees to the workplace or a commonplace helps in creating a bond with the team members. It could be scheduled monthly or 15 days once, or ideally a Friday evening whichever suits the organization. 

5. Invest in good technology

A lag during visual communication makes both the employer and the employee feel annoyed. It also ends up consuming a lot of productive time. Better coordination is required for effective communication. And the execution of work. So it is better to invest in an effective team communication tool.

Read: 8 Simple ways you can combat remote work loneliness

Team communication software

Team communication is essential, and so is the team communication software as it helps the remote workers in saving time. Team communication software helps in saving the time and energy of the remote workers in attending the meeting.

Not only the remote workers but also the employees who are on a holiday or a vacation or working in a different branch of the office. Now, let’s see some of the basic information about team communication software.

1. unremot – unremot is a video-based online collaboration tool, most effective for remote teams. It can accommodate 20+ users, who can view video as well as screens of other participants.
2. Skype – Skype is a partly free video software suitable for up to 50 participants. The software can be used from a phone, desktop, tablet, etc., and helps in recording the call.
3. Google Hangouts – Google Hangouts is a communication software developed by Google. It is a paid software ranging from INR 210 to INR 1650 accessible for 100 to 250 software. Screen sharing and video recording are some of the features of Google Hangouts.
4. Slack – Slack is also a paid software that can host up to 15 persons for video conferencing. Only 2 persons can engage in a free video-conferencing call.
5. Zoom – The software allows to host up to 100 participants at no cost with a limit of 40 minutes on group meetings. The number of participants can be hosted from 100 to 500 with availing additional features paying from USD 14.99 to USD 19.99.

Also Read: Remote work habits | A comprehensive guide

How to improve team communication

Poor communication at work leads to misunderstandings, missing deadlines, arguments which adds up the stress for every team member. Here are some of the tips to improve your communication. 

1. Identify the root of the problem: To improve team communication start with analyzing what we lack and where we lack. To begin it from the root cause and addressing them properly is a way to improve team communication. This reduces half of the efforts in improving team communication. 
2. Be clear: While communicating, be clear and specific so that they are clear about what they are responsible for. Make sure the entire team knows the scope of the project and clearly explains the expectations from each and every member of the team. 
3. Meetings at regular intervals: Meetings should be properly conducted at regular intervals. There could be many things running on the minds of the team members. Regular meetings happen as a chance to address all the issues they face while working on a project.
4. Encourage feedback: Encourage your employees for clear and detailed feedback. Well, no one is perfect. So we all need constructive feedback to know about us.
5. Communication training: Communication programs helps and improve the communication skills of the employees. Communication skills improve not only conversation skills but also presentation skills, managerial skills, etc. This helps in the effective communication of the employees. Such training investments for the employees should be considered as an asset of the company.
6. Agenda – The agenda or the tone of the meeting must be set forward at the beginning by the moderator or the leader for effective team communication. This assists the members in interacting amongst each other with a definite purpose and objective. So if you are looking for how to improve team communication, then consider setting up the context upfront.
7. Mutual respect – Every team member in a group demands respect. Hence granting space to each member while being respectful to each other’s views is the best way to communicate with a group. Establishing a connection through mutual respect is very essential to improve team communication.
8. Psychometric tests – It is recommended to conduct psychometric tests to be familiar with all the team members, their interests, domains or technologies of expertise, personality, preferences, etc. These tests help improve team communication, providing a perfect baseline for interactions.
9. Roles – The roles of each team member must be clarified and communicated in the group. Improper clarification of the roles may eventually lead to multiple communication problems among group members. It eases the interactions and conversations in team comm.
10. Group activities – It is advisable to start a conversation with confidence to take a lead in the communication group activities. You can build up an environment of trust and confidence right at the beginning; one of the effective team communication skills.
11. Method of communication: The organization should opt for a better method of communication considering the nature of work, the presence of employees, etc. Some employees of the organization would be remote workers. Therefore, all the aspects should be taken into consideration, and the best mode of communication should be chosen. 

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

Communication group activities

Communication team building and group activities must be fun-filled and engaging to ensure participation by all. Some of the popular communication and team building activities and games are mentioned for easy reference,

1. Jigsaw Puzzle – The team is divided into multiple groups. Each group is assigned an online jigsaw puzzle and they can huddle separately to solve it. The group that provides the solution first is the winner. It is one of the most popular communication teamwork games.

2. Deserted in an Island – Form groups of 5 to 10 people. Ask them to imagine as if they have been deserted on an island and about 20 to 25 items have been washed ashore for them to use. But they can only pick up 5 to 7 items. It helps the members to understand the importance of communication in teamwork.

3. Two Truths and a Lie – One of the preferred teamwork and communication group activities, followed by a majority of the companies. Each person tells two facts and a lie about themselves and others need to guess which is the truth and which is wrong. Not only the members understand the importance of team communication, but they can know each other better.

4. Pictionary – In this particular communication group activity, each group appoints a leader. The leader is provided with an object or a person which he or she has to draw. The other members of the group have to guess the object or the person from the sketches.

Also Read: Office management | A complete guide

What is team communication?

Most of the teams work independently. All the interactions, exchange of information that happens between the members of the team is team communication. 

What is a remote team?

A remote team is comprised of workers/employees responsible for a project working from different geographical locations.

What are the effective team communication tools?

Skype, Google Hangouts, Slack, Zoom, GoToMeeting are effective virtual communication tools. Gmail, WhatsApp groups, Telegram groups are effective messengers for a group. 

How to improve team communication?

Being clear and specific, scheduling meetings at regular intervals, encouraging feedback from the team members, investing in communication training are some of the ways to improve team communication.

What are the methods of communication in the workplace?

Verbal communication and non-verbal communication are commonly known 2 methods of communication in the workplace.

Why is team communication important?

Team communication is important to exchange information with the team members helping to achieve productivity, output, and morale in general.

Virtual water coolers are the backbone of human connections in a remote office like gossip is the foundation of human survival. Read on to find how to set up the best virtual water coolers in your office!

Remote working has been on the rise ever since the Corona pandemic broke out. Remote work is a kind of work that allows professionals to work outside a typical office setting. This is based on the idea that to perform efficiently, work does not need to be performed at a particular location. 

In such difficult times, a virtual water cooler for remote teams becomes a necessity. In this article, you will come across all the required information regarding team water coolers and why do you need a virtual water cooler. Further, you will also find ways to create a virtual water cooler and understand the water cooler effect for remote teams.

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

What is a virtual water cooler?

The first question you might be asking would be this – what is a virtual water cooler? The water cooler is where we go for a rest, and to hydrate, of course. In every workplace, the water cooler has evolved into an organ of its own – often, it is not even a water cooler.

It could be a kitchen, a bowl of candy, or a coffee machine. However, what it means does not change: it is a place in the workplace to re-connect with your colleagues. Often, some of the strongest debates happen around the water cooler and several suggestions come up in that location.

But what if you do not have your staff in the same office? This is when a digital water cooler will come into play. The water cooler is an important part of the atmosphere of every organization and is vital for making the workers feel like a team, even if they do not work together on the same project.

Brainstorming sessions are relevant and so are the casual sessions around the water cooler. So how can one build a digital water cooler for a business? This can be done by creating a virtual space for employees to check in and contribute to the conversation whenever they can (especially if they are in different time zones).

It is of course extremely helpful with instant messaging and emails — but a dedicated virtual room as a virtual water cooler is vital to the culture of a company. That is where an internal social network comes in, a place where the workers can interact with each other and use their goals as a discussion guide.

Also Read: Problem solving activities | Everything you must know

Types of virtual watercoolers

While you have understood what is a virtual water cooler, let us now focus on the different types of virtual water coolers.

1. Team Water Coolers

Team water coolers essentially leverage Microsoft Teams for promoting remote working and enabling virtual audio and video conversations. You can either create an appointment or meeting and provide a name for the team water cooler. The recommendation is to set up the date and time outside the regular working hours to prevent disruption in the normal calendar hours.

2. Work Water Cooler

Work water cooler as the name implies is involving the employees working from home in numerous activities to encourage team bonding and socialization. One such example of an activity can be to send a water cooler picture like a photo of a home or co-working space pantries to the manager or creator of the watercooler space.

The photos are then displayed for the participants to guess the owner. You can leverage Unremot virtual water cooler, Zoom water cooler, or similar watercoolers for conducting the games.

3. Office Water Cooler

The objective of the office water cooler is to replicate the office events or break sessions in an office, virtually and through an online mode. The events can be a virtual baby shower, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. The members of this particular virtual watercooler prepare gifts or surprise virtual parties for each other; replicating celebrations in an office.

4. Digital Water Cooler

A digital water cooler brings in the experience of the regular watercooler chat by employees through the online or digital mode of communication. Some of the ways to create a digital water cooler are gamification or organizing virtual events. “Two truths and a lie” is a famous game played by many companies virtually between its employees to foster goodwill and interpersonal connections.

5. Remote Water Cooler

Nowadays companies are preferring a remote mode of working to harness niche talents and skills from various regions of the world. The resulting recruitment of employees working remotely at their homes or at a co-working space; not physically present in the office premises.

It is categorically important to generate friendship and harmony between the remote employees and the best way to do that is to create a remote cooler effect. A weekly chit-chat session, quizzing, sharing hobbies, sharing family moments, remote celebrations, or parties are the various ways of creating such watercooler moments.

6. Team Building Water Cooler

Team building is a vital aspect of a project or a program. It promotes positive discussions, collaborative thought exchange, and the generation of innovative ideas. Among the teams, water cooler moments and effects can be created through playing games by forming groups virtually. You may divide the team into groups and assign tasks to each group. The groups must present their output jointly in the virtual water cooler.

7. Happy Hours Water Cooler

We normally associate happy hours with drinks and Friday nights. Well, it can be Friday evenings or nights but need not be drinks. You can create happy hours water cooler and encourage to people have fun by discussing their favorite movies, games, etc. They can also talk about their families and friends. Travel-related topics are also quite popular to create a stress-free session in a virtual water cooler.

8. Book Clubs Water Cooler

Books are timeless and precious, must be encouraged to read be it of any gender or age. You can create book clubs water cooler, maybe segregating by genre, and encourage employees to join in remotely to converse with like-minded people and book lovers. This particular water cooler is very effective to unwind yourself and relieve the daily stress at work.

9. Culinary Classes Water Cooler

Another popular water cooler to create a stress-free environment by showcasing culinary skills. You can arrange for virtual potluck sessions where the employees prepare any dish of their choice. Live demonstration of the preparation can be arranged with each member explaining the recipe in the virtual water cooler sessions.

Also Read: Voice echoing | A complete guide

Why do you need a virtual water cooler? 

A virtual water cooler for remote teams is crucial to the growth of a company and its employees in this digital age. The reasons to build team water coolers are many. Some of the positive aspects of the water cooler effect for remote teams are,

1. Team bonding

For the most part, the perfect remote employees are a self-reliant group. They can handle themselves, meet their deadlines, and possess ample skills to solve problems that arise when operating remotely. They are a group of communicative workers, sending messages to each other and to their bosses.

But, they are also people with interests beyond the office, and providing them with a virtual water cooler allows them the ability to connect with each other over mutual interests and ideas. This virtual water cooler for remote teams helps improve their performance and makes it easier for the members to work together, thus improving levels of productivity and engagement.

2. Ability to spark new ideas

Although water coolers are known as gossip centers, they are also the birthplace of modern and fresh ideas. A virtual water cooler for remote teams gives them the space to communicate creatively (without the burden of mandatory meetings) and can help encourage impromptu brainstorming sessions that generate new procedures and policies that can be of advantage to the company.

You may, for example, encourage workers to communicate with those within the company who have implicit knowledge of a specific product or process. While the team members are always in pursuit of information regarding know-how, they are also often in pursuit of know-who. A lot of time can be saved when workers can find out quickly about the people who know anything regarding a matter of interest.

3. Sense of belonging among employees

Remote companies have staff living and working from anywhere in the world. Having a workforce from different parts of the globe is one of the main advantages of distributed teams.

But, if we add in time zones and cultural differences, remote workers can have trouble in finding a link to each other outside the emails they receive. A virtual water cooler provides an opportunity for employees to feel stronger relations not only with each other but also with the company.

It provides a secure space in which employees can drop in and out easily and feel like they are not only disconnected telecommuters. But a big part of something far larger. The water cooler effect for remote teams can thus be very positive for a company and its employees. 

4. Recognition of accomplishments

As employees can personalize their profiles and share not only work-related details (job title, department) but also speak about their hobbies, interests, and community affiliations, you can encourage them to create personal and human connections. It will reduce the isolation that remote employees sometimes experience, and can even help break down departmental silos and barriers.

Promoting and establishing networks across borders and through organizational hierarchies will build cohesion, improve the culture of the business, and advance ties. It is not about doing more jobs but about working in a more intelligent manner such that it certainly brings research to a smarter level.

Also Read: Synchronous & asynchronous communication | A complete guide!

Top virtual water coolers softwares

Some remote companies choose to build their own virtual water cooler, complete with options for text and video chat. Whatever business you are in, a virtual water cooler goes further than text messages and emails.

It opens the communication lines for the workers, allowing them to communicate, feel like a vital part of the company, and propose ideas that are in the company’s best interest. Some of the more common ones are: 

1. unremot.com is an exclusive water cooler experience built for remote teams. Signup now for a free trial
2. Yammer
3. Sococo
4. Microsoft teams

Also Read: Deep work summary | An ultimate read for best results

How to create a virtual water cooler effect?

This is how you can create a virtual water cooler for remote teams,

1. Establish contact which fosters interaction

One of the ways to create a virtual water cooler for remote teams is by encouraging interaction. Thanks to connectivity channels in the workplace that use technology to drive collaboration, many remote workers report feeling more engaged than ever with their colleagues, performing mutual projects and achieving organizational goals.

This is excellent news that provides a clear counterpoint to the idea that people need to be elbow-to-elbow to effectively collaborate.

2. Reveal how staying driven and reaching deadlines go hand in hand

Of course, meeting deadlines is a vital component of the performance of a company. A rallying cry of “deadlines, deadlines, deadlines” can drain the morale of even the most committed remote workers. The aim is to place motivation at the forefront by developing ways to keep employees from becoming disengaged. They must continue to remain on the job and reach expectations and deadlines. 

3. Check-in early and often

Active administrators recognize that it is more than just a rotary job to touch base with remote staff. Digital meetings are crucial to making the team feel linked to each other and to the company.

One of the key things to do is minimizing the large group get-togethers where team leaders must fight to weigh in as much as possible. Capitalize on one-on-one meetings or virtual small group meetings where people can get to know each other and the company more closely.

4. Maintain continuous contact

When it comes to communication, avoid stops and continue. The company will want team members to realize that when they need to reach out, the managers are genuinely available, and not just occasionally. To help remote workers feel in-the-loop, the company can set a great example by staying connected as much as possible and by being accessible.

5. Have fun from water cooler gossips

From a virtual point of view, when it comes to the water-cooler effect, you are in an advantage. How can this be done? You should eliminate the gossip and time-wasting that often happens around water-coolers in real life.

Alternatively, retain task-focused virtual meetings, while simultaneously incorporating a fun factor into interactions that helps remove the “dread factor” that can often emerge from these meetings.

6. Innovation is rewarded no matter where the workers work

With remote employees, a real danger is that team members may feel lonely and alone, and worse yet, their good work might remain unrecognized. Establish a formalized enterprise system that demonstrates gratitude and rewards to employees for teamwork, involvement with the company’s mission, and contact with fellow team members working towards the same objectives. 

7. Break the inflexibility in digital communication

Placing goodness, compassion, and friendliness at the heart of your distant work environment is essential in a virtual water cooler for remote teams. Just 10 percent of it gets in, and you have to look through it. Digital bandwidth interaction is weak.

As human beings, we are conditioned to read the eyes, twitches, changes in coloration, voice inflection, and hundreds of other behavioral indicators of an individual. When you type a pure truth message, the person on the other side gets exactly the social meaning of ZERO.

It is our role, in remote work, to center humanity. Many of the very productive remote workers are known to overflow with personality, and they do so as a willing effort. It is essential to deliver the meaning, emotion, and, above all, clarity in your correspondence.

People also feel like they cannot be a boss, manager or figure of authority if they are too sweet. That is not true in remote work, as being strict and direct is simple. But if all that you have ever got is cold contact, how does anyone know you mean business?

This bandwidth is provided by the range in the communication. Otherwise, you can tend to be monotonous all the time. So, the first step is to crack the rigidity. Your communication requires Yin and Yang so be good, blameless, and polite at the root of everything you and your team are doing. 

8. Bring about events that fit your team

Creating events according to your team’s preferences can be a great way to establish better communication. For those who may like social interaction, a “water cooler” is just an excuse. In remote work, it is crucial that a company finds interesting ideas to establish contact among its employees.

If you are trying to crack the inflexibility of digital communication, it is all about finding people who are able to drive and innovate these new ideas. Some creative ways of communicating are,

1. Holding a book club
2. Having a movie night with the use of Netflix and NetflixParty
3. Having a Q&A hour 
4. Going on a Webcam hangout room 
5. Playing Secret Santa through video unveiling
6. Indulging in co-working activities for those who crave a little office structure 
7. Hosting lunch-and-learn video presentations
8. Playing online games during lunchtime 
9. Having a Bulletin Board which is an open life-updates or highlights session during the official company meeting

The holding of events can be great for remote teams because there is no mandatory socialization that takes place. These are optional for those who want to have a little fun and engage with their team members and company! You can now work online and enjoy the benefits of a virtual water cooler for remote teams!

Also Read: Depth of knowledge | A priceless list of tips to succeed

Top virtual watercooler talk topics

In this section, we would be focusing on the trending water cooler topics that the people predominantly discuss in the virtual water cooler sessions or events.

1. Water cooler talk

There are various topics centered around water cooler talk. The prominent among them being

1. Discussing the balance between work and personal life
2. Favorite travel destinations
3. Personal interests or hobbies
4. Ways to keep oneself healthy, fit and fine
5. Seeking a solution to any personal issues like medical, educations, legal etc.
6. Birthdays and anniversaries
7. Favorite movies and sports activities
8. Interesting books – technical or non-technical
9. Gardening ideas
10. Preferred restaurants and food joints
11. Interesting real life stories or jokes
12. Suggestions or recommendations for cars or bikes
13. Trending fashion ideas is one of the common water cooler talk topics among ladies
14. Childhood memories and nostalgic moments is a usual talk around the water cooler

2. Water Cooler Chat

Instant messages and chats are also encouraged in virtual watercooler talk or water cooler conversation. The typical water cooler chat topics or ideas are,

1. Career discussions for growth in higher roles
2. Suggestions on any technical issues or problems
3. Ways to stay motivated whilst working alone in a remote environment
4. How to stay safe in the social media world
5. Songs and music
6. Any competitions, certifications, or learning courses – both technical and non-technical
7. Medical or health guidance and help
8. Best restaurants, food or drink joints for breakfast, lunch or dinner
9. Traditions and customs of a region including festivals, foods, dresses etc. is a popular watercooler chat topic
10. Water cooler work related topics like technology trends, domain cross-skilling, etc.

3. Water Cooler Conversations

The trending and key water cooler conversations topics often noticed among the remote or virtually located employees are specified below,

1. Discussion on digital automation topics like AI, robotics, machine learning etc.
2. Best car or vehicle to buy – prices, models, features etc.
3. Ways to save money especially during a pandemic
4. Seeking help on financial problems or medical problems form a vital part of watercooler conversations
5. Recommendations for spending vacations – places, flights, hotels, visas, etc. are one of the trending water cooler conversation topics
6. Interesting fun facts about each member of the water cooler
7. Conversations around the water cooler related to astronomy – planets, stars, galaxy etc.
8. Tips to work from home comfortably are one of the most common water cooler convos

4. Water Cooler Questions

Asking questions to each other to know a person better or to seek solutions or clarifications are common in water cooler discussions. Some of the trending water cooler questions are,

1. What is the most important memorable event in your life?
2. How can I reduce my weight, suggestions for diet and exercise?
3. Which is your best movie star and which is your favorite movie?
4. If you were to work as a digital nomad, what would be your preferred location?
5. Which is your favourite food or drink?
6. Whom do you consider as your idol in life?
7. What are your plans for the future?

5. Water Cooler Discussion

Messages, talks, chats, conversations, and discussions around the water cooler meaning sharing some light moments with colleagues. Let us now concentrate on the key water cooler discussion topics,

1. Advancements in technology – bitcoin, AI, machine learning, robotics, chatbots
2. The world economy and it’s future
3. Ongoing global sports events
4. Music and movie awards and events
5. New discoveries in the field of modern science
6. New and upcoming films and songs
7. Latest fashion trends and ideas
8. Any popular TV shows or events
9. Interesting podcasts or new books
10. Best audio and video conferencing tools
11. Creation of a comfortable and ergonomic workspace

Also Read: Remote work habits | A comprehensive guide

Organizations that have successfully implemented virtual watercoolers

Companies using virtual watercoolers have been significantly benefitted from its immense utilities. A typical virtual water cooler example being using unremot, Teams, Zoom, etc. for creating the remote effect encouraging engagements and friendly spirit among employees.

Here are some of the organizations that have implemented virtual watercooler software for their employees or teams.

1. Buffer – An online website or blog sharing interesting articles or write-ups on technology, analytics, social media, self-improvement tips, and many more topics. Tools used for virtual water cooler talks and discussions:

1. Hipchat
2. Sqwiggle
3. Facebook
4. Jawbone UP

Benefits Achieved,

• Stay motivated and inspired
• Less stress and anxiety at work
• Team harmony and goodwill
• Promote fun and celebrations
• Sharing interesting articles or jokes for refreshment

2. Grant Thornton – America’s sixth-largest advisory and accounting firm, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It has implemented unremot virtual watercooler for its employees. Places used for virtual water cooler talks and discussions,

1. Think Tank
2. Food Lounge
3. Terrace
4. Meeting Zones
5. Work stations
6. Leadership Lounge
7. Reception

Benefits Achieved

1. Setting up virtual bays for connect
2. Enabling various remote rooms for that feel and effect virtually
3. Seamless and smooth connectivity
4. Enhance interpersonal skills among the members

3. Olark – Provides live chat and video call software encouraging remote and virtual conversations. Tools used for virtual water cooler talk definition and discussions:

1. Slack
2. Zoom

Benefits Achieved,

1. Creates friendship and bonding among the employees
2. Employees remain transparent in their conversations
3. Help each other in the growth of their careers
4. Generate empathy and goodwill
5. Good communication and collaboration with the team

4. Axios – News website based in the US in the state of Virginia and the city of Arlington County. Tools used for virtual water cooler talk definition and discussions,

1. Donut
2. Slack
3. Snaxios
4. Relaxios

Benefits Achieved,

• The well-knit connection between the different remote teams
• Welcoming new employees, guiding them into the company’s way of working
• Cross skill learning sessions are held for enhancing competency levels
• Efficient collaboration and coordination between the various departments.

Remote work was a growing trend much before it became a necessity due to the COVID pandemic. There’s a good reason for that. On one hand, the latest generation of professionals desires the flexibility that remote work offers and on the other, companies get to pick employees from a global pool of candidates. This win-win situation is further supported by studies that show remote work, if done right, improves the productivity of employees. The key to hacking this benefit lies in choosing the right remote working tools for your employees.

In this article, you will discover some of the best remote work software available in the market that has been tried and tested by remote work professionals for years. Let’s begin!

Content index

1. Benefits of using remote working tools
2. Best remote collaboration tools (overall)
3. Best online video conferencing tools
4. Best tools for project management
5. Best cloud storage services
6. Best time management tools
7. Best productivity tracking tools
8. Best security tools

Benefits of using Remote Working Tools

1. Fast and smooth communication with the stakeholders, peers, supervisor and the team
2. Increase in productivity by completing assignments within or before the deadline
3. Constant accessibility during the work hours without any disruption
4. Easy sharing of documents and other files related to the assignments
5. Efficient time and work management
6. Effective monitoring of the team and their work status

Best Remote Collaboration Tools

Communication is at the heart of remote working. A healthy balance between synchronous and asynchronous communication can work wonders with the productivity levels of your employees. Choosing the right remote collaboration software can play a big role in how your teams communicate the dynamics of your employees. Also, the right tool can help your employees battle one of the biggest plagues of working remotely – the feeling of isolation or loneliness.

1. Unremot

Being a fully remote company, we are painfully aware of the needs of remote employees and remote managers. And so every feature on Unremot is designed to ensure that collaboration among remote teams remains seamless. One of unremot’s basic offerings –  the virtual office design allows all the employees to experience the benefits of a physical office. This feature lets the remote teams visualize their workplace as well as the availability of colleagues. Unremot’s other basic features include – 

1. Video conferencing
2. One to one and group messaging
3. Screen sharing 
4. Screen Recording
5. Productivity reports
6. Task management 
7. Virtual water cooler

Unremot is a must-have remote working tool for overall effective communication & collaboration.

2. Slack

Slack is one of the commonly used tools for collaboration using messaging and chatting facilities. The team logs into a workspace and starts connecting through group chats or messages. The members can also exchange files between themselves. The collaboration is initiated by the admin or the owner who sends out a URL as an invitation to the others. It supports direct messaging, public and private group chats.

Did you know? Slack the short form of Searchable Log of All Conversation and Knowledge.

Also read: How to work from home successfully

3. Workplace by Facebook

The workplace is one of the remote collaboration tools offered by Facebook. It has several features like instant messaging, private and group chats, video calls, live video broadcasts, and exchange documents. It supports 50 integrations with different enterprise tools like DropBox, Google Drive, Microsoft Sharepoint, ServiceNow, Zoom, Jira, etc.

Remote Working Tools for Online Video Conferencing

Remote working professionals may either be present at a different location in the same city, a different city, or even a different country. They either select to work from home or at a coworking space. In all situations, there is an absolute requirement for visual discussions utilizing some of the good online collaboration tools for remote teams. You can take a look at our post on the best free video conferencing software to find more options. 

4. Google Hangouts

Owned by Google, Hangouts are one of the best tools for remote teams to collaborate, coordinate and communicate. It supports group chats, private messages, exchanging documents and pictures, audio and video calls. It essentially consists of two components – Google Hangouts Meet and Google Hangouts Chat. Users need to use their Gmail login id and password for accessing Hangouts.

5. Troop Messenger

Troop Messenger is a compact remote work tool for small, medium, and large enterprises. Team members can interact via instant messaging, audio and video calling, location and file sharing, and by creating unlimited groups on the go. This Slack alternative allows admins to add vendors, suppliers, and freelancers as orange members who get restricted access to the workspace. Troop Messenger can be integrated with essential apps like Dropbox and Google Drive.

6. Zoom

Zoom is one of the powerful online collaboration tools for remote teams to facilitate video conferencing, web conferencing, chats and even collaborating through mobile devices. The video quality is excellent with recording facilities. The teams can share their screens for editing or viewing presentations and documents online.

Also read: Best note-taking apps in 2020 | Note-taking made easier

7. Join me

Join me is one of the collaboration tools for remote workers for video conferencing, screen sharing, audio, and video calls. You can create your customized meeting link and send it to others for joining the call or the chat. The audio quality is good with recording facilities. The online screen sharing keeps the audience engaged enabling efficient and easy collaboration among the participants.

8. Appear in

Appear in is an effective video collaboration tool for remote teams. It is easy to access through a browser without the need of installing any software. You even do not need to register before accessing the features of the tool. At first, a customized room link needs to be created by the teams and then shared within the group for video conversations. The participants can share their screens for viewing any document or presentation online.

Read: 10 Best remote desktop & screen sharing software | Free & paid software

Remote Working Tools for Project Management

The success of remote working majorly depends on the management and organization of the project work and the team. A detailed plan needs to be prepared with a breakdown of tasks, activities, timelines, and owners. The project management tools provide easy access to the project plan and schedule to the entire team for tracking and completion of the assigned activities.

9. ProofHub

ProofHub is one of the popular remote work tools for project management. You can stop relying on email threads and concentrate on discussions at a single place in ProofHub. The tool enables you to create tasks, Kanban boards, Gantt charts, calendars for tracking schedules, and store documents and other files. You can even fill in your timesheets specifying the tasks performed along with the number of hours worked. It supports online proofing and generating reports for better project management and control. You can send out emails and chat with the participants.

Suggested read: Managing Remote Teams: 13 tips that will come handy

10. Jira

Jira is one of the best remote work tools for managing agile projects. Developed by Atlassian, Jira has a widespread customer base in over 122 countries. It has the features to define projects, tasks, activities, timeline, and assigned person for each task. The users can fill in their timesheets under each task and mark completion once the assigned task is executed. The scrum boards available in Jira assist in deciphering the incremental values and outcomes of the sprints. Jira also has Kanban Boards to track the daily progress in each scrum call.

Jira provides users with two very important features. One is the roadmap it provides by providing burn down and burns up charts, Sprint reports of the team progress and performance, cumulative flow diagrams for any scope change or creep, Velocity chart. The second is the Agile reports which portray the detailed step-by-step performance of each sprint to undertake measures for faster completion.

11. Basecamp

Basecamp is one of the popular project management tools for remote workers owing to its user-friendly features and real-time communication capability. It helps remote working professionals to keep proper track of their tasks through the usage of to-do lists, calendars, and file-sharing functionalities. It is a web-based application where the users can sign in for creating projects, tasks and tracking the progress of the items on priority and the assignments.

Read on: How to prioritize tasks and excel at work place

12. Asana

Asana is one of the best tools for remote teams when it comes to efficient work management and team collaboration. The remote working professionals can create and manage projects and their tasks in Asana easily. They can even assign tasks to their team members, mention the deadlines, communicate the same to the assigned person and track the progress of each task. The tool provides reporting facilities, file attachments, and file sharing as well. It supports integrations with Microsoft products and Gmail too.

Good read: Inbox Zero – How to boost your email management?

Remote Working Tools providing Cloud storage services

Cloud storage services have gained immense popularity due to their powerful capacity to share documents, images, presentations, and spreadsheets of large sizes across multiple people. It saves the anxiety in sending large-sized files in emails.

13. Box

Box cloud storage application is one of the efficient remote work tools for cloud content management and collaboration. It provides extensive abilities to store different types of files with security controls, encryption facilities, and compliance with the major security and audit regulations. It allows file sharing across the teams thus reducing the reliance on emails. You can invite your team to access a particular file or folder in Box for editing, viewing, uploading documents or photos as per the permission granted.

14. Dropbox

Dropbox is one of the preferred and efficient remote working software for storing files in the cloud. The application needs to be installed on your computer, laptop or even mobile devices. It can automatically sync up the files and folders from your devices into their servers. Dropbox offers a specific storage space free for users. Additional storage space and advanced sharing controls are provided on paid and premium subscriptions. Dropbox users are granted 2 GB of storage space for free. They are provided with an additional 500 MB of storage space on recommending Dropbox to other users and when the referred person starts using the application.

Suggested read: 14 Best Productivity Tips to Achieve More At Work & Life

15. Google Drive

Google Drive is one of the widely used work from home tools among professionals. Developed by Google, it supports file storage, file sharing, and file synchronization across multiple devices. You can invite your team members for editing documents, presentations, spreadsheets, and any images through collaboration. The invitees are granted relevant access based on their roles by which they can either receive read-only or read/write facilities.

Remote Working Tools for Time Management

Remote working necessitates time tracking of the effort spent by the team for the assigned tasks. Due to the absence of in-person collaboration and monitoring, it is essential to invest in a tool where the members present across different locations can lock in their time and share with all. 

16. Teamwork

Teamwork is one of the widely used time management tools for remote workers. They log in their time against the assigned tasks. You can enter the resource cost associated with each person and accordingly the expenses will be calculated. The non-resource costs need to be entered separately. You can generate the invoice based on the expenses and send it across to your client for payments. Teamwork supports different formats for reporting time – CSV, PDF, or Excel.

Must read: Time Blocking: All you need to know about this powerful technique

17. Time Doctor

Time Doctor is one of the effective remote working tools for time management and tracking. It provides the time spent by each member to the granular level of projects, tasks, and sub-tasks. Based on the time entered you can easily calculate the invoices, bill your customer and pay your employees as per the business model of your work.

18. Hub Staff

Hub Staff is one of the popular remote working tools when it comes to tracking the time recorded by your team, the tasks they are working on and the progress of the tasks. It provides an insight into the team bandwidth utilization percentage vis a vis the total amount of work. The main features of Hub Staff are recording timesheets, screen sharing and recording, employee task and time monitoring, invoicing, budgeting and billing.

Suggested: Best Pomodoro App 2020 | Pomodoro technique & how to use it

Remote Working Tools for tracking Productivity

It is very important to track the productivity of each team member in a remote work environment to ensure that each individual is operating as per the needs. While being in the office you can observe the team in person and judge the productivity, working remotely will not permit that privilege. You need to extensively collect data online from the time to analyze the productivity percentage of the team.

19. Todoist

Todoist is one of the best remote work tools for tracking the productivity of a team working remotely through its efficient to-do functionalities. It provides facilities to create a to-do list consisting of tasks and subtasks for each of the members within a remote team. You can add notes, set reminders, upload files, send notifications and generate a productivity chart.

20. iDoneThis

iDoneThis is one of the user-friendly remote collaboration tools between teams to maintain a to-do list online and log in their effort and time for the assigned tasks. It provides an email facility to remind the members to accomplish their to-do list within the deadline.

Also read: 8 Remote Work Habits Of Every Productive Employee

Best remote work software for security

Security of the company’s data is one of the biggest concerns of remote companies. And so it’s a good idea to have a set of reliable remote work tools in place to prevent nightmarish situations of cyber attacks or data losses. You can also check out our guide to cybersecurity during work from home for more information. Here are a few tools that will ensure safe file sharing and safety of your company’s collateral.

It must become a company-wide practice to use Windows BitLocker or Mac’s FileVault for encrypting and storing important files. 

21. 7zip

7Zip is widely accepted as a great tool for file encryption and compression. If your employees deal with huge amounts of data and large files, this is a tool you must have! Further, this open-source software offers compression in a variety of formats and provides a powerful file manager. 

22. 1password

Investing in a password manager like 1password can go a long way in securing your company’s sensitive data. These days cyber attacks are a constant threat, and the slightest slip from anyone can lead to disastrous results. Here’s when a password manager can come in handy. Password managers like 1Password, securely store all your passwords in an encrypted database. This particular app eliminated the need to store your passwords in strange servers thereby ensuring the safety of your passwords.