Let’s admit that this pandemic has brought a massive overhaul in how organizations function and how people work. It has pushed the organizations and companies to go beyond the status quo and propel the management to introduce but accept a new working model, which is more digitally inclined and technology savvy.
The Remote working model in the current pandemic scenario has emerged as the most effective, viable, and reliable solution to the world job crisis. The year 2020 witnessed the visible surge in the most unconventional ways of working, performing, delivering, and remote working was undoubtedly one of them. However, initially, it did pose a string of challenges for both the management and working professionals alike since it had been there before but never really seen, allowed, or preferred by most of the companies as a preferred mode of working here in India. However, slowly but surely, everyone seems to have adapted to it but let’s dig deeper and understand the undercurrents of working and performance management of Remote Working by organizations in the light of the ongoing pandemic.
- Remote working and coordination between the teams: One of the biggest challenges in the Remote working model is maintaining the proper coordination between different groups and departments within a single company or organization. However, the remote working model has been there ever since, especially abroad, but yeah, it hasn’t been that popular in India. Thankfully, there have been various tools to help the management maintain the proper coordination within the team and departments, even during extreme situations. Apps such as Slack, Hive, Zoom Calls, Google hangouts, Asana, etc., have been a boon to lessen the chaos and improve team members’ connectivity. Remote working has had its share of hassles since it’s been relatively an unconventional concept. Also, this model gave a significant rise to the freelancers and self-employed professionals not necessarily associated with just one particular company.
- Service delivery as per the deadlines: Service delivery as per the deadlines hasn’t been smooth sailing, though. Remote working or WFH option seems easy, but it can be more stressful and tiresome than a full-time office job. Especially during the pandemic, when everyone struggled to cope with excessive workload commitments on both sides – home and office then it tends to get even more erratic. However, companies that slipped into effective time management and smart work-life balance somehow managed to sail through and ensure timely delivery despite the odds and recurring challenges.
- Creativity inflow through WFH mode: WFH mode can be more stressful and isolating at times for the working professionals. Hence, as a company, it becomes even more important to look into the staff’s well-being to work with enhanced productivity, creativity and deliver their best. There have been instances of pay cuts, significant layoffs in the industries that might clearly derail or negatively impact any employee’s mental well-being, hence obstructing the creative inflow. Many companies tried to overcome this by giving extra offs to rest and unwind and conducting mind stimulating, engaging activities for the workforce frequently, and providing the right kind of enabling work culture deprived of any toxicity, malice, or micromanagement.
- Flexibility through WFH etc.: Flexibility through WFH has been easiest to maintain out of the lot since now; there’s no way to keep a tab on every single minute of employee’s working hours and overloading them with unregulated deadlines and unpaid working hours. Employees can work freely as long as they’re responsible, driven, and sincere towards their work commitments and can also maintain a life beyond their 9-5 job. This has also allowed employees to work at their convenience and pick their suitable hours. Also, there’s no need to get appropriately dressed, and one can work or deliver even when they’re not keen on putting on their official attire. It has certainly instilled a sense of liberation and reduced performance and presentation anxiety among employees as well.
Hence, with increased customers, especially in the post-pandemic era when economic conditions are slowly improving, the workforce at companies has also increased. However, the technology disruption has been a source of much comfort, ease, flexibility, and helping the businesses stay relevant and cope with the changing business environment’s dynamics a great deal. The more technically sound and inclined an organization chooses to be, the more they can harness the benefits of remote working and increased workforce productivity.
