Working remotely? This is how you do it!

Oven-Ready HR

Many of us are working at least part of the week remotely. So how do you work remotely and remain effective? Well HR guru Gemma Dale has just published a book about remote working and here to share her expertise.
Gemma is a lecturer in the Business School at Liverpool John Moores University as well as running her own business 'The Work Consultancy' where she focuses on policy development, flexible and hybrid working and wellbeing. A charted fellow of the CIPD Gemma was one of the 'Most Influential Thinkers in HR' in 2021 and 2022.

Her recently published book “How to Work Remotely” and remain effective wherever you are is a hugely practical guide for those new to remote working as well as those who’ve been working this way for years. The brilliance of Dale’s book is the way she also weaves pragmatic and thoughtful advice for managers and leaders who perhaps are struggling to adapt to this new way of working.
Is the standard 8 hour day dead? [2:02]
Dale argues that despite the pandemic offering us the opportunity to change the standard 8 hour day, a throwback to the industrial revolution, employees and employers have largely stuck to this routine.
Is the hybrid genie out of the bottle? [4.05]
Dale believes that we are unlikely to return to being full-time office based but she also argues that the benefits from hybrid working are not yet totally clear for example will it gives us the work-life balance or autonomy we desire or will we end up in a worst of both worlds scenario.
Autonomy Thwarting Behaviour [6:05]
Policies such as employees must attend the office 3 days a week are Dale argues 'autonomy thwarting behaviour' as essentially the organisation has to see you working to believe you are working and therefore removing autonomy.
Overcoming 'proximity bias' [09:35]
We have a bias to those who are physically closest to us. We are much more likely for example to defer to someone physically present in a meeting than a colleague on a screen therefore the risk of favouring say people in the office over those working at home is a clear and present danger.
What skills do managers need to manage remote teams? [13:18]
Dale argues that managers being "intentional " is key to success. Recognising that those water cooler moments are not going to happen so being intentional and making sure you are deliberately checking in and communicating with your team.
Where do we get remote or home working wrong? [22:57]
Dale argues that remote working is deeply personal. What suits one person may not suit others. Additionally it also wrapped up in whether we're introvert or extrovert and how we work e.g. short sprints. Environment is also key; not setting up a proper working environment is going to make remote working much harder.
Resources:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-dale/
https://www.koganpage.com/product/how-to-work-remotely-9781398606111
https://www.linkedin.com/in/podcasthost/
https://ovenreadyhr.com