The Challenges Of Mobile Working
Take some advice from our experts on how to make mobile working as enjoyable as possible.
The evolution of portable devices and ongoing improvements to cellular networks are making mobile working a more practical option as each year passes. From home offices to coffee houses, a steady wifi signal and a laptop-sized table are all you need for a full day’s work.
Or are they? Despite the growing popularity of telecommuting, some people find it surprisingly difficult to adapt. They miss the camaraderie of colleagues, the regimented working hours of an office, and the lack of physical resources like high-speed laser printers or meeting areas. However, every problem has a solution…
Problem: Isolation
Working on the move can be a transient and lonely existence, without the companionship of colleagues and the ability to ask other people’s opinions.
Cloud-hosted technology can maintain channels of communication across continents. Instant messaging is often used in the workplace, and there’s little difference exchanging WhatsApp messages with someone at a nearby desk or fifty miles away. Improving broadband speeds mean video conferencing is increasingly stable and lag-free, while email is the default method of file-sending in any company. Collaboration tools like Slack and SharePoint enable real-time communications from anywhere, and they’re great for fostering a team mentality.
Problem: Distractions
When your boss isn’t lurking in the next office, it can be easy to lose focus and become less productive. For home workers, the TV is a constant temptation.
Mobile staff need a degree of self-discipline, but companies can help to keep them focused. Time sheets are an effective (if fiddly) method of recording each working day, while keystroke logging and web browser histories chart an employee’s activities in real time. Insisting people are accessible during core working hours also helps to eliminate any temptation to load the dishwasher, or run out to the shops. Defined project deadlines reduce scope for procrastination, and noise-cancelling headphones can be useful in public environments. However, when workers learn to balance work responsibilities with home life it can be a very satisfying experience. In general, home workers work rate is faster with fewer office distractions. Loading the dishwasher is an excuse to stand up and change positions. A little variety can increase productivity after all. Doing something mundane often helps boost creativity, as the mind has time to work on a problem and come up with a solution.
Problem: Technical Challenges
Without an IT expert to call on, it can be difficult to resolve technical issues like faulty peripherals or software conflicts.
Modern computers are more reliable than ever, and scheduled replacements help to minimize hardware failures. Cloud-hosted files are accessible on any device, so a faulty computer can quickly be replaced; the same is increasingly true of the software programs we use. Wireless connection issues can usually be resolved with an Ethernet cable, and even a home broadband outage isn’t a disaster now every coffee shop has free wifi. Mobile device management like Microsoft Intune allows IT staff to remotely update software, and resolve requests for help.
Problem: Work-Life Balance
You can’t leave the office behind if it’s already at home, and it’s surprisingly easy to start working in the evenings instead of recharging.
Just because you’re working remotely doesn’t mean your inbox needs out-of-hours attention. Turn off devices rather than leaving them on standby, and ensure your regular place of work isn’t part of your main living space. A dedicated home study or favorite coffee shop can be left behind at 5 pm, just like a normal place of work. Try to make productive use of time when you’d normally be commuting, since this is a key benefit of mobile working. And few decent bosses will expect you to regularly work weekends, even if you can do it from your sofa…
We have more opportunity to schedule our own work life balance and with a thoughtful approach mobile working can be transformational.