Working Remotely Using Microsoft Tools (Thriving in the New Normal)
It presents new dynamics that not all businesses are ready for. Working remotely using Microsoft tools has become a lifesaver for most workers, and businesses suddenly shoved to drastic changes due to the pandemic. Distributed teams became the norm, where companies only kept a skeletal workforce in their physical establishments while the rest began to work from home. As a result, businesses in the new normal had to adopt touchless solutions and cloud storage services to thrive.
Working outside of a fixed company location or a regular working environment is known as remote work.
This type of job, also known as a virtual job, telecommuting, teleworking, mobile work, flexible workspace, and work-from-home, became popular in the 1970s. Several employees opted to work from home and communicate with the firm by email, phone, and other means during that time period.
Remote working became more common in the 1990s as more people accepted the concept that “work is what we do, not where we are.” As a result, it became increasingly feasible to perform various types of work remotely, particularly digital-intensive labor such as programming, IT, design, and the like.
For many job searchers, working outside of the company’s primary location and choosing the work environment were important considerations. 41% of remote employees choose to work as freelancers on a long-term basis. How much more so now, as the globe struggles to recover from the epidemic that has upended our whole lives?
How Working Remotely with Microsoft Tools Work in the New Normal
In the middle of a raging global pandemic, working remotely using Microsoft tools ensures corporate continuity through digital workplaces. It helps small and medium-sized enterprises throughout the world struggle with the dual challenges of business continuity and expansion. On the other hand, technology plays a critical role in reducing the impact of the outbreak on businesses by providing employees with a remote work environment to maintain company continuity.
While there are alternative options, Microsoft provides one of the best software packages for businesses of all sizes. Furthermore, due to the changing environment, many organizations and corporations are moving to a virtual culture by using collaborative tools such as Microsoft Teams, Azure, Office 365, and Skype for improved remote collaboration.
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Working remotely with Microsoft tools involves several technologies and solutions that aid productivity in this new normal economy.
Microsoft products can help you stay productive whether you’re new to remote work, working from home temporarily, or on an extended leave. Chat, phone, meet, collaborate, and even gain remote access to corporate resources with colleagues from all around the world. Microsoft solutions provide a uniform experience across all platforms, from 1:1 meetings or live events with up to 10,000 people to remote technical assistance.
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Microsoft’s tools are secure and dependable.
Working remotely might pose a few extra security concerns, especially for those who aren’t used to it. However, when their organizations spread overnight, CISOs and administrators must analyze new scenarios and risk vectors as soon as possible. Fortunately, we monitor over 6.5 trillion signals to keep your business safe.
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Microsoft creates solutions that encourage engagement and collaboration.
Working remotely may be alienating, so it’s vital to make an effort to reach out to coworkers and customers. Working remotely using Microsoft tools allows you to actively engage with your team to develop and sustain morale while engaging your customers and encouraging pleasurable experiences.
Tips and Tools for Managing Remote Workers
Whether they’re working across many time zones or only working from home for a few days, your remote workers are critical to the success of your organization. Therefore, it’s essential to assist them to stay focused on the work at hand by reducing distractions and streamlining their day, regardless of where they are.
Working remotely, on the other hand, gives your team an advantage in getting things done. According to a new poll, the top benefits of working from home include 79% higher productivity and greater concentration, 78% reduced stress, 78% avoiding a time-consuming commute, and 91% improved work-life balance.
Most Common Disruptions to Remote Workers
Despite the advantages of remote working with Microsoft tools, no one’s profession is completely free of distractions. For example, meetings may be a huge drain on any worker’s day. Consider that unnecessary or poorly scheduled meetings are estimated to cost US firms $400 billion in 2019.
The results show that 44% of workers reported that they did not have enough time to finish their tasks, while 38% lost track of their initiatives. Moreover, 26% reported a downturn in client/consumer relationships.
How to Use Microsoft Teams for Efficient Remote Work
Microsoft Teams provides a free platform for establishing a remote working team. Use services like chat or messaging, data sharing, and video conferencing to collaborate.
You can assist your workers in executing their responsibilities more efficiently, being more productive, and enhance cooperation and cooperation by using a robust platform like Microsoft Teams. Moreover, you’ll need to have the necessary tools and data-driven business solutions at your disposal.
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Simplify meetings.
Video conferencing allows customers or remote teams to meet face-to-face and can reduce reaction times, while online solutions allow you to share your screen, work on timelines and schedules, and much more.
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Work from a single project location.
Get quick and easy access to activities that are now on your mind, as well as projects that you have recently worked on.
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Utilize tried-and-tested tools.
Utilize time-saving and familiar scheduling tools such as Gantt charts and built-in templates.
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Use a personalized set of project insights.
When you have quick access to many views, you may have a better knowledge of workflow and status and visual monitoring and comprehension of dates, assignments, and project activity connections.
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Communication and collaboration skills are required for professional advancement.
Make adjustments to project plans, task lists, and schedules at the same time by collaborating with project stakeholders and team members.
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Increase the rate at which feedback is generated.
Projects regularly come to a halt as one person waits for another to offer feedback. To help you complete projects, meet face-to-face with distant clients, or give the option of real-time document generation and editing, choose software that incorporates online project collaboration features. This way, no one has to wait for comments or be confused about which version is the most recent.
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Generate and distribute reports quickly.
When tracking progress on projects, resources, programs, and portfolios, consider using pre-built reports.
With the epidemic currently affecting people and nations worldwide, conducting remote work makes perfect sense. This tendency will continue even after the epidemic because businesses must prioritize the health and safety of their employees, customers, partners, and communities. By keeping teams linked as they work apart, working remotely with Microsoft tools like Teams may help preserve public health and safety.
How can users access the free Teams products, and how do they avoid service disruptions during peak demand periods?
Involve Everyone in Microsoft Teams
Working remotely using Microsoft tools like Teams is a part of Office 365. You already have it if your company is licensed for Office 365. However, we want to ensure that everyone has access to it at this period. So, here are some quick and easy ways to obtain Teams.
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Individuals
If you have a work or school email account, sign in using this link. We’ll get you up and running in no time. If you have a Gmail or Outlook email account, you may sign up for the freemium version of Teams by clicking this link.
- IT professionals
If you work for a company that isn’t already licensed for Teams, you can receive six months of coverage with a free Office 365 E1 deal. To work in education, use Office 365 A1 and add teachers, students, and administrators to Teams. This free edition of Office 365 is available to all educational institutions.
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Microsoft 365 is developed and deployed in an active/active paradigm to improve resilience. This means that numerous service instances are always active and ready to respond to client requests and that they are located in geographically distinct data centers.
To minimize or eliminate customer effect, all user traffic enters through the Microsoft Front Door service, which automatically routes it to the most optimally located instance of the service and around any service failures.
It may be difficult to adjust to remote employment. On the other hand, Microsoft supplies you and your team with the tools, skills, and information that businesses require to meet that problem. Throughout the epidemic, remote work using Microsoft technologies allows adaptation and creativity in affected schools, hospitals, and enterprises. Furthermore, it is devoted to assisting companies worldwide in remaining connected and productive throughout this difficult time.
5 Tips for Effective Remote Work
Remote work brings both obstacles and opportunities. Here are six tried-and-true methods to help you work from home successfully. These principles apply whether you are working remotely due to adversity or are a scattered worker.
Tip #1 for Remote Working: Ensure that you have the necessary tools.
You will not be able to do your task efficiently unless you have the necessary tools. This is true whether you work in an office or from home.
As a result, make sure you have the proper tools for the job, including your home office setup and the technology you employ.
Invest in a good home office setup if you can. A good workstation should have a good desk, chairs, monitors, Wi-Fi, and other hardware needed to do your job. The perfect home office is not always possible to achieve. Investing in a few low-cost items, on the other hand, may have a huge influence.
If you often engage in video conference calls, consider investing in lighting, microphones, and headphones. Consider purchasing ergonomic equipment, such as wrist protectors, to make the physical act of working at home more enjoyable.
Also, if at all feasible, ensure that you have the necessary software tools for the job. Microsoft Teams, for example, was created with distant collaboration in mind. It integrates chat, meetings, phone calls, and cooperation in one place.
Tip #2 for Remote Working: Stay Safe
Remote personnel must take extra steps to guarantee their physical and digital safety.
Maintain a physical awareness of your surroundings when dealing with important company information. This is particularly important if you want to work in coffee shops or coworking spaces. Some good practices include locking your computer while not using it and avoiding sharing sensitive company information over public phone calls.
You must also verify that the technology you use is secure. These measures should be taken while using secure email, a VPN, productivity apps, cloud storage, and any other digital tool for work. Remember that the average cost of a cybersecurity attack on a small business is $188,000. As a result, while picking tools, it is critical to consider security.
Tip #3 for Remote Working: Effectively Communicate
Although it may appear apparent, one of the most challenging elements about working from home is that you are not at the office. That means you won’t be able to hear the hallway conversations or the chatter before and after meetings, and you won’t be able to ask Jane for clarification. Furthermore, your business communication skills are always vital, but they are essential while working remotely.
Tip #4 Remote Working: Communicate with teammates
Your organization’s culture is an important factor in hiring and retaining employees. This involves several elements like salary, working conditions, industry, and day-to-day interactions with employees. This last component may differ for a remote worker.
If you work from home, you’ll have to go out of your way to engage with coworkers and employees. Simple things like asking how things are going before a meeting starts and expressing genuine interest go a long way. These “small talk” moments might lead to stronger relationships between employees.
Look for more opportunities to participate in small talk within the appropriate parameters. No one cares if you spend a few minutes in the workplace discussing the latest football game. Similarly, you may occasionally converse with colleagues or coworkers in chat rooms on non-work-related issues.
Tip #5 for Remote Working: Strive for a healthy work-life balance.
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Final Words: Remember to Establish Boundaries
It’s tempting to work around the clock when your home is your office. This, however, can be harmful. According to research, overwork may lead to lower productivity, poor project performance, and even significant health consequences. As a result, when working from home, it is important to establish an appropriate work-life balance. Here are some tips to assist you in maintaining this equilibrium:
- Exercising and becoming active is beneficial if you have the time
- Plan and take scheduled breaks in your calendar and taking them
- In your calendar and chat tools, indicate the hours you are not available.
- Find time to relax after work. Take time to do things you enjoy, spend time with family; arrange plans with friends, and do activities that don’t involve work.
We live in an era where the majority of enterprises are going online. Remote working with Microsoft products enables us to deal with changes more efficiently. Furthermore, students and professionals stay at home to complete their tasks. As a result, having software can manage education, job, personal duties, and companies wherever and whenever would be beneficial.
Fortunately, Microsoft understands your requirements and allows remote access to Microsoft tools. It offers the greatest productivity tools for any family or business to deal with various circumstances and demands.
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