The current trend is forcing people to work from home; everyone is either trying to find a remote job for themselves or are working from home. Even science has proven that remote work is very beneficial for employees, and it increases productivity. But what about companies that want to go remote?

I have had the opportunity to start two companies that work entirely remotely. We have teams in Europe and Asia and have been running smoothly for about four years now. If you are looking to work remotely or starting to manage people remotely here are some things to keep in mind

1: Time Management

When you are working under no direct supervision, it is easy for you to get distracted. Sometimes distractions can take you away from your focus, and this can be not very good. Make sure to spend some time to schedule things in your day. Doing this can help you stay focused on the objective and be as productive as you can.

When working remotely, managing your time is very crucial. By setting out times for work and personal life, you can give you 100% attention. After all, the main advantage of working from where ever you want is you can work at times that suit you the best.

2: Tech Setup

When you don’t go into work, sometimes things can get mixed up. Make sure to separate all your data from work and data from your personal life. The practice of separating data is not only for people who work remotely, but also good for people who go into work. One of the best ways to separate information is by creating user profiles on your computer or phone. This way, nothing can get intertwined, and it also helps me realize what I am currently working on. On my Google Chrome, I have profiles for my accounts and work accounts. Doing this has helped me focus for long hours on the task at hand.

3: Tools Management

Most of the time, if you are not going into an office, you are working off a tool. There are tools for communication, tracking work, tracking hours, sending an email, and more. The list is very long, and it can get very overwhelming if you are not keeping track of what tools you use the most. For me, having all my todos in one place helps me get a clear understanding of what my tasks are for the day. Starting using things like IFTTT to move stuff into Todoist. By combining elements and seeing them in one place, it will help you see the bigger picture of your tasks.

4: Human Interaction

When it comes to people management, the best way to do it is by understanding your team. You will come across many people, and this can be very exciting for some and daunting for others. The (un)fortunate part of remote work is, you are probably not going to see these people. For those of you who prefer to see people daily, you must reconsider the option of working remotely for apparent reasons. As most of your communication is happening over the internet, you can do it from anywhere and using any device. Some things to keep in mind are:

• Use a good microphone so that people can hear you clearly
• Avoid taking calls from crowded places, if you do, then toggle your mute
• If you hear some feedback, don’t be afraid to mention it. It is better than not being able to understand what’s going on in the meeting.

5: Travel Planning

So you have the freedom to work from anywhere, and now you want to see the world. Before you book your tickets, make sure your work supports the time zone you will be in for the next few days. If they don’t, then you will have to sacrifice your sleep or your days. Always let people know where you are. When you work for a company, it is essential to let them know where you are and how you are “getting” to work.

When it comes to remote work, it is very tough for your employers to manage you. Try and make it as easy as possible for them. Doing that will not only help them but will help you too.