- 12.11.2020
For a while now, companies especially in the tech industry have offered the possibility of working from home. However, as a result of the global pandemic remote work went from an option to the default way to work. What amazed many of us was not the digital transformation itself, but the rate at which it happened.
Now, almost a year later the rush to set up shop online is behind us. Instead the focus is on how to manage remote work. Companies welcoming this transition have a unique opportunity to build great teams. This is particularly good news to small and resource constricted companies eager to grow fast and scale even faster. So let’s take a closer look at 7 ways remote work can give startups access to the best talent.
1. No office, no problem
Today, we live in a world where not having an office can be an advantage. For instance, while saving a lot of overhead costs, it can also make social distancing easier. Moreover, as an employer you don’t have to worry about finding your employees a designated place to work. You can expand the team freely without having to search for a bigger office each year. The concept of working remotely separates ‘work’ from being attached to a specific ‘place’. This is pretty good news for a company with a growing team.
2. More techy, and even more human
The backbone of remote work is technology. Therefore, adopting a remote work approach will make the employees even techier. People will use online tools to communicate, share, have meetings, organize events, learn and so much more. As a result, technology will go from being a means to an end to a core ingredient of human connectedness. On one hand, this will give current employees a boost to up their tech game. On the other hand, the company will draw emerging talent looking to join a modern employer. Together, they will make the virtual world that much more humane, and give a seamless service to your customers.
3. Build company culture anywhere
Think back to the last time you changed jobs. Your tasks and responsibilities, tools and technologies, clients and industry might not have changed much. However, the environment around you most likely did. This is because a company’s culture is shaped by its values. Essentially, the unique way in which it operates on a day to day basis and treats the people involved. As the authors of the article The Post-Pandemic Rules of Talent Management say, “culture doesn’t exist within walls; it exists within people, so you have to build culture through people, wherever they sit.” Is this a challenge? Yes. But, is it also an opportunity? Absolutely. Think for a second. Here is a chance to build the company culture through employees, wherever they work from. To have the top minds in the industry from across the world representing one company. Now who wouldn’t want that?
4. Put the focus on impact
Working from home cuts office drama dramatically. See what I did there? This way everyone can focus on actual measurable impact. The employer is able to observe the productivity of a team in a fair and objective way. Then he or she can provide tailored guidance while avoiding the risk of micromanaging. This enables the talents who’re really good at what they do, to focus on just that. For the introverts among us, this is pretty great news.
5. Ace work-life balance
Without question one of the biggest advantages of remote work is all the time you gain. For an employee this means avoiding morning shower queues, long commutes, packing lunches, wardrobe dilemmas and so much more. As a result, not only will he or she get more time to sleep, take up a hobby or spend with family, but also to work. A well rested, energetic and content employee who’s able to put more effort into work is every employer’s dream.
Antonio, a Startuplifers alumni, sums it up beautifully – “Imagine a world where you don’t have to feel the loss of time. Or the stress of travelling and getting stuck in traffic. You can cook your own meals during the lunch break. Start working 30 minutes after waking up from your own bed. Also you can hug your children, work from home and enjoy many activities”. Read the full story here.
6. Levels the playing field
Remote work gives everyone in the company the same amount of space. Basically a square on a screen. Whether you are outgoing or a little shy, able to join a meeting physically or not, good friends with senior management or new to the team, you now have access to the same platform. It compels every team member to be given the chance to speak and for the others to listen. There’s little wiggle room to showoff or slack-off, since for the most part work alone will speak for your productivity.
7. Not bordered by borders
One of the biggest challenges to hiring top talent is mobility. To land an onsite role, the potential candidate must currently live within close proximity to the office, relocate or endure a long commute. Even if someone is willing to do so there are immigration restrictions, personal commitment, physical limitations, etc, that can stop them. However, having a remote team means an employer can hire the best person for the job no matter where they live. This alone opens up new possibilities and sources in recruiting for a company that adopts remote work.
To sum up, not only does remote work give you access to the best talent. But also it makes the talent you access even better.
To find out more about how you can hire top Nordic talent to elevate your remote team contact Lauri.
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