All of us have spent long hours commuting to our respective offices and that means waking up hours before the office timings. Despite the implications Covid-19 brought, it has also reduced the commute to 2 mins and it is now limited to picking up the laptop right before the morning meetings. There is one question that gets the spotlight now: Is it possible to maintain the work culture virtually as before?

The key to maintaining work relationships as earlier is communication and this definitely does not mean asking your team members to join video conferences at nine in the morning or throughout the day, it is about consistent and clear communication. It is also important to have a structure.

Setting clear goals and understanding how each team member likes to work is essential to make remote working seamless for everyone involved in a specific project. One should also not undermine the efficiency required for each task. Flexibility is the way to go forward but with caution.

As not everyone works well in the office, the same way not everyone works wells outside the confines of an office space. One of the benefits of remote working is hiring smart and talented employees from anywhere. Following up with the new joiners and tracking their progress is crucial. There is also an option to book a desk for them for a day or for a week.

Considering a pat on the back is not possible now and not even recommended (social distancing always), finding ways to keep the team members motivated might become a difficult task. New problems require new solutions. Schedule virtual team meetings like team gatherings as earlier, minus the shop talk.

To support this new remote work culture, there have been quite a few speculations about the office of the future. This new working style is hybrid and an amalgamation of collaborative spaces and flexibility. Whether necessary or optional, remote work management is totally doable and so is preserving the work culture.