Feb 22 · 3 min read ·
Listen
Remote Working - Techjays Way
How we empower our remote team of software engineers and technology experts
We Work Remotely
Techjays was founded during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and from the beginning, we have operated as a fully remote organization. Everything was new to us, and we weren’t sure how we would manage hiring, sales, project execution, and delivery remotely.
Despite facing challenges in the beginning, we successfully built a team of 20 engineers within a year and successfully served more than 10+ customers with 92% customer satisfaction. One of our proudest moments was our remote freshers training program, which resulted in a strong class of new hires who now make up 25% of our entire talent pool.
Creating Remote Work Culture
Even though we were able to form and operate our organization remotely, we faced a few challenges after the initial settling period.
The main challenge we faced was the “Lack of face-to-face communication and difficulty building relationships with team members when working remotely”. This was impacting our team’s culture and project deliveries, so we took steps to improve the way we operate. Some of the steps that helped us solve this issue included:
- Implement regular video conferencing meetings, even for short check-ins, to allow for more direct communication and the opportunity to build personal connections.
- Encourage team members to use video whenever possible, rather than just relying on text-based communication.
- Set up virtual coffee breaks called as ‘Tea Bench’, organize other events ‘Fun@Work’, Festival celebrations, and team building activities to allow for more casual interactions and the opportunity to get to know team members on a personal level.
Flexible Work Life Balance
Another major concern the team faced was difficulty “maintaining work-life balance while working remotely”. This was initially a minor issue, but it became more serious as 30% of our workforce consists of women and working mothers. As we strongly believe in creating a gender-neutral environment, we began to engage with the team and provide coaching to help them set things right. Some of the ideas we shared with them included:
- Establish clear boundaries between work and personal life, and make sure to take breaks and unplug from work when appropriate.
- Set specific working hours and stick to them, to help create a sense of structure and balance.
- Encouraged team members to make time for self-care, such as exercise, hobbies, or other activities that can help to reduce stress and improve well-being.
- Regularly check in with team members to ensure that they are maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
- Be understanding and flexible if team members need to take time off or adjust their schedules due to personal or family commitments.
Our Evolution: Employee Wellness and Flexibility
The one issue which we are still working on to address is “employee wellness while working remotely”. Without a regular routine, it has been difficult for some of our team, particularly the 25% who are young engineers, to maintain discipline and stick to good habits. We noticed that people are sacrificing their daily routines, which has led to a decline in both good habits and mandatory habits. To address this issue, we provided coaching and guidance to team members to help them establish a daily routine and prioritize personal wellness with following checkpoints:
- Come to work with a clear, happy and healthy mind.
- Establish a routine and set boundaries to help with time management and productivity.
- Take advantage of the flexibility of remote work by finding a schedule that works best for them.
- The team was frequently reminded to follow the good habits taught in our pre-primary schools.
- Take care of physical and mental health by making time for self-care and maintaining work-life balance.
- Stay organized and manage your workload effectively by using tools such as task lists, calendars, personal notes and task reminders.
- Seek support and accountability from team members, supervisors proactively.
Conclusion
Remote work can be an effective and convenient option for both employees and organizations, as it offers flexibility in terms of working hours and location. However, it’s important to be proactive in addressing any challenges that arise. At Techjays, we value open communication and encourage one-on-one discussions and team meetings as a way for employees to share their ideas and concerns, and for the organization to understand employee needs. We also work to continuously motivate and engage our employees while they work remotely. It is true that remote work comes with its own set of challenges, but for some organizations it can be an effective way of working!