Quick Tip – Making Remote Work Work

🚀 The right tools make all the difference – Issue #148

Recently, I tweeted, “Remote works when everyone works remote.” I still think that’s true, but I realize that some people don’t enjoy working remotely and struggle with being productive when they have to work at home.

That being said, we are now in a situation where many people — especially information workers — are being asked or forced to work from home for a few weeks. Companies are trying to slow the spread of COVID-19 and avoid outbreaks in the office where people are packed tightly in cube farms and conference rooms.

Sometimes, I feel like a remote work pioneer. When I was still in graduate school, I had a summer internship at Apple Computer in Cupertino, CA. It went so well that they made me an offer to keep working for them when I returned to school at Rice University (in Houston).

They shipped me an excellent computer and monitor (no laptops then). I had access to internal file servers and email systems.

All of my design work was performed remotely, with phone calls to synch up with coworkers and my manager. There wasn’t any video conferencing back then, especially not over a 28.8 modem connection!

How times have changed. We now have high-speed internet, lightweight laptops, and powerful mobile devices. We have noise-canceling Bluetooth headsets, chat software (ok, that’s not really new), and ubiquitous video conferencing solutions.

Yet, surprisingly, most companies don’t like it when their employees work remotely. That is until COVID-19 hit.

Now, suddenly, companies are asking people to work from home for the next few weeks. The bad news is that most folks aren’t prepared.

Having the right tools and processes significantly improves the odds of success with remote work for you and your team. I’ve been working mostly remote for the past ten years and 100% remote for the past four years.

Tools that I use to make remote work:

• I love my Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones. They have noise-canceling technology, a good microphone, and are pretty comfortable. I use them for phone calls and video conferencing. The downside is that they are pretty pricey at $349. I also feel like my voice loses some of its depth and resonance.

• I also have a Sennheiser PC 36 Call Control USB Binaural Headset. At only $39.99, it’s a heckuva lot more affordable than the Bose headphones. It also has the noise-canceling tech and a much better microphone that you can move and adjust. I feel like my voice sounds more natural when I use it. The downside is that it isn’t as comfortable as the Bose headphones. Also, the ear pads don’t cover your ears, so you have to turn up the volume more to hear people.

• Finally, Apple’s AirPods ($159) are pretty handy to stick in your pocket and have available for quick calls anywhere. I’m surprised at how well they stay in my ears, and the sound quality and microphone are pretty good. I’ve heard that the AirPods Pro ($249) are even better, but I haven’t tested them.

• I use Zoom videoconferencing with my clients and career community. They have a free level of service and paid plans with more advanced capabilities and features. I have tried so many video solutions in the past; Skype, Google Hangouts, Facebook Messenger, Webex, GoToMeeting, BlueJeans, Join.me, etc. But, nothing seems to work as reliably and well as Zoom.

• For chatting, sharing links, and sharing documents, I use Slack. It allows me to stay connected to everyone throughout the day, both in public discussions and private conversations. It replaces the “water-cooler effect” of the office (we have a random fun channel), but it also allows you to talk with someone in a private “conference room.” Check out The ultimate guide to remote meetings in 2020.

• For a shared, collaborative digital whiteboard, check out Miro. It has a free plan and various paid levels too. It has an infinitely zoomable canvas and web whiteboard. Mural is pretty cool also, but they don’t have a free plan.

• I like using Trello to keep track of tasks and deliverables. It has an elegant model of boards, lists, and cards that you can drag and drop. I love that they have a friendly mobile app too. Your boards can be private or shared for collaboration with others.

• Finally, I also use Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides with my clients to review, edit, and share documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. We also share documents and files via Google Drive and Dropbox.

I’d also like to talk about effective practices and processes for remote work, but this edition has gone a bit beyond being a “quick tip,” so I’ll wrap up for now.

What tools, equipment, and software do you enjoy using when you work from home?

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