It’s great to say everyone should have a plan to be able to work remotely in the event of a massive disruption; it’s quite another for small businesses to actually have had the time to do so. We have compiled a quick and inexpensive list to help you gear up to keep your business running when you and your employees cannot continue business as usual.
Working Remotely
What happens when you can’t come into the office, but work still needs to be done? A VPN (Virtual Private Network) may be the quickest answer to your problem. Software like TeamViewer or Microsoft Remote Desktop allows you to work as if you are still sitting in your office. A few things to keep in mind.
- You will need to install and sign into this software on both your work computer and the computer you will be using at home.
- There may be a slight ‘lag’ between your keystrokes and what you see on the screen. Depending on the strength of your internet connection, this may be almost imperceptible or it could be very noticeable.
- Remember that you have to leave your work computer on and to turn off any power saving modes that may be enabled
- If you are using a lap top at home, CTRL+ALT+DEL won’t work. Instead, look for the ‘Send Command’ feature For example, in TeamViewer, use the little Action (with a lightning bolt) and send CTRL+ALT+DEL found at the top of your screen
Meetings and Videoconferencing
The go-to video conferencing software right now is Zoom. Jitsi is also an excellent option. You can still ‘face to face’ meet with your colleagues and clients, all while maintaining your social distance. You can download the software to your laptop or desk top, use an app on your phone, or simply call in. No reason to ever miss a meeting again.
To make sure you look like a pro doing this, check out the list of helpful hints and tricks from Zoom (hint: look behind you on the walls and see what your fellow video attendees are seeing)
One strong caveat when using this type of software: buried in those ‘I Agree’ screens is the collection of all sorts of information. It is highly advisable to close (not just minimize) any and all software that is not needed for the duration of your meeting.
Collaborating
No man (or woman) is an island and few projects can be completed without input from multiple team members. Depending on your company’s needs, there are a few options available.
GSuite or Google Docs – an online version of popular document, spreadsheet, and presentation software. Your work can continue on that major presentation to an investor, research on a business opportunity, or number crunching, even when you are nowhere near your teammates.
Screen is another product, from the original creator of ScreenHero (now part of Slack – another excellent tool). If you need to real time collaborate on a single document, this may be your best option.