For startups who are just at the ground stage, it is ideal to build an in-house team. 

Having your employees work together in an office fosters a strong team culture and gives them a deeper understanding of the company's products, services, customers, and competitors, which gives the business more control over the quality of work produced. 

Basically, a solid foundation is needed at the early stages of a company. 

But here’s the challenge, with remote work on the rise and considering the benefits it presents, founders are faced with a dilemma: what is considered as the right time to switch to a remote work model?

And if they've ticked the boxes, how can they successfully transition into this new phase?

In this article, we'll uncover best practices for startups to transition to a remote work model.

 

What is a remote working model?

When remote work comes to mind, the first thought is usually team members working from a home setting. 

However, remote work can take many different forms. Some remote workers have dedicated home offices, while others work from coffee shops, coworking spaces, or even libraries. 

Some remote workers travel full-time, working from different locations around the world.

Here are the different models of remote work:

Fully remote: In this model, all employees are required to work from home or other remote locations. This is the most flexible yet challenging for startups. 

Hybrid remote: This model is a mix of remote work and in-office work. Employees may come into the office for a few days a week or a few hours a day, and then work remotely for the rest of the time. 

Asynchronous: For startup companies who want to work with global talents, this model comes into play. This gives them the opportunity to work from different time zones, not minding the cultural differences. Unlike synchronous, in which the whole team has to work in a specific time zone. 

Co-working spaces: To save money, some founders prefer their team to work in a shared office space. They can decide to meet at specified times, like once a week, some days in a month, whichever is flexible for the team.

Nomadic: This model is similar to the geographically distributed model, but employees typically work from different locations for short periods of time. This model can be a good option for startups that want to hire employees who are interested in traveling and working from different parts of the world.

 

 

6 Steps to Determine When Your Startup Should Switch to Remote Work

Deciding when to switch to a remote working style for your startup is a complex decision that depends on various factors, including your business model, industry, team dynamics, and the specific goals and challenges your startup faces.

Here are some considerations to help you determine when and how to make the switch:

1. Market and Competition: Analyze what your competitors are doing. If remote work is becoming a trend in your industry, it may be advantageous to adapt accordingly.
2. Nature of the Work: Consider whether the nature of your startup's work allows for remote work. Some industries and roles require physical presence, while others can be performed effectively remotely.
3. The majority of employees request it: As a founder or CEO, it is important to listen to your team and prioritize their well-being. Startups should consider the needs of their employees when making the decision of whether to go remote. Some employees may prefer remote work, while others may prefer to work in an office.
4. The company is growing rapidly: Startups that are still in the early stages of growth may benefit from having an in-house team to foster a strong company culture and collaboration. However, as the company grows and becomes more established, remote work can become a more viable option.
5. Go Remote to Save Money: If you're running low on finances and you need a cost-effective approach, then we recommend switching to a remote model. 
6. Trial Period: Finally, consider starting with a trial period of remote work for a specific team or department before making a full transition. This allows you to test the waters and gather feedback.

 

How to transition to remote work successfully

 

1. Assess your company's readiness.

Before making any major changes, it's important to assess your company's readiness for remote work, including hiring the developers' team. This means considering factors such as:

• Culture: Does your company have a strong culture of trust, communication, and collaboration? These are essential ingredients for a successful remote team.
• Technology: Do you have the necessary technology in place to support remote work? This includes things like video conferencing, file sharing, and project management tools.
• Processes: Are your processes and workflows well-defined and easy to follow? This will be essential for ensuring that your team stays aligned and productive when they're not working in the same office.
  
  

2. Set clear expectations and communication guidelines.

Once you've decided that your company is ready for remote work, it's important to set clear expectations and communication guidelines for your team. This includes things like:

• Work hours: What are the core work hours for your remote team?
• Availability: How should team members communicate their availability to each other?
• Communication channels: What communication channels will your team use (e.g., email, Slack, video conferencing)?
• Meeting cadence: How often will your team meet and how will these meetings be conducted?
  

3. Invest in the right tools and technology.

As mentioned above, it's important to invest in the right tools and technology to support remote work. This includes things like:

• Video conferencing: This is essential for holding regular team meetings and one-on-one conversations with remote employees.
• File sharing: Your team needs a way to share files and collaborate on documents remotely.
• Project management tools: These tools can help you to track your team's progress and ensure that everyone is aligned on goals and deadlines.

 

4. Provide training and support.

Some of your team members may be new to remote work, so it's important to provide them with training and support. This could include things like:

• Time management training: Remote workers need to be able to manage their time effectively and avoid distractions.
• Communication training: Remote workers need to be able to communicate effectively with their team members, even when they're not physically in the same space.
• Technical support: Your team members should have access to technical support if they need help with any of the tools and technology that they're using.

 

5. Build trust and relationships.

One of the biggest challenges of remote work is building trust and relationships with your team members. Here are a few tips:

• Make an effort to get to know your team members on a personal level. This could involve holding regular video chats, organizing virtual team-building activities, or simply sending personal notes and messages.
• Be transparent and communicative. Keep your team members informed of what's going on in the company and be open to their feedback.
• Recognize and reward good work. Let your team members know that you appreciate their efforts, even if they're working remotely.

 

Final thoughts

Ultimately, the decision of when to switch to remote work is up to the individual startup and its founders. 

However, by following the guidelines and tips above, founders and CEOs can make an informed decision that is in the best interests of their company and its employees.


Author: Divine Laoye