Microsoft 365 is one of the most useful tools for building a strong and reliable remote work ecosystem. The suite ...
Microsoft 365 is one of the most useful tools for building a strong and reliable remote work ecosystem. The suite provides a wealth of integrated applications that make just about any kind of remote and collaborative effort possible. There are so many capabilities built into the system that knowing how to use Microsoft 365 is crucial for ensuring you get your full money’s worth.
Microsoft 365 is a fairly straightforward system to use once you have it up and running. However, the final verdict depends on the technical skills of all your workers and whether they are accustomed to the Microsoft way of working. The only way to ensure your employees are taking full advantage of Microsoft 365 is to provide training. Training can be found through online courses available from Microsoft and third parties.
When learning how to use Microsoft 365, consider integrating compatible applications you already use. If your team is already accustomed to using specific applications and feels reluctant to change, you can continue to use those apps without losing interconnectivity. These are some of the applications Microsoft 365 integrates with:
Whether you use Microsoft 365 applications or your integrated options, automating task management is a great way to help remote employees stay on track. Ideally, the option you choose automatically notifies workers when they have new assignments. It also reminds them when the task is almost due and closes once the task is complete. This can be useful even for daily or weekly tasks.
While learning how to use Microsoft 365, successful remote work begins with successful teamwork. Microsoft Teams makes it easy for people to collaborate easily and safely from anywhere in the world. Microsoft acknowledges that technology alone isn’t going to solve the teamwork problem, so companies need to get organized and creative. Methods include creating agendas, preparing slides and turning on cameras. There are many other articles on the internet which provide additional ideas on effective collaboration (like this one, or this, or this).
Employees may work on different schedules for a variety of reasons: personal preferences, chosen hours or time zone differences. Recording meetings makes it possible for workers to catch up at a later date for meetings they would otherwise miss completely. You can even generate an automatic transcript, which is essential for documentation.
Workers may still need to access work manuals, special forms and best practice guidelines. Make these easily accessible so employees can review and download the files. OneDrive and SharePoint are two excellent options for making necessary items readily accessible. If you don’t currently have these documents available, consider using Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Publisher to create new ones.
Employees should have encrypted devices and virtual private networks at their disposal so they always have a secure connection. Microsoft Teams also provides end-to-end encryption for one-on-one calls so that two people can communicate with the utmost confidence that the information is secure. Securing information is crucial to successful remote work in an era where even small, local businesses face cybersecurity threats.
As employees adjust to remote work and new technologies, prepare ahead for the learning curve. Even with this expectation, tracking progress is important. It can help you predict how organizational changes might affect productivity and service levels in the future. Microsoft has built-in productivity tracking tools, but employees will need reassurance of your commitment to protecting their privacy.
An important part of learning how to use Microsoft 365 to build a strong organizational culture is social time. Making time for virtual social gatherings can reduce feelings of isolation people often feel when working alone. If your company has a social events organizer, task this person with finding new ways to get creative, bring the team together and keep workers engaged.
The best way to ensure your team has the resources and support they need is to ask them. Not all workers are comfortable providing this information with their names attached, so consider using Microsoft Forms or other survey applications to get the feedback you need. Review the data collected periodically and make the adjustments you believe will benefit the team.
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