Author: Sami Kritz

No matter how the world changes, one thing that’s not going anywhere is virtual networking. Growing your remote work network connections is crucial to your professional career growth as a remote worker. Nowadays, you don’t need to rub shoulders with strangers and answer, “So, what do you do?” twenty times a night. You’re no longer limited to those you physically cross paths with; you can connect with people worldwide. You can grow your remote network from the comfort of your home office or coworking space. Every professional in all walks of their career should actively seek out remote work network…

SMART goals are the key to success. They meticulously outline each step of the goal-creating process, making your desired result more achievable. Use these tips to give you and your team more direction, motivation, focus, and productivity. Without clear goals, you’re just trucking along each day with nothing to celebrate and no end in sight–just doing what needs to be done to get by. Creating SMART goals will not only make you more productive, but it will make work more exciting. You’ll have numerous small achievements to celebrate along your journey.  Whether you’re creating them for yourself or your employees,…

Smucker’s hybrid work policy receives minimal kickback from their once-remote corporate employees. These employees must come into the office during “core weeks,” which are decided a year in advance. With a portfolio of over 40 products, including Jif peanut butter, Smucker’s fruit spreads, Folgers coffee, Meow Mix cat food, and Milk-bone dog snacks, the J.M Smucker Company is a well-known Fortune 500 company. Even with their grand size and revenue, they haven’t forgotten the importance of happy employees. While other companies, such as Netflix, Amazon, and Walmart, are bashing remote work and calling their employees back to the office with…

Thank you. Good job. That’s a great idea. I value your input. These are just a few powerful phrases you can use to make your employees feel valued. Recognition and praise take minimal effort and provide uncountable benefits, especially in a remote work setting. Whether you clock in daily or make your own schedule, getting your work done every day can feel monotonous. You do what’s expected of you, check in with coworkers and management, and continue with your day. It doesn’t always feel very inspiring, does it? Studies show 82% of workers are happier when they receive recognition and…

Many productivity hacks exist, but this one works with your subconscious and can be easily paired with other techniques. By using your five senses to boost remote productivity, you’ll associate certain sounds, smells, sights, touches, and tastes with productive and focused work hours. Have you ever noticed how certain sights, smells, or noises make you feel? Some bring back nostalgic feelings of childhood, while others make you hyper and excited… but which boost creativity and productivity? Classical conditioning, discovered and studied by Ivan Pavlov in the early 1900s, shows how we can learn, focus, or elicit a specific feeling by…

Each company has an acceptable code of conduct, whether it’s been purposefully implemented or not. These group norms dictate how employees interact with clients, coworkers, and management. Intentionally creating positive group norms leads to a happier, healthier, and more productive work environment. Excellent teamwork, helping hands, good conversation, community, and a sense of belonging. A place where goals are often met or overachieved, and everyone feels valued. Have you ever worked in a place like this? This dream-like description describes a company with healthy and effective group norms. What Are Group Norms? Group norms are the rules that govern how…

Hiring a great employee is step one. Step two is giving them all the necessary tools and information to help them thrive in their new career. Creating a 30-60-90 day plan allows them to transition into the role with clear goals and expectations. An organized onboarding process, especially for remote employees, makes the job transition easier for everyone. A great tool to include in this process is a 30-60-90 day plan. By mapping out the first three months of their employment, you can help them prepare for more than just the basics of their role.  A proper plan gives them…

Working from home does not require you to be sedentary. A lack of interaction, movement, and routine affects some remote workers’ mental and physical health. Learn how to stay active while working from home, and you’ll quickly notice an improvement in your energy, stress, and anxiety levels. Did you gain weight when you started working remotely? For many people, working from home has changed their diet, stress level, and daily sedentary time. A 2022 study showed that 59.1% of people gain weight while working from home. Since the remote work trend is here to stay, for most of us at…

Remote employees require a specific skill set that in-office employees may not have perfected yet. To ensure you continue building a cohesive and capable team, look out for these eight remote resume red flags. The world has gotten a taste of remote work and the freedom that comes along with it, and people are hungry for more. While the number of remote job listings is decreasing, the number of applications remote jobs receive is increasing. According to Insight Global, fully remote job listings receive up to ten times more applications than hybrid and in-office listings. As you know, not everyone…

Working remotely does not make you invisible. Career growth is equally as possible when working from home. While the path to the top requires you to take a different route, you can think of these steps as a handwritten road map to building the remote career of your dreams. We’ve already talked about how to get noticed while working remotely, but now, let’s focus on you and your personal goals. Even if you only implement two or three of these tips, people around you will likely notice, bringing you raises, bonuses, and promotions without direct effort.  Whether you’re looking to…