Remote-First Company: Everything You Need to Know

In a nutshell, remote working means that your company doesn’t require its employees to work from the office. It can be a hybrid (remote-friendly) situation, where some days your team members work remotely from anywhere, and other days everyone comes into the office. Or, it can be a fully remote scenario (remote-first), where your company is 100% remote, and anyone can work from absolutely anywhere.

There are a few key practices you must follow to make your business a successful remote-first company. These include establishing and maintaining accessible and open communication, focusing on impact or output, apart from KPIs and OKRs, engage in virtual team-bonding exercises, and offering flexible work schedules.

Remote work opens up an arena of major benefits for companies. As a remote-first company, you don’t have to spend on the usuals of having an office space, electricity, furniture, electricity, internet connectivity, etc. Moreover, hiring remotely will allow you to tap into a global talent pool and hire the best talent, irrespective of whether they live in close proximity. Lastly, with today’s remote working trend, offering a ‘remote culture’ to potential candidates can help you onboard more productive and satisfied employees who are driven to deliver successful results.

Given the ample benefits remote work offers, it’s natural that remote-first companies are enjoying increased popularity. Now more than ever, candidates want to work in organizations with flexible work environments that allow them to have an ideal work-life balance. Plus, remote-first companies also have to worry less about paying for office spaces and electricity and can benefit from remote hiring by dipping into a global talent pool.

Remote can mean working from home or working from just about anywhere. However, it’s not necessarily limited to that. Companies can also opt for a hybrid culture, where certain days of the week are devoted to working from home, and the rest require in-office attendance.

When working remotely, you can manage team communication effortlessly by following the right strategies. For example, using dedicated Slack channels for team-wide discussions can ensure seamless communication between the concerned team members, ensuring everyone is in the loop. Conducting weekly team meetings can also help you make sure team communication is efficient, and everyone’s doubts, inquiries, or concerns are catered to. Plus, you can also use video calls to make sure your virtual teams don’t lose the human touch of in-person communication, and the team members are well in sync with one another.