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Your small business survival guide for the remote work environment
In Remote Work Technology: Keeping Your Small Business Thriving From Anywhere, experienced SaaS and telecommunications entrepreneur Henry Kurkowski delivers a step-by-step walkthrough for using SaaS technology and communication apps to power your small business from anywhere on the planet.
You'll learn how to capitalize on the ability to hire a geographically distributed workforce and excel at serving clients at a distance. You'll also discover why and how you need to alter your approach to management and spot the common pitfalls that litter the way to a truly distributed business.
This important book includes:
* Valuable case studies of businesses that embraced the reality of remote working during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and cautionary tales of unexpected challenges that arose during the transition.
* Discussions of how to incorporate remote workers into efficient workflows to increase your business' productivity
* Explorations of how to support your employees when you can't just pop into their office
Perfect for small business founders, owners, and managers, Remote Work Technology is also a must-read guide for independent contractors who work directly with small businesses and entrepreneurs.
List of contents
Foreword xxvii
Introduction xxix
Chapter 1 You Can't Go to the Office: Where Do You Go from Here? 1
Disaster Strikes 2
How Long Will the Crisis Last? 3
COVID-19 3
Prepping the Whole Team 4
Management Work Policy 4
IBM and Yahoo! 5
Top Concerns of Management 7
Do Not Fight the Tide 8
Remote Working Is Older Than You May Think 10
Productivity and Job Performance 11
Adjusting to the New Work and Home Balance 13
Social Isolation 13
Employee Engagement 14
Maintaining Growth and Profitability 16
Let's Get to Work 17
Notes 21
Chapter 2 The Remote Workspace: Set Up Your Mind and Your Space 23
Your Work Zone: Distinguished from the Rest of the House 24
Choosing Your Space 24
Good Lighting 24
Broadband 25
Monitors 27
Grab a Seat 27
Invest in Yourself 27
Add Privacy If Needed 29
Set Healthy Boundaries with Family and Friends 30
No Is a Powerful Asset 30
Self-Motivation from Home Can Be Perilous 31
Productive Procrastination 31
Work and Play 32
Your Mental Space 32
Take Breaks and Don't Feel Guilty 32
You Are Not a Machine 33
Replenish Your Resources 33
Take Breaks Early 34
Take Better Breaks 34
Create a Morning Routine Different from When You Were Commuting 35
Set Daily Goals 36
Tasks vs. Goals 36
Longer-Term Goals 37
SMART Goals 37
Team Goals 38
Communication Habits: Respond Quickly and Use the Right Tools 39
Communicate Proactively 39
Set Expectations Early On 39
The Right Conversation Tools 40
Be Precise 40
Daily Check-Ins 40
Make Yourself Available 41
Get Dressed for Work 42
Dress the Part 42
Business Casual 42
Know Your Audience 43
Set Yourself Up for Success Right from the Start 44
Notes 48
Chapter 3 Office Technology: Stay Connected and Competitive 49
VoIP: From Desktop to Soft Phones and Features 49
Cloud Management 51
Automated Attendant 51
Forwarding and Follow Me 51
Soft Phones and Mobile Phones 52
Email, Chat, and Channels 53
Email 54
Chats 54
Channels 55
Voice Chat 56
Videoconferencing 56
Internal Meetings 57
External Meetings 59
Google Meet 59
Cisco Webex 59
Microsoft Teams 60
Zoom 60
Remo 60
Team Collaboration Tools 61
Trello 62
Basecamp 62
Asana 63
Teamwork and Teamwork Desk 63
Slack 63
Microsoft Teams 64
Google Workspace 64
File Sharing and Cloud Storage 65
Cloud Backup 66
Cloud Sync 66
Cloud Storage 67
Data Protection 67
Cybersecurity 68
Wi-Fi 68
Securing Devices 68
Two-Factor Authentication 69
Remote Wipes 69
Virtual Private Networks 69
Business Tech Advantages 70
Chapter 4 Choosing Technology: Getting the Right Digital Tools for You 75
Scale to Meet Your Needs 76
Reliability 78
The Five Nines 78
Performance 80
Locally Hosted 80
Local or Cloud 81
Focus on the Need 82
Integrations
About the author
HENRY KURKOWSKI is a pioneer in managed Wi-Fi technologies and digital engagement. He has co-founded a number of up-start technology companies and has a long history in the telecommunications and SaaS industries. His insights on brand strategies and leveraging business partnerships have been featured on Forbes.com. Henry has helped thousands of small businesses across the US to leverage remote technologies and digital communications to automate operations, increase engagement and boost the bottom line.
Summary
Your small business survival guide for the remote work environment
In Remote Work Technology: Keeping Your Small Business Thriving From Anywhere, experienced SaaS and telecommunications entrepreneur Henry Kurkowski delivers a step-by-step walkthrough for using SaaS technology and communication apps to power your small business from anywhere on the planet.
You'll learn how to capitalize on the ability to hire a geographically distributed workforce and excel at serving clients at a distance. You'll also discover why and how you need to alter your approach to management and spot the common pitfalls that litter the way to a truly distributed business.
This important book includes:
* Valuable case studies of businesses that embraced the reality of remote working during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and cautionary tales of unexpected challenges that arose during the transition.
* Discussions of how to incorporate remote workers into efficient workflows to increase your business' productivity
* Explorations of how to support your employees when you can't just pop into their office
Perfect for small business founders, owners, and managers, Remote Work Technology is also a must-read guide for independent contractors who work directly with small businesses and entrepreneurs.
