Designing a plan for remote work is more important than ever. Even before the current calls to work from home, many organizations offered work-from-home and flexible working arrangements for their employees.

Today, remote work is mainstream—and those who are working or joining a meeting from outside a room are as important as those inside the room. But whether you're at home or on the road, virtual work requires planning to bring the rigor of a structured office into an offsite setting. This is especially true if you are transitioning into remote work when you've never done it before. You'll need to factor in your physical setting, your use of technology, and the managing of priorities to ensure "business as usual"—regardless of where that work is happening.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Plan Ahead for Logistics. Envision what you'll need when not sitting at your desk in the office. Are there lengthy documents you should download/print or login passwords that you might need? Also think about the tech supplies you'd bring on a business trip—these are what you'll need wherever your remote workspace will be. Gather cords, chargers, headset, mouse and extra batteries. Ask IT about best practices for logging in securely from offsite, and download needed software before you head out. If you anticipate a long-term timeframe, ask about the feasibility of transporting your desktop monitor, favorite office lamp, and perhaps even your desk chair!

Be Creative with Your Priorities. Meet with your manager to set expectations and agree on a game plan. Can your current assignments be handled from afar? If not, consider what can be done virtually during your time working offsite. Flexible work strategist Cali Williams Yost, CEO and Founder of Flex+Strategy Group, suggests listing backburner projects that could be completed during this time—like updating client lists or researching new product lines. Confirming these plans helps you prioritize and underscores the fact that while your specific tasks might be different, productivity will remain high.

Read the full article from Knoll here.