When the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a new era of remote work in March of 2020, there was no telling how long our offices would be closed and how successful we would be at telecommuting every day. Now, as we move toward the second year of this remote work experiment, it is clear that for many working remotely has proven to be a successful experience, and one that shows no signs of ending as we move closer to a post-COVID-19 future.

With the assistance of video conferencing platforms, remote collaboration tools, and an influx of virtual communication apps, those who found themselves working remotely this past year were able to translate nearly their entire working life into their home offices. Although there were some skeptics about the productivity levels of remote employees, they were quickly proved wrong when it was revealed that 75% of people were the same or more productive during COVID-19 while working from home.

While there were many highs of working remotely in a year of so many global lows, one high has stood out above the rest: working remotely has led to an increase in more democratic meetings.

Why Remote Work Leads to More Democratic Meetings

For those with minimal experience participating in remote work before the COVID-19 made working from home their daily reality, there was hesitation about making the transition. Now, a year into remote work, the transition to working remotely was so successful that 1 in 2 people say that they won’t return to jobs that don’t offer remote work after COVID-19. 

A key component to this revelation? Employees across industries have revealed that working remotely puts everyone on an equal playing field. With everyone working remotely, from the company founders to the brand new hires, gone is the hierarchical atmosphere present in the brick and mortar offices of yesteryear and here to stay is a more inclusive environment that favors the input of all employees equally.

Without the tangible structure of an office separating employees there is more opportunity for an equal transfer of energy. In the age of remote work everyone is as accessible as they are online and the only thing setting us apart is the background of our Zoom calls.

So, how exactly did remote work lead to more democratic meetings?

• For in-person meetings, it is clear who is leading the meeting based on where they are located in the room. The leaders are at the front of the meeting space and the other meeting attendees are seated facing them, nonverbally agreeing that the leaders have the floor. By removing the physical meeting space, this hierarchical barrier is also removed and the virtual meeting becomes innately more democratic.
• By putting all meeting attendees on an equal playing field, those meeting attendees who may have otherwise been too intimidated or introverted to vocally participate are more likely to share their ideas with the group. This equal-footing meeting environment leads to an increase in shared ideas and opens the remote meeting up to a more collaborative discussion.
• Depending on the video conferencing platform your organization uses, there are a variety of nonverbal tools that meeting attendees can use to get their voices heard— as opposed to the only option during in-person meetings— speaking. With tools such as virtual hand raising and chat features, meeting attendees can chime in without speaking up.
• An additional perk solely contributed to virtual meetings is that of the breakout room. After in-person meetings are concluded, attendees typically return to their desks and return to work regardless of if they have remaining concerns about issues addressed in the meeting. With virtual meetings, holding smaller follow-up meetings in a breakout room is often as easy as two clicks of the mouse. Due to their approachable nature, breakout rooms have the potential to be a hotspot for innovation.
• To make the most out of your remote meetings, embrace their virtual nature. Think of them as a new type of collaboration, one through which you have the opportunity to tap into previously unheard ideas by your more introverted employees. Remote meetings are the ultimate level playing field, take advantage of your new virtual reality by embracing the potential of more democratic meetings.
  
  

How to Make Remote Work More Inclusive

More democratic meetings is just one of the facets of remote work that lends itself to creating a more inclusive workplace environment. But an inclusive workplace environment doesn’t just happen on its own, it is a product of intentional progress. While working from home during a global pandemic comes with understandable stress factors, it has also created an opportunity that many organizations are taking to put into place systems that foster and support inclusivity for all employees.

According to Diana Ellsworth, a partner at McKinsey & Company based in Atlanta, achieving an inclusive professional environment takes the combined powers of systemic effort and the behavior of individuals— and the hard work is always worth the effort. "Effective people management demands inclusive behavior, not least because inclusion leads to better outcomes and can support foundational business goals,” Ellsworth said.

So, what are the efforts that can be made by organizations with remote employees who strive for a more inclusive workplace culture? Inclusivity is the byproduct of accessibility. When all employees have equal access to the necessary tools and materials, only then can inclusivity be achieved. Begin your organization’s journey to inclusivity by asking for feedback from your employees. Ask them questions such as:

• What can the company do to best support you while working remotely?
• Are there equipment or tools that you need the company to provide to you as you work remotely?
• What are the biggest obstacles you face while working remotely?
• What would make you more productive when working remotely?
  
  

Once you have the answers to these guiding questions, you have the information you need to assist your remote employees. This assistance will look like anything from providing the top remote work software and hardware to providing them with ergonomic chairs to support them as they work from their home offices. 

The key to creating a more inclusive remote work experience for all of your employees is to stay flexible and willing to evolve. And if the last year has made anything clear it’s this: the future is flexible. To fully embrace flexible work and looking to the future, here is everything you need to know about How to Work From Anywhere.