Distant and hybrid work was edge circumstances. They’re not anymore, and main software program is altering to replicate that.
Google Calendar, for instance, is including features particular to the transition to distant and hybrid work. The power to set your work location and break up your workday into items are each current modifications that replicate the truth of this decade (and the last decade to come back). When and the place you work are extra versatile now; Google Calendar is now versatile sufficient to match that.
Listed here are a number of Google Calendar features each distant and hybrid staff ought to strive.
- Set your work location.
- Split your work hours.
- Broadcast your out-of-office time.
- Make Zoom the default video app.
- Create focus time.
Table of Contents
1. Set your work location
Hybrid work means you’re within the workplace some days and at residence on others. This flexibility is nice however could make scheduling in-person conferences a little bit of a headache—except you recognize who shall be the place when. This is the reason Google Calendar now has a work location characteristic.
With this, you possibly can specify while you plan to be within the workplace and while you plan to be at residence. You possibly can change your location within the calendar, as proven above, or you possibly can arrange a regular weekly routine in your settings beneath Working hours and placement.
2. Cut up your work hours
Distant groups can sometimes set their very own hours. A couple of of my coworkers break up their workday between the early morning and the late afternoon to allow them to deal with their youngsters in the course of the day. This kind of flexibility is life-changing, sure, however it could make planning conferences irritating. This is the reason Google Calendar now allows you to split your work hours. You might, for instance, work a block from 6 to 10 a.m. and one other from 1 to five p.m. This reveals up in your calendar when somebody tries to make an appointment with you.
It’s a small factor, certain, nevertheless it’s a recognition that distant and hybrid groups function exterior the normal nine-to-five. Like all software program features, it’s helpful provided that your organization tradition buys in; that’s, if individuals honor the hours you set whereas making appointments. However this characteristic permits for the likelihood, and that makes a distinction for distant groups.
3. Use the out-of-office characteristic
It’s very easy to work more when you work from home as a result of all the things you’ll want to do your job is at all times proper there. On some degree, it’s on particular person workers to outline these boundaries—one thing that’s notably true while you go on trip.
Google Calendar affords an out-of-office feature that’s straightforward to miss but important for distant groups. Make an appointment, as standard, however specify that it’s an Out-of-office block. Any appointments at present in that block shall be turned down, as will any appointments proposed going ahead.
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This characteristic makes it so much simpler for me to unplug as a result of it informs others after I can’t make it to a gathering and, crucially, shifts the burden of rescheduling onto the one who proposed an appointment throughout my trip. We’re going to want extra features like this as distant and hybrid work change into the norm.
4. Set Zoom to be your default video conferencing app
I really like Google Meet—it’s one of many best video conferencing apps in my view. Having stated that, I perceive why many groups desire Zoom. By default, Google Calendar appointments use Google Meet, however you can also make Zoom the default video chat app.
It’s a bit of sophisticated however worthwhile for devoted Zoom customers. You’ll want to put in the Zoom for Google Workspace extension after which disable Google Meet within the Google Workspace administrator settings. Take a look at our guide for step-by-step directions.
5. Create focus time
It’s straightforward to inform if somebody is busy in an workplace: You possibly can see what they’re doing. It’s a bit of tougher on a distant staff. Google Calendar just lately added a Focus time choice for this motive. That is nice for specifying a block of time while you’re going to shut your staff chat app and deal with a single job.
These blocks of time look much like different appointments in your calendar—the primary seen distinction is a headphone icon.
You possibly can optionally decline conferences throughout your focus-time block, in order for you, making it much like the out-of-office characteristic talked about above. I exploit this to dam out devoted time for writing. I’m certain you possibly can consider one thing you want this characteristic for. Simply ensure you block distractions whilst you’re making an attempt to focus.
The office is altering—and can proceed to vary—in methods firms and workers alike are simply beginning to perceive. Features like these assist us sustain within the meantime.
