Burnout, while not exactly a new phenomenon, has been on the rise since the pandemic. In fact, according to a recent study, there has been a [sharp surge in the number of searches for 'signs of burnout](http://hrnews.co.uk/burnout-symptoms-increase-for-24-of-uk-employees-in-2020-january-burnout-spike-predicted/)' since the pandemic. With remote work set to most likely continue post the pandemic, it is important to discuss how to diagose burnout and treat it.

According to [this article by WebMD](https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/burnout-symptoms-signs#1), workplace burnout has the following symptoms:

&nbsp;  

### 1. Unmanageable workloads 

Workloads have increased tremendously since the pandemic and this is exacerbated by the difficulty in separating work from personal time. When working remotely, it is crucial to have a routine and establish boundaries. Try finishing work by a certain time. Too many meetings, which are a consequence of the pandemic can also have an adverse effect on employees, and if you feel this way it is important to communicate this with your manager.

&nbsp;  

### 2. Unfair treatment at work

Burnout can also be caused due to unfair treatment or lack of appreciation at work. It is important to reward hard work in little ways on a regular basis. [Neo](https://neoteam.app) helps you do this automatically through kudos and gratitude. 

&nbsp;  

### 3. Confusing work responsibilities

Confusing work responsibilities and priorities can make it difficult to understand where we should focus our attention at work, which leads to a feeling of helplessness. If you feel this way, you should discuss these issues with your manager in your weekly 1:1 meetings.

&nbsp;  
### 4. Lack of communication or support from managers

Often times, managers are very busy and do not have the time to mentor or guide their employees. If you feel this way, you should take the initiative to communicate these feelings with your manager in your weekly 1:1 meetings. Alternatively, you can also approach the HR department in your organization to discuss these thoughts. It is a manager's duty to take time out every week to mentor their reportees, as the saying goes - "employees leave managers, not companies".

&nbsp;  
### 5. Immense deadline pressure

Lastly, workloads seem to have increased due to the pandemic, and boundaries have become blurry which has lead to immense deadline pressure, causing stress and ultimately burnout. Use [Neo](https://neoteam.app) to check-in with your team regularly to understand the stress and pressure your team is going through. 

&nbsp;  

__While burnout happens gradually, not suddenly, it only takes a small tipping point to push you over the edge. It is important that you recognise these signs of burnout early, so you can take the right steps to address it. If you're a manager, you should have very regular check-ins with your employees to understand what they're going through. Neo enables team-building with fun and easy check-ins where employees can indicate their mood and answer a couple of quick questions.__


Burnout when working remotely is a big problem. Learn how to prevent it

How to prevent burnout when working remotely

It will not be an overstatement to say that remote work was one of the most commonly used words of 2020. In the crazy pandemic year of 2020, a lot of teams that had never worked remotely before the pandemic started working fully remote overnight - it was almost as if a switch was turned on in mid-March, 2020. However, remote work is also one of the most overused and often misunderstood terms around. 
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

## What is remote work?
Does remote work mean that teammates work from home but are co-located? Or does it mean working across timezones in a distributed team? What about hybrid teams? 

In a podcast with Sam Harris, Matt Mullenweg, the CEO of [Automattic](https://automattic.com/) (the company behind Wordpress), discussed [the five levels of levels of remote work](https://samharris.org/podcasts/194-new-future-work/) which I found very interesting. 

&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

## Levels of remote work
According to Matt, following are the five levels of remote work:
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
### Level 1 - Emergency and Sudden Transition
What if your entire team was working from an office and suddenly had to work from home overnight? This could be for a variety of reasons which may dicate the time horizon this has to be carried out for, but often the situation exists for a short period. With this sudden but albeit temporary switch, a team has to shift to a somewhat remote work setup overnight.

Remote work style - Use tools like cellphones, internet and others at your disposal but put off any deep or major collaborative work till you get back into the office.
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

### Level 2 - Simulate an office remotely
You decide to work remotely in a co-located location and define hours when the entire team must be online to collaborate (Monday to Friday between 9 AM to 5 PM for example). This is a mostly synchronous setup and you essentially try to simulate the office setup remotely. Companies also often use tracking tools because they don't trust employees as much. 

Tools used - Synchronous video tools like [Zoom](https://zoom.us/)
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

### Level 3 - Synchronous + shared real-time collaboration
In level 3, synchronous and real-time collaboration becomes the norm. Note taking and screen sharing happen collaboratively. Invest in written collaborative communication platforms like Google Docs or other shared documentation tools. Style and quality of communication becomes very important. 

Tools used - [Google Docs](https://docs.google.com) and tools that help improve audio communication like [Krisp.ai](https://krisp.ai/)
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

### Level 4 - Asynchronous Work
Levels 1 - 3 were mostly synchronous. At level 4, asynchronous work becomes the mode of operation. Distributed teams that are spread out across locations and timezones find it very difficult to collaborate synchronously. However, with the right asynchronous work process and tools in place, the productivity levels of such companies can be 3x or higher as compared to traditional co-located teams as teams can work around the clock with the right handoff procedures.

When you shift to asynchronous, decisions may take a bit longer but more thought goes into every decision. Also, a lot of time can be saved as meetings become unnecessary with the right communication tools and processes in place. [Neo](https://neoteam.app) is a tool that enables teams to do great asynchronous work, irrespective of timezones. Asynchronous can also level the playing field and allow introverts to have a strong enough voice in an organization. 

Tools used - [[Slack](https://slack.com/intl/en-in/)](https://slack.com/intl/en-in/ "Slack"), [Neo](https://neoteam.app "Neo")
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&nbsp;  

### Level 5 - Nirvana
![Nirvana gif](//images.ctfassets.net/fy4q4j0lu3mp/46JaWKKWKF2uzVogVl6d1d/e52276aa0049659d21c08ab77a27ae2e/giphy.gif)

At Level 5, you're doing better work than a co-located company that operates out of an office. You can design your environment and your day around health, mental wellbeing and holistic wellness. You can choose to go for walks during the day in between meetings or exercise at intervals during the day. At an organization level, when everyone is operating at this level, you can choose your own schedules during the day. At level 5, the focus is always on the output, not on the time spent at your desk.

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&nbsp;  

##### It's important to mention here that we're still in the early stages of the remote work evolution and companies will gradually move across the above spectrum over the next decade. Depending on your level, you can choose the tooling that works best for you. Feel free to get in touch with us for any questions related to remote or distributed work. 

The five levels of remote work, from physical co-located spaces to fully remote distributed companies

The five levels of remote work

Working remotely in the midst of a global pandemic, the most dangerous one that we've seen since the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 is no easy feat. Everyone's struggling with balancing work and family and drawing separations between their personal and work lives. Amidst all of this craziness, it is crucial that we have a structured work plan for the week as this can help us bring about some much needed sanity to our lives.

&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

## Weekly work plan for remote teams
Before we ponder over ideas for a weekly work plan, it is important to discuss why a week is the appropriate timeframe for a structured plan:
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

#### A week is enough time to measure regular improvement
While a day is often enough time to get tasks done, it is too little time to measure progress on team level metrics. In big teams, work moves between various departments over a few days and hence it takes at least a week to move the needle in a noticeable way. 
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

#### Teammates are engaged throughout the week in one stretch
A week is enough time to keep teammates engaged in one go and ensure that there is minimal context switch. There is a certain "work rythm" that can be established within the course of a week.
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

#### A week aligns well with agile product development cycles
Modern product development cycles are often a fortnight long, and are quickly shifting to being weekly. Team communication and work plans usually coincide very strongly with the product development cycle that the team follows.
&nbsp;  
&nbsp; 

With the reasons for creating a weekly work plan out of the way, let's discuss some ideas for a plan:
&nbsp;  
&nbsp; 

### Monday - discuss the weekend and set goals for the week 
Mondays are great for starting with a quick temperature check about what everyone did over the weekend. This serves as a great icebreaker to help the team open up and share what they did over the weekend. Once the team warms up and shares their weekend, discuss what they're excited to accomplish for the week and what goals they've set. It's important that the goals be S.M.A.R.T (Smart, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).

&nbsp;  
&nbsp; 

### Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - Check-in update
Have a daily check-in update for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. A check-in update typically consist of the following:
1. What's the plan?
2. What did you get done?
3. Any blockers?
4. How are you feeling?
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

[Neo](https://neoteam.app) check-ins consist of two simple questions:
1. What's the plan?
2. How's it going?

which help distributed teams indicate what they have planned for the day and the status of the planned tasks. Flags that indicate status or achievements - __"blocked"__, __"need review"__, __"milestone"__ can be added to every check-in item along with tags corresponding to goals. These flags and tags help make check-ins and updates easily searchable in the future.

&nbsp;  
&nbsp; 

### Friday - Reflections
Every Friday, the team should ponder over the week to answer the following questions:
1. How's it going?
2. What was your biggest accomplishment this week?
3. What are you looking forward to next week?
4. What's the plan for the weekend? 

These questions are often a part of the __Plans, Progress and Problems (PPP)__ framework, and help the team answer basic but important questions about the week.

These questions should also be followed by a team activity. 
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
![Weekly work plan gif](//images.ctfassets.net/fy4q4j0lu3mp/3pjXc1MYPockmVSmaRlLBm/61a01e1b1724db0ed085df0cb85107f1/giphy.gif)
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
Having a structured plan like the above helps distributed teams stay focused and motivated. Routines and a structured weekly work plan are immensely important for distributed teams.

Create a weekly work plan for your remote team that will help your team be productive and motivated

Weekly work plan for remote teams

Asynchronous communication is the need of the hour with [remote and distributed work on the rise](https://www.lifesize.com/en/distributed-work-hub). If scheduling countless meetings via Zoom frustrate you, you should switch over to asynchronous means of communication. 
&nbsp;  
&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 

![Meetings](//images.ctfassets.net/fy4q4j0lu3mp/1GnAMPyu4hT8bj4OwxIZ61/51e7fd34b27fd071b7cf42be989d8d53/giphy.gif)
&nbsp;   
&nbsp; 
&nbsp;  

Asynchronous communication enables teams to adopt timezone-friendly methods of communication that help eliminate needless meetings and scheduling woes. Asynchronous communication also helps teammates choose their own flexible working hours since they no longer have to attend meetings at odd hours. This brings about employee happiness and greatly improves employee retention. Asynchronous communication also helps employees focus on deep work which is extremely important for distributed teams. [The advantages of asynchronous modes of communication](https://neoteam.app/asynchronous-communication-for-distributed-teams) make asynchronous tools a must-have in any distributed organization. 
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
That being said, let's look at some of the most popular tools that enable asynchronous communication for distributed teams. 

&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

### Most popular asynchronous communication tools
&nbsp;  
[Slack](https://slack.com)
&nbsp;  
We can't discuss asynchronous communication tools without mentioning Slack. Slack is a communication and messaging platform designed for teams and has integrations with a plethora of tools (through its marketplace). Slack allows users to set their notifications on mute after work hours, which helps distributed workers maintain their sanity.
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

[Notion](https://www.notion.so/)
&nbsp;  
Notion is a tool used for organizing documents that has gained immense popularity in recent years. Notion has various "blocks" like Text, To-do list, Heading, etc. which can be combined beautifully to create feature-rich documents. These documents can then be shared across the team and serve as internal wiki pages for companies.
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

[Microsoft Teams](https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/microsoft-365/microsoft-teams/group-chat-software)
&nbsp;  
Microsoft Teams is an asynchronous communication tool similar to Slack. Microsoft Teams also includes video meeting integration in addition to the messaging functionality and allows users to communicate irrespective of timezones.
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

[Neo](https://neoteam.app)
&nbsp;  
Neo is an asynchronous communication platform designed for distributed teams, and helps teams collaborate better with regular check-ins and routines. Check-ins are a better way to do standups and help distributed teams be more productive. Neo asks teammates to check-in with simple questions every day to indicate what they're currently working on. This helps create a positive culture and bring the team together. Neo also combines all your favourite tools including Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Docs, Google Drive, Asana, Zoom, Figma, and many more so you can access work with 1-click. 
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

[Figma](https://figma.com) 
&nbsp;  
Figma is a design platform widely used by distributed teams. Figma consists of an interface that includes Design, Prototype, and Inspection all-in-one, which simplifies the UX process for designers and product managers. Moreover, it is all web-based and thus one doesn't need to install an app to use it. 
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

[Invision](https://www.invisionapp.com/)
&nbsp;   
Invision is a prototyping tool that greatly aids in the product development process. Invision includes click-mocks that make prototypes look and function like real products. Invision enables designers to convey what they're working on through various hotspots and animations that work right in the user's mobile device or laptop. 
&nbsp;  
&nbsp; 

[Zeplin](https://zeplin.io/)
&nbsp;  
Zeplin is a very unique design tool and it allows for design handoffs between UX designers and front-end developers. Designers can export their designs from Figma, Sketch or another design tool and Zeplin converts said designs into CSS code that be readily used by front-end developers.
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

[Todoist](https://todoist.com/)
&nbsp;  
Todoist is a task management app that is simple to use and takes a minimalistic approach to project management. Todoist is widely used by millions of users and over 100,000 teams. 
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

[Asana](https://asana.com)
&nbsp;  
Asana is a project management tool that helps teams coordinate with each on projects by setting tasks and deadlines. Each project can have multiple tasks and tasks can be shared with team members easily throughout the organization. 
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

[Monday.com](https://monday.com)
&nbsp;  
Monday.com is a project management tool similar to Asana that has a variety of templates, which can be readily used by teams to set up their internal project management systems. Monday.com has a plethora of integrations and combines very well with other products.
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

[Toggl](https://toggl.com/)
&nbsp;  
Time management is a very important aspect in distributed companies. Distributed workers must manage their time very effectively to ensure they drive maximum impact. Toggl is a time management tool which makes it seamless to track the day. Just set a timer and you're done. The timer can also be set for individual projects and tasks, which helps teams track how much time each project is taking up, and helps teams use their time wisely.
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

[Clockify](https://clockify.me/)
&nbsp;  
Clockify is a time management tool similar to Toggl which helps teams manage time spent on projects. Clockify is designed for companies of all sizes and helps teams manage time spent across projects as both projects and teams scale up. 
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

[Zendesk](https://www.zendesk.com/)
&nbsp;  
Zendesk is a among the most popular customer support tools, and also includes Sales CRM and customer engagement products. Zendesk is great for asynchronous distributed teams as it eliminates the hassle of distributing support tickets and work across distributed teams.
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

[Freshdesk](https://freshdesk.com)
&nbsp;  
Freshdesk is another widely used customer support tool and has more friendly pricing for startups and small to medium organizations. 
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;    

[Intercom](https://www.intercom.com/)
&nbsp;  
Intercom is one of the [most popular customer messaging](https://www.g2.com/products/intercom/reviews) apps and has a variety of features from messaging to customer support to product tours, which all leverage its user friendly chat-based platform. 
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

[Freshchat](https://www.freshworks.com/live-chat-software/)
&nbsp;  
If you're looking for a more cost-effective alternative to Intercom, definitely check out Freshchat. Freshchat is a customer messaging platform and is quite similar to Intercom but offers a free tier, which is great for small to medium organizations and startups. 

&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

**2021 is poised to see a growth in distributed work and with it, the asynchronous tools that we use will also matter a whole lot more. Using the right asynchronous communication tools will be key to maintaining productivity, collaboration and culture across the organization.**

These most popular asynchronous communication tools can help your team be more productive

Most popular tools for asynchronous communication

The number of meetings has increased significantly due to COVID, and [the average employee will spend 35%-50% of their work life in meetings](https://www.cleverism.com/time-spent-in-meetings/#:~:text=The%20average%20middle%20level%20manager,of%20their%20time%20in%20meetings.). It is no secret that meetings are hated by many, and some of the reasons are - waste of time, lack of an agenda, and no follow-up after the meeting. Meetings are even more of a hassle for distributed and remote teams as it is quite a pain to coordinate time-zones for Zoom meetings with a distributed team. Reduce the number of meetings by having check-ins instead of meetings.
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
## Check-ins as substitutes for meetings
A check-in is a new way of doing a status update, and is a great way for teams to collaborate. With a check-in, you can indicate what you're currently working on and what you're done with. Check-ins further include flags that correspond to a status like Blocked, Need Review, etc. and tags that pertain to objectives (individual, team, and/or company objectives).
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
### Why is a check-in a better substitute for meetings?
Check-ins have the following advantages over meetings:
1. __Great for distributed teams__
&nbsp;  
Meetings are great for teams that are co-located or in a similar timezone. With distributed work on the rise, teams across a company are spread out geographically and coordinating time slots is a pain. This is where check-ins have a massive advantage. With a quick asynchronous check-in every member of the team can indicate what they're working on and where they're stuck. These updates can be tied to company-wide objectives and can be cascaded all the way up to the higher management. 
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

2. __Save time and increase productivity__
&nbsp;  
Check-ins help save time due to their asynchronous nature and every team member can submit the check-in at any time of the day. This flexibility aids in their productivity and they have more time to focus on deep work. 
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

3. __Cross-team collaboration__
&nbsp;  
Check-ins increase collaboration between teams because teammates can let each other know about the status of a task in their check-in. For example, if teammate A is blocked on "design review for mobile app", they can let their entire team know through their check-in and one of their teammates can help them out. 
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

4. __All your company initiatives in one place__ 
&nbsp;  
[Neo](https://neoteam.app) integrates with all popular project management like Asana, Github, JIRA and document management tools like Google Drive, Google Docs, Notion, etc. so all the tools used by various employees and departments within an organization can be brought in one place and tied to company-wide objectives. Moreover, you can quickly see the progress on an objective by viewing all the check-ins that have been made against that objective. 
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

To conclude, I'd like to add that several meetings can be replaced with quick asynchronous check-ins, which are great for distributed teams and help save a ton of time, which helps the teams be more productive and focus on deep work.


Reduce meetings with quick asynchronous check-ins that help teams collaborate better and be more productive

Reduce meetings with quick check-ins

It will be an understatement to say that the way we work has forever changed post 2020. Offices will serve a different purpose once we're through this and it is quite clear that [the wide variety of employees prefer working remotely](https://www.talentlyft.com/en/blog/article/385/covid-19-work-from-home-stats-is-remote-work-here-to-stay).

While remote work has tremendous benefits, working remotely can also be a challenge for many, especially during the time of a global pandemic. That being said, there are some tried and tested ways to improve productivity while working remotely as follows:

&nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;  

## Establish a daily routine

Do you feel like you lose track of time while working remotely? When are co-workers are not around, it can be easy to lose track of time and get distracted. A daily routine helps us keep track of time and stay more productive. Routines are extremely important while working remotely and here are some quick daily routines you can establish:

&nbsp;  

### 1. Wake up at the same time everyday 

![Wake up gif](//images.ctfassets.net/fy4q4j0lu3mp/4tCr11w4jX5Wu0YS8nUMLW/1d5356083feb0703533acf440f2166e3/giphy.gif)

If you're an early riser or if you're not a morning person, in either case, you should try to wake up at the same time every day. By waking up at the same time every day, our body maintains a certain rythm which is essential to helping us maintain the highest levels of productivity. 

&nbsp;  &nbsp;  

### 2. Have a morning routine
After you get up, you should begin your day on a positive note and having a morning routine helps tremendously in this regard. Some examples of a morning routine include yoga, exercise, and breathing.

&nbsp;  &nbsp;  

### 3. Take a shower and put on pants

![pants gif](//images.ctfassets.net/fy4q4j0lu3mp/7viZWyYgIjUvwWJXyY6UMB/2b34d13d25241a90dc6e83769f8c8300/giphy.gif)

Is more explanation needed here?

&nbsp;  &nbsp;  

### 4. Take a lunch break

Taking a regular lunch break every day may help you simulate the office experience. Lunch breaks also help us bond with the team in the case of remote workers.

&nbsp;  &nbsp;  

### 5. Go for regular walks

Going for a brisk walk can be a great way to relax and getting some much needed fresh air. 

&nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;  

## Use the right tools

There has been an increase in the number of tools that significantly improve productivity while working remotely, and using the right set of tools is of utmost importance. Following are some tools that are commonly used by remote workers:

&nbsp;  
[Slack](https://slack.com)

Slack is a popular messaging app for the workplace. Teams of all sizes use Slack regularly to communicate asynchronously. 

&nbsp;  
[Zoom](https://zoom.us/)

Zoom is a platform to conduct video meetings and has become immensely popular in recent years as a substitute for face-to-face or meetings in a physical space.

&nbsp;  
[Asana](https://asana.com/)

Asana is a popular project management platform to organize tasks and projects between team members. Teammates can assign each other tasks along with due dates and mark complete when done. 

&nbsp;  
[Monday.com](https://monday.com)

Monday.com is similar to Asana and is another popular project management tool. Monday.com comes with a ton of project management templates along with automations. 

&nbsp;  
[Neo](http://neoteam.app/)

Neo is a platform for asynchronous check-ins and collaboration for distributed teams. With Neo your team can send asynchronous status and progress updates along with daily check-ins so that everyone knows what work is being done. 

&nbsp;  
[Lattice](http://lattice.com/)

Lattice is a platform for your team to establish regular feedback cycles (360 degree feedback) so everyone is on the same page. 

&nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;  

## Appreciate your coworkers

Last, but not the least, appreciate your coworkers. Remote work can be challenging for newcomers, especially teammates early on in their careers. Take the time to appreciate coworkers and express gratitude for their support. We're all in it together 💪


Be super productive working remotely with the following tips

How to be productive working remotely

According to a recent study, the [State of Remote Work 2020](https://lp.buffer.com/state-of-remote-work-2020) conducted by Buffer, Collaboration and communication are the biggest struggles for remote workers, with over 20% of the participants surveyed indicating that they've had problems with collaboration and communication while working remotely.
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
With remote work, especially across distributed teams, it becomes very difficult to know what your teammates are working on. This is even more of a problem in companies that have many teams spread across timezones. Zoom calls work great for remote communication in the same or similar timezones, but becomes a pain for asynchronous communication. With the number of meetings having [increased in recent times](https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/you-re-right-you-are-working-longer-and-attending-more-meetings), do you really want to add more meetings at odd hours to your calendar?
&nbsp;   
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
## Regular check-ins improve teamwork

What if there was a new way to work that helped distributed teams collaborate better?
&nbsp;  

![checkin-superman-gif](//images.ctfassets.net/fy4q4j0lu3mp/5yqxESYuVpEnHzTcUWKaZ6/9275d41da63d07d2f727de3d35a93127/giphy.gif)
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  

### Check-ins

A check-in is a new way to do status updates. With a quick check-in, you can indicate what you're working on. A check-in can be tagged to an objective or a project and can be flagged as "Blocked", "Need review" or anything else to indicate the status.
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
Check-ins can be conducted asynchronously over Slack or the [Neo](https://neoteam.app) web app. High-performing teams have very regular check-ins often daily, which help in establishing rythm and order to the craziness of remote work. A teammate can also indicate their mood over a quick check-in and answer a team building question, which helps the team bond and collaborate better. 
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
## Goal setting for teams and companies

Check-ins are great 👍, but how do they help companies communicate better?
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
Check-ins are tied to objectives, which can be created at a team level and help companies know what initiatives are being done at the team level. Check-ins also help improve visibility even across teams and departments. 
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
For example, marketing teams can easily indicate to the engineering team that a project they're working on is done, and vice-versa.   
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;
## Team building for distributed teams

With a distributed team, it is imperative to have team building included as a part of regular daily routines. Neo helps establish such team-building practices with thoughtful questions included as a part of the regular check-in. 
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
Team-building questions are careful chosen from a library of over 300+ curated questions to help provide team building in small doses as a part of regular collaboration. 
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
## Check-ins eliminate useless meetings

Have you ever been in a meeting and felt - "gosh, this meeting should have just been an email"? 
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
Check-ins help eliminate unnecessary meetings that should have just been updates, which helps save many hours over the short term and days and months over the longer term. Meetings should be conducted in situations when multi-way conversations are necessary, but this is hardly the real situation. 
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
Most meetings are still conducted as a way to quickly get the status update, and this ends up wasting a lot of time especially in the case of distributed teams. 
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  
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&nbsp;  

---

In conclusion, check-ins help distributed teams collaborate and communicate better. Check-ins help improve goal setting, team-building and save time. To establish check-ins and other important remote team routines, check out [Neo](https://neoteam.app)

Regular check-ins help distributed teams stay in-sync and communicate better

We write about teamwork and culture for remote teams 🚀

How to prevent burnout when working remotely

The five levels of remote work

Weekly work plan for remote teams

Most popular tools for asynchronous communication

Reduce meetings with quick check-ins

How to be productive working remotely

Regular check-ins for teamwork and communication

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