By Deborah Rinner, VP, Chief Learning Officer
Lelia Gowland in an article entitled “Coronavirus Have You Working Remotely? Five Tips for Working From Home” shares some essentials to get the most out of working remotely.
- Tune into how you work best. When do others get the best out of you and why? What support do you need to be at your best? Set up that support be it a group, a call to check in with as colleague to chat or to build in accountability.
- Build a routine and create a dedicated work space. The Coronavirus has uncertainty built into it. Let your routine and your work space be designated as yours. If you dedicate a space no one else uses in the home, you can better separate family life from work. If you are video conferencing determine the best space for lighting, background etc,
- Share what’s going on if needed. The Coronavirus has us doing many unexpected things. If you have to mind a baby while on a conference call, or let a barking dog in the house while talking to a colleague, let people know what’s going on. We all need to expect and give grace to the situations we find ourselves in.
- Be conscious of your time management needs. Many people fret that they will be distracted at home. If you were at the office, people would stop by your desk and talk, or you might run out for a coffee. If you need a short break at home it is okay to throw a load of laundry in. The time is the same as natural breaks in the office. If distractions can get the better of you, use a time management app. Or schedule a “virtual work date” with a colleague and connect to work together virtually to simulate being in the office environment.
- Be flexible and compassionate. The Coronavirus has thrown all of us into uncharted territory. You are not alone if you feel stressed. We don’t know how long this will last and we are all adjusting on the fly. Gowland reminds us we can all do hard things, but what better time is there for new kinds of connecting and ways of showing compassion.