So you've been told to work from home. Where to start?
The onslaught of the Covid19 pandemic has changed every aspect of our lives. The economy has taken a massive hit as we all hunker down in our homes. So many people have lost their jobs or been furloughed waiting to be called back to work. If you were lucky enough to keep your job but were told to work from home, there will be quite an adjustment for households - especially if you have children at home who aren’t able to attend school.
So, stock up on those bleach wipes, toilet paper and frozen pizza, then prepare for your remote work career to begin:
Speak to your household. The people in your home need to understand that you have to work. Explain to them that you are indeed blessed to be able to keep a job and that things will have to be different in the home during work hours. Set boundaries for disruptions, especially with little ones. Give older children responsibilities with the younger ones allowing you to work.
Set up your work space. Find a space in your home where you realistically can see yourself working. Try to locate a spot that you can actually leave when it’s time to clock out. Good lighting and enough space to spread out all of your work items is important to your productivity and comfort. A window is a bonus!
Multiple remote workers in a home? In my home now, we both are having to find work areas that are conducive to optimum work. With families perhaps one can work while the other is with the children and then trade off every few hours. In my home, I tend to be very loud on the phone while my spouse likes to work with background noise and doesn’t enjoy listening to my phone calls! There is also the internet speed to be considered. It could slow down with multiple persons using it at once. Consider spacing out work times for all involved so that internet speed can be maintained. Concessions must be made so all can do their jobs.
Establish communication with the office. Some businesses have never had remote workers, so this new concept will take a little time to establish. Pack your patience. Download and be sure the agreed upon communication method works at your home. Zoom, Skype, conference calling or however your meetings will take place. You don’t want your first meeting with the team to be interrupted because you didn’t ensure your connections worked properly. This is a time waster and frustrating to those involved. Everyone is stressed so do your part to decrease it.
Have a daily work plan. If you have never worked from home it can be a difficult change especially when it comes to a daily work plan. It’s hard to focus on your work when loads of laundry are at your feet, you can smell the pizza the kids are eating and you can hear your spouse watching Netflix. Make a list of tasks and meetings to be completed each day and stick to it. For some people it takes even more structure to work from home. If that's you, then work your daily task list taking planned breaks to exercise, eat or simply check on the family. You may find that you are getting even more done at home than at the office considering the distractions that an office environment entails.
Over Communicate. The newness of this stay-at-home world we now live in, the silent fear involved with Covid19 along with a home-based workload can stifle all of our voices. Our work relationships are now long distance so we all have to communicate at a much higher level. Phone, video and email platforms of communication limit the senses we use to analyze others' communication. It’s possible that not everyone on the team wanted to work from home and for those this mode of work can be even more stressful. If something feels off, speak up so that any misunderstandings are nipped in the bud early. Managers would benefit from over communicating also. There is nothing an employee likes more than clear guidance. It decreases general confusion and helps with achieving the company’s goals. Give everyone the opportunity to contribute especially those that tend to be quiet. All voices should be appreciated and encouraged.
Feelings of isolation. The American public may feel isolated during this difficult, unknown pandemic with social distancing and staying home. Isolation is also a real side effect for some who work from home, especially if it wasn’t your choice. We miss the break room chatter, coffee and donuts. Our best pal sits next to us and knows all about our lives. It’s so much better to share the office gossip in person than over technology. At this time of home quarantine chances are you are not the only person in your home so you are not totally isolated but you are not in contact with those who make up a large part of your life, your work team. Find time to chat with your best buddy at work during your work day. Plan a lunch or breakfast during a team meeting so you all can drink coffee or eat lunch together. This could be fun especially if using a video platform where all participants can see each other. It can only help to reconnect you with your coworkers and increase your mental health.
Covid19 has us all overwhelmed. The constant drone of the newscasters and politicians have us not knowing what to believe and now we are told we will be working from home! We have to find a focus point. Some find that in their faith and some find that work can be the focus that keeps them doing what is in their control and helps them feel normal.
When this is all said and done there will be benefits and changes to the workforce. Companies may decide that remote work is the right type of work and implement it where they are able. Better communication amongst work teams may well be another benefit.
The Covid19 pandemic will be a temporary situation. We will make it through and come out the other side better for it. During the meantime remember to be kind and considerate of each other as we all navigate these turbulent waters.
I offer a completely free 30 minute introductory job interview coaching session. Contact me today to prepare for your tomorrow!