5 Ways to Optimize Working From Home
Working from home used to be a once in a while thing for some and an only-if-I-have-to thing for others. It’s now a must-do for almost everyone. With COVID-19 (coronavirus) uncertainty blanketing the globe, companies are enacting contingency plans which include encouraging or mandating personnel to work from home.
As someone who spent two decades managing projects in technology with teams spanning the globe, working from home was a necessity. It was always night time for someone on the call. But the art of working from home is tricky to master. Here are 5 tips to help you optimize working from home.
1. Bend But Don’t Break Your Routine
Let’s say your commute is 40 minutes each way. That’s 80 minutes a day you get back when you work from home. The trap is you lose your routine that gets you ready for work and ready to come back home.
Split the time saved without a commute. Dedicate half of that time on self-care and the other half on what gets you ready to work. The temptation is to bank that all as unstructured personal time, which could leave you unprepared to start the work day.
Here’s an example of how to take back that commuting time. For self-care have breakfast with the kids, do some yoga or grab an extra 20 minutes of sleep. Then spend 20 minutes with an activity that gets you ready for work. If you listen to podcasts or read on the way to work, create that same routine before you log on.
Without a routine you run the risk of not being ready to roll for that first meeting, “Oh wait this is a video call?” Bed Head and a bathrobe is not the most flattering look.
At the end of your day spend 20 minutes letting go of work activity. Write down tomorrow’s to-do’s, follow ups and reminders before you log off for the day. Then spend the extra 20 minutes enjoying some personal time.
2. Schedule Virtual Coffee Meetings
The reality is..it can get lonely working from home. The water cooler chats disappear. “Hey we’re going to grab lunch. Come with us.” That doesn’t happen. Your afternoon coffee partner is 2 hours away.
It’s no secret, humans are social beings. It is a secret that when you (and everyone else) work from home, you need to schedule those impromptu chats. Put it in the calendar.
10 minutes. Catch up. Chit-chat. Just like you would in the office. Fire up your personal espresso machine or steep that pot of fresh ginger tea. Bring your favorite mug to the computer and video chat with a friend from the office. It will help curb the work from home blues.
3. Avoid the Micro-Manager Vice Grip
“The farther away I am from my team, the tighter I manage.“ Does this describe you? Take a deep breath and trust that your team will produce. Keep them accountable, but avoid the tendency to stalk like a hawk and constantly keep tabs on your team.
If you are watching your instant message system to see when people are inactive, and then send them a message or email as soon as they step away, that’s a glowing neon sign you’re in micro-manager mode. People are under so much stress with the global state of health affairs. Feeling pressure from you to always be available will work against you and drain your team.
While working from home, people still need 5 minute breathers and time to eat. In the office, when you walk by someone’s desk and they aren’t there, you know they’ll be back shortly. Have that same mindset working remotely. Everyone won’t be on and active every moment of every day.
However, if someone is missing deadlines and a pattern is emerging, address it. Give them a call. Go into that conversation with an inquisitive mindset to see what’s going on.
4. Communicate When You Will Be Out of Pocket
While you don’t want your manager to “go Micro,” managers and team members shouldn’t go AWOL either. There is respect and integrity on both sides not to manage too tightly and to be proactive when you won’t be online during working hours.
Doctor’s appointments, unexpected home repairs, a sick relative – life will happen. But do take the extra step up front to let your manager and core team know when you won’t be available. Block it out in your calendar as out of office. You build trust by keeping the guessing games to a minimum.
5. Smile and Embrace Background Noise
With social distancing and closure of schools and day care, it will get crowded at home. Anticipate more activity on your conference calls and video chats. Not everyone has a separate room at home to dedicate as an office. Expect to hear doorbells, children, cats, dogs and the occasional parakeet.
Smile and go with the flow. There’s no shame in the work from home game, especially on a global scale. Stay flexible and don’t sweat the background sound effects.
To Wrap Up
COVID-19 has pushed the global professional world into uncharted waters. We are all in this together, even though we feel far apart. My hope is this article brought you a few helpful ideas and a smile during challenging times.