Spring is round the corner
How is working from home working for you?
- Although it wasn’t the plan, it has worked seamlessly. For 35 years I worked 5 days a week in the office - now it has been proved that this doesn’t need to be the case and I love that
What are the advantages?
- I'm much more agile, more flexible, and can manage my time better
- I don’t miss the commute but realise that it is important to create a distinction between work and downtime
- Switching from The City to the Thames Path and being closer to nature is more inspiring
- Meetings are more personal, a walk in the park with a colleague, client or candidate is a breath of fresh air
- I feel that we can be more supportive to each other; the team are more connected
- I sense a deep sense of belonging, being part of the team and the firm’s success
How do we operate now?
- Our 8.30 am meeting is the game changer. Everyone has a voice
- We have better processes, and a lighter carbon footprint
- We upgraded to the latest VOIP telecoms and hosted desktops so we can work anywhere, and provide seamless support for our candidates and clients
What has changed?
- Clients, candidates, leaders and teams have grown closer. Literally seeing their home lives has allowed them to share their authentic selves. I don’t see it as intrusive
- Strangely, being apart means better communication
- Candidates have more availability for registering and interviewing without travel
- We are all more agile, it's easy to have team briefings with clients so we are all on the same page
- We're more collaborative. Successes are shared as they happen and we can be more supportive to each other
Looking forward, what do you perceive your working plans to be?
- We’ve always given our team ownership of their working lives. I can see more flexible approaches to working will become the norm
- Going forward yes the office will be open. Waiting for news on that.
- Drawing on the lessons we’ve learned, we can be just as productive and less tied to the 8-6 Monday to Friday routine in EC2 commuting in peak hours. The Central Line in rush hour is not an attractive thought
- It will be a genuine pleasure seeing our colleagues, candidates and clients face to face again. Can't wait!
Director at Aldrich & Co
4 年My thoughts: How is working from home working for you?? - It's a pleasure - I worked mostly from home anyway, but having everyone else at home has made it feel so inclusive ? What are the advantages? - Work is always at your fingertips and while that needs to be watched, it means a thought or idea can be put into action so quickly - Lack of commute fatigue not to be underestimated.?A really bad journey to or from the office can create bad feelings towards work - Everyone at home = level playing field - We pick up the phones and talk to each other a lot more - 8.30 morning meeting is the game changer ? What has changed? - Strangely, being apart means better communication - Candidates have more availability for registering and interviewing without travel - With conference phone lines and zoom being the norm, it is easier to have a quick and inclusive meeting with clients and several consultants ? Looking forward, what do you perceive your working plans to be? - A true mix of the above, taking all the benefits along with the genuine pleasure of seeing our colleagues, candidates and clients face to face again.
RIBA Architect, Allies and Morrison
4 年Lovely post thanks Emily!
EA / PA / Project Co-Ordinator
4 年Thanks for sharing Emily, a great read.
MD Aldrich & Co | Executive Search | Recruitment | Business Coach
4 年Share your experiences with me. I have had some interesting conversations on the subject and would like to put it out there... What are you doing differently which is enhancing your life and your business? Have you recently started a new role and not met your colleagues in person yet? Has this given you a chance to reassess your goals?