Work From Home Tips

Since the start of the Covid19 pandemic, a large cross section of our worldwide workforce had to quickly adapt to working from home. Fully remote and hybrid work is now common place in most industries. Surveys continue to show that a large percentage of employees still want the flexibility of remote work. As well, many employers are seeing the benefits of having a virtual workforce.

I had the advantage of working remotely for several years prior to the pandemic. Our center of 500 employees moved to completely virtual, and as a senior manager I played an integral role in making that a success.

I’d like to share some pro tips and suggestions to help improve your work from home experience.

Workspace and Technology

Whether you are just moving to work from home or have been home for many months now, the first step is to apply some focus on your workspace and technology.

I will admit when I started working from home, for the first several months I worked on my laptop alternating between the kitchen and the dining room table.

Creating a dedicated workspace promotes focus, efficiency, and professionalism.

Your couch and your bed are not appropriate workspaces.

Make sure you are close to your internet source/modem, power outlets and good lighting, a window is preferable. If possible, a room with a closed door can reduce distractions. Also, it’s helpful to think about avoiding parts of your home that may pick up noise from neighbors or traffic.

Beyond learning the basic technology for normal job functions I suggest investing extra effort to feel comfortable with the various communication tools and learn how to be as self sufficient with technology as possible.

Tech issues are inevitable, so being aware of troubleshooting and support resources is imperative.

Troubleshooting begins with restarting, powering on and off software and hardware. Start with your computer and then try other equipment like your modem. Know how to reach tech support when restarts don’t resolve the issue.

Don’t assume that tech issues are exclusively from your employer. It may be your employer’s servers or VPN but it may be your internet service provider. Learn how to distinguish the root issue.

When tech issues arise, make sure to alert colleagues you report to or that report to you so that someone knows your are currently unable to work.

Communication is key to working from home.

Beyond tech issues, become comfortable with the various technology for communication and staff support.

Everyone is using video conferencing, so get used to being on camera. If possible, set up your video so you appear to be looking directly into the camera. These instantly creates a stronger connection and engagement.

Please don’t worry about your employer using the camera to spy on you. I promise they don’t have the technology or time to turn on your camera and watch you eat your sandwich.

No matter the type of meetings you are attending, master the use of the mute button. When entering a meeting, after saying hello, mute. Only unmute when speaking. Use the chat feature to introduce your idea and then you can unmute to elaborate.

Intentional and Deliberate in your Connections

Along with communication, connection is another key to work from home success.

Your leaders should be creating forums and platforms for staff communication and engagement. It’s up to you to be active and accountable in your efforts to connect in order for the tools to work for you.

We get hungry to remind us to eat, tired to remind us to sleep, and lonely to remind us to connect with others. Human connection is a survival instinct to ensure you are well supported and have access to resources.

We all want to belong, so do yourself a favor and participate in your work community. You don’t have to be the cheerleader, champion, birthday buddy, you only need to make routine efforts to engage. It’s good for your career and your mental health.

Blend & Balance Work and Life

Think about the work load and hours you need to complete and create a work schedule that incorporates life as much as possible.

I would log on early, read email and prepare for my work day while getting my kids ready for school. I’d briefly check in with my direct reports before taking my son to school. When I returned, I was ready to jump straight into my work day.

It’s important to take breaks to interact with pets, stretch your legs, get some exercise but also be careful to avoid routine distractions that can rob your productivity.

Your work from home career may not garner the respect you deserve and need from your family or roommates. Equally they may feel intrusion with you bringing work life into home life. It’s crucial to hold a conversation with those you are living with to convey your professional needs, listen to their needs, and develop a plan together.

The Pros and Cons to working from home are deep.

• Pro — You don’t have to invest time in getting ready and fighting traffic to travel to and from the office.
• Con — Isolation and loneliness can be real problems for remote workers so you must be intentional in your connections with others.
• Pro — You have much more flexibility in your day to interact with family, friends, pets, and hobbies.
• Con — You often must be internally motivated and self sufficient as you don’t have the same support structure as a physical office.