Working Remotely Is More Than Just Working From Home

Remote working has been around for decades, but in the last week, many people have been thrown into it without previous experience. Articles about the tools and technology of remote working -- reminding us to use a good microphone and quality headphones, or have a distinct and separate home location that you set up for work, and check email frequently -- are plentiful and they help outline the mechanics of remote working. That advice will help us get stuff done but working successfully requires a change in attitude and adoption of those tools and technologies - two things that haven't always happened. Now they have to. They are mandatory in this new normal or at least in this normal-for-now. At Clockwork, we’ve been thinking about something beyond the technology itself: we've been thinking a lot about adapting our work culture and work relationships while we are distributed throughout our living rooms. 

Exploring how to create a palpable culture on and within remote teams has been a Clockwork goal for the last few years. Because, even though we've always been ahead of the adoption curve, our culture is unique (people really like being in the office) and working at home doesn't always involve thinking about culture. But our focus has long been on what it takes to extend a healthy culture and some real humanity to remote teams. We realized a long time ago - it all starts with your values. Your values establish the energy on your teams and dictate how your work 'place' feels. This is as true when you’re not in the same room as when you are. Though how those values look in action will change. The cultural components of remote working are as important as the mechanics of it, maybe more important. So, what should we keep in mind as we make this abrupt shift?

Get creative about keeping in touch. So many of us already regularly use Zoom or Google Hangouts or some kind of video conferencing for meetings. We're no different. We've been integrating video into our meetings and stand-ups as part of our formal work structure, but now we are using it for virtual co-working. We have a standing, 1.5-hour hangout that anyone can log into for company, conversation, and connection. This is especially helpful for people who live alone and feel this required isolation more severely during social distancing. 

Accept that we are taking care of many things at the same time. Under normal circumstances, the norm is to minimize distractions while working remotely. These are not normal circumstances, for us or anyone else. Distractions will happen. We have to be patient and give colleagues space to take care of their families and themselves. Someone's little one might need attention, someone else will have to step away from the call to tend to some urgent matter, and someone else’s internet speed might not quite be up the demands of video conferencing. We have to practice forgiveness, tolerance, and patience.

Try new things. One of our values is “fueled by challenge” and that one has come into play heavily over the last week. We are figuring things out without a playbook. This is probably the case for many teams right now. We’re experimenting with new ways to communicate, to work together, and to check in with each other and clients. The collaboration and conversation required at work three weeks ago are still needed. We are flexing our skills and attitudes to embrace what this might look like going forward. 

Find unplanned opportunities to connect. Work is not just about how we’re working, it’s also about how we’re connecting. We are looking for new ways to invest in the relationships that make work wonderful and meaningful. Remote working can feel more structured because drop-ins and spontaneous conversations aren’t as simple.

Help people out. Our home lives look a million different ways — people have kids, dogs, parents, roommates, partners, and more. Another one of our values is being helpful and now there are so many more opportunities to find how we can be helpful. We are asking ourselves how we can help if someone has a kid and another colleague doesn’t. Is there a way to divvy up work so the parent can be a parent during this difficult time? 

Do ‘virtual' anything. It’s become apparent that groups can do many things via a video call. Friends can meet for happy hour, yoga studios can host live classes, and libraries can have storytime. Think about this at work. My spouse is seeing her clients via video call but took a break at lunchtime to join three friends for an aerobics class. This isn't new -- gyms and trainers are making their services available online. But you don't need a formal program to make this happen. And sometimes - just a stretch break with friends achieves two objectives - human connection and movement.

Take a break for yourself. I have always liked working from home because it’s quiet and I can get a lot done. That’s the upside of it. Working from home is also intense and concentrated, which can create a brain overload. I know for me, by 6:00 or 7:00 I have nothing left to give. I intentionally take a walk outside, but your escape could be stretching, running, or even dancing to Robyn. A release and break can do wonders for our brains and energy. While being alone during social distancing might sound lonely, we also might need a little of that to manage our anxiety. 

Be sensitive to meeting overload. The world of business has become dependent on meetings. We are overscheduled and over-committed. And so many meetings makes getting the work done hard. The pressure is intensified in this new normal. My advice is - if it can happen in an email - make it so. Spare your colleagues days stacked with meetings. Talk to your coworkers, your teams, your departments, your management - and start to have active discussions about how to shift away from meeting dependence. Explore ways to be more efficient and productive. Now is the time to reevaluate what really matters and recreate what isn't working. Don't just transition what you always do to digital. We all have an opportunity to do it better.

We are literally all in this together, separately. Even if we’ve been remote working for years, we are all vulnerable and learning things as we go this time around. This is an entirely new environment and reality for everyone. But as we adapt, we should focus on humanity and how we can make work feel okay during this time. Not just for ourselves. But for everyone.