The business world has been turned upside down by the coronavirus pandemic. We all know by now just how rewarding and challenging working from home can be. So, how do you stay safe, healthy, happy, productive and sane when you work from home?
We talked to business leaders, managers and industry figures about the one work from home tip they wish they’d known before they began their distributed journey. Here’s what they said.
1. Ben Walker – Creative Director Firefly Design Agency
“Working from home removes some of the structure of the office environment that you may be used to. One way to counterbalance this is by setting goals, big or small, even if you don’t have specific deadlines.”
2. Patrice Burnside – Head of Marketing for AnswerForce
“Wear smart business clothes to help stay focused. Feel the difference just by wearing a hoodie for one meeting, and a blazer for the next!”
3. Wayne Turmel – Remote Leadership Institute Co-Founder
“Until people get their feet under them, a short 10-minute huddle meeting on webcam each morning will help keep everyone connected and focused on the same priorities.”
4. Stefania Chiorboli – Global HR Manager at Boundless
“When you work remotely, you can really focus on the talents and the personalities of the people you are working with and the output of the work.”
5. Travis Sorensen – CEO of Oddball
“It’s important to be able to close your laptop and say, “Okay, work is done.” You need to build that structure into your life so you have that balance.”
6. Kirsty McWilliam – Director at Coaching Direct
“Connect and communicate well with your team and clients, often. Loyalty will be the key factor to keep us thriving moving on.”
7. James Mayes – Co-Founder & CEO of Mind The Product
“Consider having the whole team work at home for a few days, even a week. To communicate effectively requires empathy, and it’s so much easier to build empathy for something you’ve experienced.”
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