Tips For Staying Productive When Working Remotely

 

"Persistence – the ability to keep moving forward in spite of difficulties."

Byron Pulsifier

 

In the wake of COVID-19, most companies are requiring or recommending that employees work from home for the foreseeable future. This mandate can be stressful when you're used to working in a bustling office or visiting with clients face to face. If you don't often work from home, it's helpful to have a grasp on how to stay focused, engaged and productive.

In this issue, we share some advice from Patrick Lucas Austin, a technology columnist for TIME, on how to succeed at working remotely.

Location, location, location. Try to find yourself a dedicated and comfortable spot to work that you can associate with your job and leave when you're off the clock, recommends Austin. This means getting off the couch and definitely out of bed. Try to set up a dedicated home office where you can close the door and shut out distractions. To prevent spreading COVID-19, avoid working from public places such as coffee shops.

Find a buddy. Just because you must work remotely doesn't mean you must be socially disconnected. Austin points out that social interactions — even with coworkers via Slack — can alleviate feelings of isolation and loneliness. Find a colleague you can talk to or text when you're feeling the need to chat with someone. Alternatively, buddy up with a friend who works elsewhere and is going through the same experience. It's also helpful to hop on a social video call.

Have a plan. When working alone, it's critical to keep a more structured daily schedule than usual. When you go into an office, the structure of your day is influenced by other people. Austin encourages professionals who are working from home to schedule multiple breaks into their day, whether it's playing with their dog or pausing to grab the day's mail.

Consider how you're communicating. For clear communication, go beyond email and use other digital tools that can better replicate the in-person office experience. Look to tools such as videoconferencing services, Slack or Zoom. You can also explore screen sharing to ensure members of your team are on the same page. Austin also recommends boosting camaraderie and bringing a smile during these difficult days with a remote lunch date. Invite everyone on your team to enjoy a meal together via videoconferencing. It's a way to connect with colleagues and help everyone still feel like part of the team.  

Remember everyone works differently. Managers should remember that not every employee wants to work from home, which can make for a stressful switch. Austin recommends that leaders communicate as much as possible and help employees struggling with the change.

If you're not used to working remotely, it can be a big adjustment—for you and for your team. If you're grappling with the new remote reality, it helps by making sure you have a dedicated spot to perform your job and connect with your clients and team members. Then, be sure to stay connected and have a plan for your day. Remember that it's a process. Give yourself—and your team—some grace.

 

Compiled by Audrey Sellers

Source: Patrick Lucas Austin is a technology columnist at TIME. His work has also appeared in Complex, Gizmodo, The Wirecutter, Consumer Reports and others.   

Powerful Principles For Navigating Through A Crisis

 

"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."

Arthur Ashe

 

In these uncertain times, sales leaders and business owners wonder how to make the best decisions, both at work and in their personal life. While there's no scientific formula to follow, you can use a framework to lead with ethical intelligence.

Bruce Weinstein, a business ethics speaker and an author for the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics, says now's the time to reflect on some powerful principles that will help you navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Principle No. 1: Do no harm. Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists and clinical social workers are taught in school, "First, do no harm." Weinstein says this principle also applies to professionals who don't work in healthcare. The best thing about this principle, Weinstein says, is that it doesn't take anything to apply it. It is a principle of restraint. You can apply this principle by following your company's guidelines, as well as those of the government, by staying home now. Weinstein says if you're carrying the virus but don't know it because you don't have any symptoms and haven't been tested, you will be unwittingly violating the "Do No Harm" principle by being out in the world.

Principle No. 2: Make things better. Ethical leaders are also committed to making things better during the pandemic. Consider Microsoft, which donated $1 million toward the Puget Sound response fund. Microsoft is doing this because it is the right thing to do. Weinstein says this is a great example of how ethical leadership is good for its own sake and good for the leader's company, too.

Principle No. 3: Respect others. According to Weinstein, ethical leaders show respect for people by keeping their promises, telling the truth and projecting confidentiality. When you work from home, there are more distractions than you'll find in an office setting. There's no one watching to keep you on track. All pose risks to the promises we've made to employers or clients. Weinstein says promise-keeping is a two-way street. Companies that lead with ethical intelligence do all they can to assist employees during a crisis, including providing flexibility, when possible, with respect to childcare and other crucial needs.

Think on this: What will you do to make sure you minimize distractions at home and honor your promise to your employer or client? How are you helping your company keep its promise to employees?

Principle No. 4: Be fair. Weinstein says that to be fair is to give to others their due. Darden Restaurants, whose properties include Olive Garden and other casual eateries, has established a paid sick-leave policy for its 190,000 employees. In so doing, the leadership of Darden Restaurants is displaying ethical intelligence. Not all companies are in a position to offer such a benefit but those that can create incredible loyalty among employees.

Think on this: What will you do to ensure that you're treating your employees and customers fairly during the pandemic? What are you doing in your personal life to be fair—such as when stocking up on supplies, will you leave enough for others who need them, perhaps more than you do?

It takes commitment and courage to live by these principles every day. But when you do, you show that you're striving to make a difference in a tumultuous time in history.

 

Compiled by Audrey Sellers

Source: As The Ethics Guy®, Bruce Weinstein's keynote speeches, training programs, webinars and online courses help companies promote ethical leadership at every level. The result is an engaged and satisfied workforce, more and better clients, and a strategy for long-term financial success.

Eight Ways To Stay Connected During Social Distancing

 

"The only courage that matters is the kind that gets you from one moment to the next."

Mignon McLaughlin

 

In these days of COVID-19, social distancing is critical. To help prevent the virus from spreading further, everyone must do their part to avoid physical contact with others. While you need to adjust your normal routine, writer Jamie Friedlander says you can still stay connected to others during this time of isolation. 

In this issue of Promotional Consultant Today, we share Friedlander's guidance for staying connected to others.

1.    Talk to one friend each day. Be sure to reach out to one family member or friend every day. While GChat and texting are perfectly acceptable, Friedlander says it's even better to hear someone's voice on the phone or see them through FaceTime. "You don't need to meet anyone to feel connected," says Viktor Sander, a social psychology consultant with SocialPro. "It's all about reciprocally opening up to each other, sharing experiences and making the other person feel heard. And that's something you can do over the phone or internet."

2.    Send someone you love a handwritten letter. Grab a notecard you have lying around and send a handwritten note to a family member or friend on your mind. Not only will the letter brighten their day, but it'll likely spark a conversation once they receive it in the mail, says Friedlander. 

3.    Foster connection with those in your home. It's challenging being confined to our homes. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, we must avoid meeting friends for dinner or hanging out with co-workers at happy hours. Friedlander says it's easy to think of what we're missing out on, but we must also remember what we're gaining through this unexpected time at home. Take time to strengthen relationships with those in your home, whether you're spending time with your kids, a significant other or a roommate.

4.    Reach out to friends who have depression or anxiety. Social isolation is hard for everyone, but especially for those facing anxiety or depression. Friedlander recommends texting friends and family members to let them know you're thinking of them. Even if you don't get a response, don't stop reaching out. When it comes to your anxious friends, Friedlander says it's important to avoid talking about anything coronavirus-related that will worsen their anxiety.

5.    Have a family member read your child a bedtime book through FaceTime. If your children are used to more social interaction with family members and friends, Friedlander suggests having one of their grandparents, aunts or uncles read them a bedtime book from afar.

6.    Host a virtual watch party with friends. To keep your spirits up and stay connected from afar, try watching a show or movie with your friends. Through Netflix Party, you can stream a show at the same time as your friends. Then, do a group video chat once it's over to talk about it. If you're not in the mood to binge-watch a show, try hosting a virtual book club instead.

7.    Stream a class. For many, daily socialization involves not only chatting with co-workers and spending time with family and friends, but also heading to a barre class or a running club. Keep the socialization alive through a virtual class. Many fitness studios have begun offering remote exercise classes, so hop online and see what's available.

Social distancing and social isolation can feel uncomfortable, especially when you're used to being around lots of people in your day. Whether you're spending time in solitude or you're working while caring for your family at home, look for ways to reach out to others. Aim to do something each day that keeps you connected to the world outside.

 

Compiled by Audrey Sellers

Source: Jamie Friedlander is a freelance writer based in Chicago and the former features editor of SUCCESS magazine. Her work has been published in The Cut, VICE, Inc., The Chicago Tribune and Business Insider, among other publications.