Hello TAO Community!
During these unprecedented times, we wanted to reach out to you and let you know we are still here for you!
Here are some helpful tips while Working Remotely to stay connected and to stay Sane! Especially if you are new to the WFH life!
- Establish Communication.
Video Chat will become your new life! Organize Video Chats for 1:1’s and team calls. This way you remain engaged and interacting as a team. Be clear with one another the best way to reach you (email, text, Slack). - Maintain A Normal Routine.
Get dressed for work like you are in the office. This will help keep work and home hours separated. Take a Lunch Break. Starting your day with a normal routine will keep you motivated and getting your day started. Even if this is making a cup of coffee and saying “Good Morning” to your Laptop. - Set a Schedule.
Establish your work hours and try to stick to it. Maintain a work/home life balance. Similar to being at the office, let your team know if your hours continue to be 9-5, 930-530 etc. Track you time and prioritize your daily tasks within your set schedule. - Be Patient and Understanding.
We need to understand this may be the first time for some people having to work remotely. Some people might over work themselves. Some people might feel isolated and alone. Some people may have to take on extra tasks due to sick co-workers. Understand that we are all in this together. Over communicate if needed and show your support as much as possible. - Regular Check-in’s.
Establish regular check in’s with your team. Is it a weekly Monday meeting to get the week started? Is it a Friday meeting to see how the week went? Make sure you have something on the schedule regularly. During these meetings everyone can share the progress made and what tasks are being worked on.
Why not make the meetings fun? Try weekly themes ie: Beach Day to give yourself and the team something to look forward to. Create non-formal channels to communicate (Slack/Whatsapp) and share jokes and memes. - Goals.
Ensure you review with your Manager your Goals and KPI’s to establish clear expectations. If you are a Manager, make sure you reach out to your team and establish what your expectations are and how you will be tracking activity. Ensure these goals are documented and shared to keep everyone accountable. - Be available.
Make sure the team knows you are there. If you have a busy day with meetings or will be unreachable at any point of the day, let them know. We do not have the luxury of seeing if someone is at their desk as we would in office. Communication is key!
Final Takeaways
It looks like this will be our reality for an undetermined amount of time! This is a great time to establish your routine and what will work best for you during your time working remotely. Try out different tactics and routines to see what works best for you.
Ensure you are practicing Social Distancing and playing your part in our Global effort to fight COVID-19.
If anyone has any concerns about the state of the industry, feeling isolated or want someone to share ideas with – please feel free to reach out to the TAO team and community.
We are ALL in this together.