100% Office to 100% Remote

Morning Leaders,

Like most people, I have now been working in a remote setting for over 15 months. Prior to the pandemic, I was 100% based in an office around colleagues and the thought of working remote really didn’t appeal to me. The office culture and conversations were something I really enjoyed.

But fast forward 15 months and my opinions have changed. The forced transition has fast-tracked the inevitable shift to remote working for a lot of companies, and after taking some getting used to, I am actually now really enjoying it.

But like most experiences, whether they’re planned or unplanned, we should take some time out to think about them and reflect. So as things begin to ease and we return to normality I wanted to share the 5 lessons which I have learnt and will hopefully sprinkle some value and inspiration for you too.

5 Lessons from 15 Months of Working Remotely

1) Communication - probably my most valuable lesson and something I would encourage everyone to focus on. How we communicate and interact with our colleagues has changed. When working remotely it’s even more important to stay connected with our people. Working remotely can be lonely and sometimes people might go a whole day without speaking to someone. Picking up the phone or setting up a quick Zoom meeting has never been so important.

What could you do as a Leader to get more face time with your people?

• Daily check-ins - could be a quick 15min zoom check-in or a team stand-up. No agenda, just time to connect and talk.

• Pick up the phone - when somethings not going right or an email chain is going back and forwards, don’t let the message be misconstrued or allow frustration to build up on both sides, jump on a call and talk it through.

• Virtual Outings - whether it’s a virtual murder mystery or games night, set up some meetings specifically for fun and to build team cohesion.

• Reduce Instant Messaging - use the opportunity to get some face time with a colleague or someone you rarely speak to rather than just send them words.

2) Home vs Work- at first I struggled with separating home and work life which is quite common for most people when they start working from home. It’s critical that you separate it, and preferably have a room or a location that you specifically do work at only. Try and avoid working from a location where you spend most of your time in the evening or outside of work. Ensuring you keep them separate will help you maintain healthy habits.

3) Environment - when you’re working at home alone there can be a lot of distractions. You can really become a victim of your environment if you don’t remain disciplined or build good habits. Set yourself up for success by having a comfortable seat and desk, clear from clutter, no distractions and your phone removed. Then within your Laptop or computer, open just the apps you need to complete the specific task.

4) Recovery - when we first went into lockdown, and I was guilty of this too, no one took any days holiday. The majority of my team saw it as, well, I am at home and don’t have anything to do so will save it for when we can go out again. Whether you’re working in the office or at home, you need rest and recovery time. Holiday also shouldn’t be a reactive step, you should be proactively taking holiday throughout the year to look after your own well-being and mental health, rather booking it when you’re feeling stressed and overworked. Similar to how we eat healthily and exercise to maintain good physical and mental health, we should be taking regular breaks and holidays from work for the same reasons.

5) Emotional Intelligence - this is one area that is critical to being an effective remote Leader. I quickly realised that when I am removed from the office environment I cannot see, feel or sense what’s happening or when someone is not their usual self. Remote working doesn’t give me that visibility. So improving my Emotional Intelligence is something I have been focused on. The 5 below areas will help you to be more in tune with your people and pick up on cues. More detail here.

• Self Awareness

• Self Regulation

• Empathy

• Social Skills

• Internal Motivation

Working remotely can certainly be challenging and lonely at times but by following some best practices and being disciplined, you really can lead effectively. Not to mention some of the real benefits including better work-life balance, no commute, and spending more time with loved ones.

All the best

David

Resources Of The Week

• YouTube Video - Simon Sinek - Be An Infinite Player. Simon talks about why we should lead and play an infinite game, not a finite game. Leadership is a journey and an ongoing process, it has no destination. So we should be playing the infinite game to stay in the game and continue to lead, rather than playing the finite game where the focus is to win in the short term.

• Book - How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Millions of people around the world have improved their lives based on the teachings of Dale Carnegie. This book offers practical advice and techniques for how to get out of a mental rut and make life more rewarding. Dale’s advice has stood the test of time and will continue to inspire people for years to come.

• Book - The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell. In this book, John shares the most valuable laws from his 30+ years of Leadership and developing other Leaders’ experience. The ideas presented are simple, clear, and easy to grasp- yet profound!

Quote of the Week

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