In these unprecedented times, working from home is the best contingency plan for most companies. Millions of people are working from home, and most do not know the right way, especially since it is their first time.
Here are some great tips to follow:
– Check if your technology is in order because that’s most critical when it comes to working from home. Make sure you have your laptop and charger, even your mouse and keyboard – anything that might make working from home more convenient for you. Some people might even prefer a desktop computer. Also, check if all your software applications are in place.
– Internet access is crucial when it comes to working from home. Many conferences around the world require being available online and on video, this certainly requires a good Internet connection. If your bandwidth is low, and you’re on a video call, try shutting down other programs to ease the load.
– With school closures and no daycare arrangements, parents are faced with a challenge, especially when it comes to managing work from home. You need to make a plan for education and entertainment, stock up on books and puzzles, or get appropriate content fit for kids.
– It’s best to manage expectations. Have a frank discussion with your boss about the tasks that can be accomplished from home. Talk about priorities and how tasks will be done. Also, how are teams going to track projects they are working on or how will they meet to discuss this? This should be an ongoing conversation.
– Nobody knows you better than you yourself. If you are someone who gets distracted, try and dress the same way as you would in office. This puts you in a professional mindset. It’s difficult to draw a sharp distinction between home and office, that’s why it is important.
– Try to make a webcam your friend – the more you have face to face interactions with people online, it will help create an atmosphere, just like an office.
– Another important tip is to stay connected as much as possible. Being away from office might make you feel lonely at times, but having online conversations with co-workers can help establish that connection yet again.
– Discuss what you can and can’t do – it is important to be clear and discuss this with your bosses and colleagues.