Author: Viviene Ly, Digital Development Manager, AXA Next Lab US
As
a result of the viral COVID-19 outbreak, many of us have joined the millions of
people around the world working from home, which has been declared a global
pandemic as of this week. Many of the world’s leading US-based tech companies
such as Apple, Google, Facebook, Intel, Salesforce, Microsoft, LinkedIn, and
Twitter have implemented work from home policies in an effort to keep their
employees safe and slow the spread of the virus.
a result of the viral COVID-19 outbreak, many of us have joined the millions of
people around the world working from home, which has been declared a global
pandemic as of this week. Many of the world’s leading US-based tech companies
such as Apple, Google, Facebook, Intel, Salesforce, Microsoft, LinkedIn, and
Twitter have implemented work from home policies in an effort to keep their
employees safe and slow the spread of the virus.
After
a week of working remotely, our team thought it’d be a great opportunity to
share what has been working for us, as well as compile some best practices and
tips on what has enabled us to most effectively collaborate and stay connected
with each other during this time.
a week of working remotely, our team thought it’d be a great opportunity to
share what has been working for us, as well as compile some best practices and
tips on what has enabled us to most effectively collaborate and stay connected
with each other during this time.
1. Keep in touch and leverage communications tools
Communicate
and stay connected with your colleagues! Open lines of communication and
building a strong rapport with your team is crucial for maintaining
interpersonal relationships while working remotely. Leverage digital tools we
have available such as Teams, Skype, email, video conferencing, messaging apps,
etc. to facilitate communication and stay in the loop with one another.
and stay connected with your colleagues! Open lines of communication and
building a strong rapport with your team is crucial for maintaining
interpersonal relationships while working remotely. Leverage digital tools we
have available such as Teams, Skype, email, video conferencing, messaging apps,
etc. to facilitate communication and stay in the loop with one another.
Scheduling
time for virtual coffee, lunch, happy hours, or even a game of some sort are
great ways to connect and remove distance as a barrier between team members.
This can fuel collaboration and real-time engagement, increase morale, as well
as help prevent feelings of isolation.
time for virtual coffee, lunch, happy hours, or even a game of some sort are
great ways to connect and remove distance as a barrier between team members.
This can fuel collaboration and real-time engagement, increase morale, as well
as help prevent feelings of isolation.
For
example, our team has scheduled a daily meeting that gives us the opportunity
to touch base every morning, keep up to date on our various
projects/initiatives, align on priorities, as well as kick-off the day over
coffee as we would have done together in the office.
example, our team has scheduled a daily meeting that gives us the opportunity
to touch base every morning, keep up to date on our various
projects/initiatives, align on priorities, as well as kick-off the day over
coffee as we would have done together in the office.
2. Have a dedicated workspace
Maintain
a dedicated place where you can focus, free from distractions. This space
should be separate from where you eat, sleep, or rest – separating work and
home life will help you get into work mode mentality and enable you to work
more efficiently.
a dedicated place where you can focus, free from distractions. This space
should be separate from where you eat, sleep, or rest – separating work and
home life will help you get into work mode mentality and enable you to work
more efficiently.
Decorate
your area in a way that makes you feel calm, motivated, and productive.
Optimizing your space and adding personal touches (e.g. decorations, framed
photos, a desk lamp, plants, etc.) can help create the comfortable working
environment you need to get things done.
your area in a way that makes you feel calm, motivated, and productive.
Optimizing your space and adding personal touches (e.g. decorations, framed
photos, a desk lamp, plants, etc.) can help create the comfortable working
environment you need to get things done.
3. Establish a routine
The
value of a solid routine is often overlooked – a thoughtful routine can support
impactful mental transitions, as well as provide the structure and organization
needed to help us work from home smoothly. Establishing a routine can help
kick-off the day on a positive note, and make the important mental shift from
relaxation mode to work mode.
value of a solid routine is often overlooked – a thoughtful routine can support
impactful mental transitions, as well as provide the structure and organization
needed to help us work from home smoothly. Establishing a routine can help
kick-off the day on a positive note, and make the important mental shift from
relaxation mode to work mode.
For
example, doing simple rituals in the morning such as waking up early, getting
dressed, making breakfast, doing an early exercise, and preparing for your day
as if you were going to the office, can be incredibly effective in reducing
mental fatigue and increasing productivity.
example, doing simple rituals in the morning such as waking up early, getting
dressed, making breakfast, doing an early exercise, and preparing for your day
as if you were going to the office, can be incredibly effective in reducing
mental fatigue and increasing productivity.
According
to Northwestern Medicine, a lack of routine can cause people to experience
stress, poor sleep, poor eating, poor physical health, and perhaps most
importantly for remote work – an ineffective use of time. Find a routine that
works for you and follow through consistently.
to Northwestern Medicine, a lack of routine can cause people to experience
stress, poor sleep, poor eating, poor physical health, and perhaps most
importantly for remote work – an ineffective use of time. Find a routine that
works for you and follow through consistently.
4. Don’t neglect your well-being
Working
from home can get lonely, but it doesn’t have to be! Make sure to schedule time
for breaks to do healthy activities that will allow you to refresh and
recharge. These activities can help boost morale, increase productivity,
improve mental well-being, as well as decrease feelings of isolation.
from home can get lonely, but it doesn’t have to be! Make sure to schedule time
for breaks to do healthy activities that will allow you to refresh and
recharge. These activities can help boost morale, increase productivity,
improve mental well-being, as well as decrease feelings of isolation.
–
Yoga / Stretching
Yoga / Stretching
–
Meditation
Meditation
–
Home workouts
Home workouts
–
Chats with colleagues on topics outside of work
Chats with colleagues on topics outside of work
Final thoughts
Many
companies in the Bay Area actually work remotely permanently and see our
current circumstances as the beginning of a shift in workplace dynamics, where
working from home will be a common practice.
companies in the Bay Area actually work remotely permanently and see our
current circumstances as the beginning of a shift in workplace dynamics, where
working from home will be a common practice.
Here
are some additional methods to think about as we adjust to our new work
environment: Increased communications via various digital tools (e.g. live open
video conferencing), virtual team building exercises to strengthen relations,
and connecting regularly on the “why” to maintain a clear vision on the purpose
of the team’s work and how it relates to the company’s goals and objectives.
are some additional methods to think about as we adjust to our new work
environment: Increased communications via various digital tools (e.g. live open
video conferencing), virtual team building exercises to strengthen relations,
and connecting regularly on the “why” to maintain a clear vision on the purpose
of the team’s work and how it relates to the company’s goals and objectives.
(Viviene Ly is Digital Development Manager at AXA Next Lab US. Views expressed in the article are of the author.)
