The massive shift to “working from home” for many businesses and their employees has shaken up a lot of preconceptions about what it means to put in a full day’s work.

Obviously, without the boss there to look over your shoulder, some employees have found it more challenging to stay on task and focused. On the other hand, the new-found freedom carries with it many career risks – because there’s no substitute for personal interaction.

A recent piece in the New York Times laid out some suggestions for both employees and managers to make the best of this new environment.

For Employees:

  • Shift your mindset. You’re now being evaluated not for merely showing up, you’re being tested based on what you accomplish. This requires an increased focus on delivering results throughout each workday. One suggestion is to time-block specific tasks and objectives on your calendar to make sure you’re prioritizing the right things at the right time.
  • Take the initiative. This is a new world for everyone, including your higher-ups, who may well find this kind of working scenario equally challenging. It’s more important than ever to make sure you’re offering constructive suggestions on areas to improve and become more effective and efficient.
  • Remove distractions. It’s so easy to let randomness creep into your day, especially when you’re not in an environment as controlled as the business’s main office. Simple tips could include putting your cell phone in another room and removing social media from your laptop.

For Managers:

  • Overcommunicate. More than ever, team members need to understand the overall context of assignments and decisions. Make sure to clarify and reinforce goals and identify resources. The more informed and connected you can keep your team, the better.
  • Prioritize being consistent. Provide updates to your team at regular and predictable times, so they’re never left wondering what’s going on. Also, make sure to check your email and messages consistently – you don’t want to appear to go dark and wind up becoming a roadblock to a deadline being met.
  • Be human. Don’t forget that your team members aren’t just working remotely; they’re dealing with issues with family, computers, resources, and much more right now. Now’s the time to be willing to go the extra mile in being understanding and providing positive support.

Right now, we’re bending over backwards to make working with Money & Clarity as convenient and stress-free as possible. We recognize today’s challenges and want to do whatever we can to make sure you can have the very best financial planning strategy for whatever tomorrow brings.

Give me a call at 513-563-PLAN (7526) or book online to see how we can help.

Regards,

Nikki Earley, CFP®