Remote Work Musings I
A roundup of the latest remote work news and insights
It’s been a crazy week! The COVID-19 situation intensified, the U.S. is suspending travel for foreigners from some European countries, and countless major events like the NCAA’s March Madness got cancelled or postponed indefinitely.
It’s also been a big week for the topic of remote work. Even the White House is considering telework for its staff. Many people who have been working from home for a while are sharing their best practices. It’s hugely helpful to share all our ideas for those who are new to telecommuting. For today’s newsletter, I’m sharing some remote work musings and curating some of the remote team work articles I’ve found useful this week.
One key insight for me: don’t be the “on-call” person for neighbors all the time. It can distract you from work if you become the go-to person for accepting deliveries, watching kids, etc.
One key insight for me: work when you’re most productive. You may be at your best early in the morning or later in the afternoon. Whatever suits you best, focus on ensuring that time of day is protected for your best work.
One key insight for me: I agree with Remote-How that this current emergency remote work situation could setback the overall trend towards greater geographical independence for employees if done poorly in the midst of an emergency. Remote work isn’t just taking a laptop home and trying to be productive. There are systems and tools needed to replace the in-office collaboration. My coaching and newsletters provide the assistance teams need to successfully make this transition.
One key insight for me: send physical gifts like birthday cakes or pizza to team members on special occasions. It’s what you’d do in a physical office, so don’t miss that touch point for team building.
Business Insider believes that remote work will continue to boom as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.
One key insight for me: “Hiring and maintaining full-time, on-site workers is expensive, and companies that are able to work in remote or distributed fashion will turn their fortunes around much more quickly than those whose policies and practices force them to stick with business as usual.”
I hope you’ve had a productive week working from home despite all the tension and anxiety out there right now. And I hope this newsletter will help you make a successful transition to remote work for yourself and your team.
To wrap up, I thought I’d share a photo of something that brings me joy every March in Austin: bluebonnets blooming!
It’s the time of year where Texas land bursts forth in glorious fields of blue. While there are many things preoccupying our minds right now, it’s important to take some time to get outside into nature and appreciate all the delightful parts of life as well.
I will soon be launching a training series for employers and employees to hone their remote work skills. Stay posted for these exciting and timely new courses!
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