As the state of the world is necessitating employees work from home if possible, TDC has quickly shifted from reporting to our office for work to interacting on the regular through video conference calling. Thankfully, with the help of technology, we were able to make this transition with little to no impact on current and prospective tenants. With a little bit of patience, ingenuity, and flexibility, our team has now figured out the best way to operate from seven separate locations.
While we know we definitely aren’t pros at this yet, we have gotten into a successful routine and have learned a lot along the way. In an effort to help you and your team make the transition from 9-5 at the office to eight hours of working from your home a little easier, we have compiled some of our WFH recommendations.
Create a work from home routine. Maintain a similar work day schedule – get ready for the day before starting work, take lunch at a similar time, and finish your work at a reasonable time. I’ve been able to maintain a very similar work day from home – the only thing missing is my commute and candid conversations and laughs with my co-workers. – Roger Livernois, Facilities and Project Manager
Make regular breaks part of your routine and go outside for a few minutes if you can. Plan out your work week with specific projects to work on every day. I’ve found this helps to make the day go by, gives me a sense of accomplishment, and helps to keep my mental health up!!! – Cheryl Dodd, Administrative Assistant
Having a dedicated workspace is key. I was set up at our kitchen table for the first few weeks, but it was a chore to move everything for meals. Having a space where I know I can sit and get my work accomplished has made a difference in my ability to be more productive. Scheduling in time for yourself each day is also very helpful. As a parent with five children, three of whom are in elementary school, it has been increasingly important to find a time where we can all take a break and enjoy the fresh air and have fun as a family, even if it’s in our own backyard. – Christine Jabaut, Office Manager & Comptroller
When on a conference or video call, be sure to mute your microphone when you’re not speaking to avoid distracting background noise. Especially if your office-mates are as noisy as mine! – Danielle King, Business Development Manager
Find a good communication tool for your office. We use Microsoft Teams. The chat feature helps us quickly communicate, keeping us all up-to-date and on track as well as maintaining the social aspect of being physically present in the office. – Barbara Shute, Executive Assistant
Make time for personal conversations to happen regularly. We have set up a channel in Microsoft Teams devoted entirely to conversations that would usually happen around the coffee pot in the TDC office. Maintaining an awareness of your coworkers happenings outside of the office makes working from home less isolating. – Alyssa Stoeckl, Digital Marketing Specialist
As someone leading an office or business working from home, take it upon yourself to set expectations for the new work situation, lead by example, and make sure your staff feels supported. We’ve done this by adding a daily video conference call into our schedules where we discuss daily tasks and goals, as well as share accomplishments and personal anecdotes. Doing all you can to make the staff feel engaged while working remotely will help maintain a high level of productivity and work satisfaction. – David Champagne, President & CEO
We know these tips won’t necessarily apply to all types of organizations or individuals but we do hope that they get you thinking creatively about how to make your WFH situation a little brighter.
