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10 ways to be a work-from-home superstar These WFH best practices are here to stay

Thanks Scott Henderson for these amazing tips and everything else you do!!!

You rock!!!

Sourced from the legendary Tony Zork and  shared by our very own Scott Henderson 

Hi Team,

 

I hope everyone is staying positive during our latest period of working from home.  Keep safe and do the right thing.

 

Here are a couple of tips that you might find helpful:

 

1. Start your day with some exercise

Use the time you would normally be commuting to get in some activity before work (or consider waking up earlier – gasp).  It will make you more alert and ready to start focusing on your day.  Think physical and mental health benefits this brings you.  Instead of jumping on the bus or train, this is a great opportunity to remove stress, lose weight if you want to, and de-stress before work.  BWT it was 4 degrees when I went for my run at 6am the other week!  It felt great when I finished and got back home.  😊

 

2. Keep your camera on

When you’re working from home, it’s critical to maintain a level of professionalism.  Make sure that when having a Zoom meeting that you have your camera turned on and look presentable.  If a picture is worth 1,000 words, then a video is worth 10,000 words/second.  Show you’re engaged and listening to the discussion.  It will help you to read others and form better connections with your colleagues.

 

3. A daily morning stand-up meeting on Zoom

Maybe start the day with a short Zoom meeting (I know Simon does this with his staff).  Ensure that you’re aligned with your manager and team on the priorities for the day.  This adds accountability and allows the team to discuss and plan.  Just a thought.

 

4. Have dress standards at home

Dress professionally and maintain grooming (I’m still trying to shave every day).  Wearing your PJs in a meeting sends the message to yourself that you don’t take work seriously.  Stay comfy but professional even when not meeting with anyone.  Remember, you’re still at work.  When you meet, whether internally or externally, it’s business.  Convey that good level of professionalism.

 

5. Measure deliverables – not hours

Working from home is an adjustment. While many distractions are gone and it’s easier and faster to get to work than in the office – it’s still not perfect.  And that’s okay!  While you should be working your expected hours, the hours are in place to frame your efforts to accomplish the work itself.  Deliverables, not hours, are what gets us our results.  So, if you have to go to the dentist or for a COVID shot, don’t panic.  Focus on the quality and rate of the deliverables.  Work flexibly and coordinate with your manager.

 

6. Be responsive

Responsiveness is key in a WFH environment.  So regularly check your emails and messages.  This shows that you engaged in work while at home. Stay on top of these notifications and be precise in your response.  Be sure to also set expectations around communication in the flexible workplace.  Be clear about your meeting times and when you are and aren’t working.

 

7. Find some balance

WFH is just as exhausting as working in an office, if not more so in some ways.  In fact, COVID saw a record number of people experiencing burnout – don’t let yourself get to this point.  Find some balance and fully disconnect after work.  Boundaries are important, and you need to set aside time to rest and be with the family.

 

8. Maintain a positive attitude

A positive attitude serves many purposes, but chiefly this helps you collaborate with colleagues and focus on the tasks at hand.  Morale is a huge factor in performance and happiness, so focus on the good stuff.  Remember, what you’re doing and how you’re doing it matters.  Also, attitudes are transferable. – lead with positivity and others might catch on.

 

9. Focus on high quality

Quality work is critical.  The deliverables you produce, needless to say, should exhibit your highest ability.  Take your time and be proactive in delivering your work.  Working from home, you have the time, space, and comfort to really focus on your work.  Use it!  The higher the quality and output of your work, the more trust you build as an employee.

 

10. Network proactively!

Just because you’re at home, doesn’t mean you should disconnect.  On the contrary, you need to be more aware of what’s going on at BSIL.  Connect with colleagues who can provide assistance.  Maintain your relationships and boost morale.

 

Obviously, I have stolen all of these from online.  But that doesn’t make them untrue or unhelpful.  What do you need to focus on?

 

Kind regards,

 

Scott Henderson

Director

 

T: 0414 253 975

E: scott.henderson@bsilearning.com.au

 

BSI Learning Institute Pty Ltd
Level 7, 14 Martin Place, Sydney 2000

W: www.bsilearning.com.au

 

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