Tips for the Remote Newbie

In the business world today, we are seeing more and more workers becoming remote or “work from home” as a result of the effort to flatten the Corvid 19 curve. While working remote is nothing new, it is new for many more people in the past several weeks. I am a rather social being that typically does not enjoy working remote, as there is something about face to face communication that I find most beneficial. However, there have been times in my working career where I have faced this situation. Over the years, I developed a few tips to help us social, face-to-face humans get through the isolated feelings of remote work.

When working in a remote situation, I have an office space that I call my “Command Center”, which is given the same courtesy as a typical office space. It is free from distractions such as the TV, radio and other entertainment devices. Regular office hours are in effect, and I get up and get ready as if I am going to the office. Under no circumstances are sweat pants and my concert touring shirts allowed in my Command Center, as I would not dress that way for the office. It’s business casual. Allow me an aside for one moment about taking your work place seriously. In my years of audio engineering, I was made aware of a technique Stevie Nicks used in the recording studio. She was always prepared for a session, for which she was on time, and she would be impeccably dressed. Being prepared and well dressed meant that the other musicians and recording engineers would take her seriously. Miss Nicks was quoted as saying, “we can never be treated like second class citizens here. So, when we walk into the room, we must walk in with a big attitude. Which does not mean a snotty conceited attitude. But it means like we have to float in like goddesses, because that is how we want to be treated.” In other words, if we take ourselves seriously, then others will take us seriously too. If we are dressed well and prepared for the office or the Command Center, then we communicate to others that we are treating the work space with respect.

So here is a recap of steps if you find yourself being a remote worker for the first time.

1.      Wake up the same time as if you were commuting. Use the extra commute time to prepare your day. If you listen to audio books in the car, then listen to them remote during the same timeframe as if you were commuting.

2.      Dress professionally, at least business casual. It will make a difference in your attitude and in the perceptions of others who join you on video calls.

3.      Don’t slip into informal communication habits when remote. A lot of communication happens in chat, text and email when face to face is not an option. Keep the instant messages professional.

4.      Take stretch breaks every 90 minutes to help break the feeling of being isolated.

5.      Keep a running list of everything you worked on during the day. At the end of the week, send the list to your boss, so they will be reminded that you are taking the work seriously even though you are not physically in the office.

Finally, see if you can set up with your team a weekly video conference where you can discuss any accomplishments or “wins” from the week. No accomplishment is too small, even if it’s that you were dressed in business clothes all week. Celebrate the victories, no matter the size, and you will be helping your team to feel valuable when the work place has become isolated.

Thanks for reading and have an amazing day. #FridayForeward