Southridge School

We're weeks into the COVID-19 remote work new normal and must confess this transition hasn't been easy. For me, adding structure to your work from home set-up isn't about adding the same elements that exist in the office to your home, but about finding the right level of structure that will allow for your productivity to flow uninterrupted while also balancing other responsibilties.

I recently reached out to 2008 Alumnus, John Howorth, Account Executive at Slack Technologies, who is a trusted expert in the digital space and has worked at technology companies since graduating from university. For John, his professional mission has been to “help make people's working lives simpler, more pleasant, and more productive,” since he started working in the digital space. “Working from home for the first time will likely lead to a slew of questions, starting with, 'How exactly do I do this?'" says John.

Here are some helpful Qs&As from John and resources that should make a difference in working remotely.

Question: How to make the most of our remote office set-up to boost productivity?

Managing Your Workday

• Pretend like you are going into the office. I personally start my day with a shower and breakfast like I would any other day to give my self that same sense of "going to work".

• Plan out your day. One of the most common challenges in working from home is staying focused on a specific task. I find it really helpful to write out what I plan to accomplish at the beginning of the day, as well as create blocks of work in my calendar, much like I would do in the office. You can also block out time for a walk, or when to stop, as a way to make sure you don't burnout or end up working too much.

• Connect with your peers and team. Isolation is something that everyone is dealing with during this tough time. Using digital tools like Slack and Zoom to connect, or to arrange impromptu meetings can help bridge the gap of community by not being at an office. We look to have team "stand-ups" via video calls a couple of times a week, and also share personal items about working from home (like photos of our workspace) in our team's Slack channel.

Setting up a Workspace/Technology

• Choose a dedicated workspace. Getting stuck on the couch with Netflix on in the background can be a real risk while working at home. Try to find a place that isn't associated to leisure time if possible. While I personally don't have room for an office in my one-bedroom apartment, I've tried to create consistency at our dining room table.
• Make the space work for you. While my space is far from a desk at an office, there is a lot we can do to try to make it feel more comfortable for work. Some of the top ways I've seen that done include: noise cancelling headphones (especially if you are sharing your space), a second screen, a laptop stand, a separate keyboard/mouse, standing desk, and a proper desk chair that can support being used for 8 hours. 
• Technology helps. A team communication app (like Slack) and videoconferencing tools (like Zoom) can make it easy to check in with coworkers and remind you how your work is contributing to the big picture. On top of those, there are many other specific technologies that can make working remotely easier as well.

For managers:

• Create opportunities for connection by creating team channels in Slack to foster water cooler conversation
• Check-in with your team about how they are handling remote work
• Be available
• Strive for clarity, knowing that messages don't always afford the same level of communication as in person
• Focus on results, not time spent

Two of the tools that John mentions and that our Southridge admin team are actively using include: 

• Slack - essentially a chat room for your whole company, designed to replace email as your primary method of communication and sharing. Its workspaces allow you to organize communications by channels for group discussions and allows for private messages to share information, files, and more all in one place.
• Zoom Video Communications, Inc., - a cloud-based videotelephony, online chat, and business telephone system platform for video conferences. Zoom users can choose to record sessions, collaborate on projects, and share or annotate on one another's screens, all with one easy-to-use virtual platform.

Submitted by,
Erin McDonald, Alumni Relations with contributions from John Howorth (Class of `08)

Resources:

• https://www.invisionapp.com/inside-design/remote-work-problems-solutions/
• https://www.invisionapp.com/inside-design/online-collaboration-tools-remote/
• https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/productivity-tips-working-from-home
• https://slackhq.com/manager-manual-for-remote-work