Carlton Fisk comes to mind , “It’s not what you achieve, it’s what you overcome. That’s what defines your career.” We often overlook our colleagues and subordinates at work as the race for accomplishments heat up. For any organization to prosper , it needs to take care of its assets , which includes its human resources. Julie Bevacqua ,Chief Revenue Officer of RISE, proclaims that “In order to build a rewarding employee experience, you need to understand what matters most to your people.” Developing a good online workspace culture and fostering a spirit of enthusiasm , especially in the precarious times of the ongoing pandemic, is the bedrock for any successful venture and we seek to discuss the same in the following analysis.
- Maintain Fixed Work Hours
The most critical aspect of working from home is to maintain fixed work hours as it is so easy to lose track of time being at home. Not following one can lead to fatigue and can sap up your enthusiasm to contribute. Quoting the results from a recent Global Work-from-Home Experience Survey 2020 , 73% respondents had overwhelmingly affirmed to have an ease of working from home and were following a fixed work hour. So follow the clock while working from home for better productivity. - Have a Morning Plan
The people who have a well chalked out morning strategy seem to cope up well while working from home. Whether it is having a cup of coffee or doing yoga or watering plants , a sound plan helps.
It is a time of the day when you can plan well , think with clarity and make right choices. Aristotle had said ,”We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Mornings are known to set the tone for the rest of your day and how you want it to unfold is totally under your control.
- Take Scheduled Breaks
It cannot be pontificated enough on the importance of taking timed breaks between work. It is easy to forget about the clock and be engrossed in work. In a surprising survey by TORK USA , close to 20% of North American workers expressed their worry that their bosses won’t think they are hardworking if they take regular lunch breaks, while 13% worry their co-workers will judge them. This explains the deep dichotomy we have been witnessing over a period of time. It can lead to bad burnouts and even clinical exhaustion of employees which doesn’t bode well for a company. It is advisable to take regular breaks while working from home to stay fresh.
4.Look after your Eyes
Getting hooked to a computer or smartphone screens seems to be a new normal while working from home. It tends to drain the eye strength and has the potential to cause harm to your eyes. According a 2012 Harvard Health Study , blue light from the gadget screens can affect your sleep and potentially cause disease leading to blindness. It is highly recommended to use an anti-blue light screen filter on your computer or smartphones , use specs if you’re medically prescribed one and keep a safe readable distance from the screens . Wash your eyes at regular intervals to keep them fresh and relaxed. Eyes are precious so take a good care of them to have them serving you robustly.
5.Encourage Interactive Sessions
It has been seen that working from home can become a mundane affair leading to a lack of enthusiasm among employees. Not having a face to face workspace meetup can result in a reduced efficacy of work. Making the whole process interactive can drastically improve employee performance , keep those adrenalines going instead of a depleting morale , promotes active engagement and accountability . Conduct a trivia or a feedback session from time to time to keep the morale of the team high.
6.Avoid Eating during Online Sessions
It is considered rude and unprofessional to keep munching on food during online video conferences or Concalls as it sends a bad message about your ethics and sincerity. Often times people are seen having a go at some food while in a meeting which is totally avoidable. You should have your meals before or after the session and not while inside a session.
7.Learn to keep your audio on a Mute
It should be a part of the new etiquette to keep your mic muted during the online sessions except when it is your turn to speak. When every participant keeps their mic on , it tends to create a noisy background which leads to distraction. It is considered a good practice to mute your mic during the session when not having to speak. Working from homes is both a challenge and an opportunity that this pandemic has presented before us. It becomes incumbent upon the bosses to take the lead and show the way with their right attitude and foresight. Setting a great example for others to follow augurs well for the whole organization and not just a department. As per the Hughes 2007 survey , nine out of ten people believe their workspace quality affects attitudes and increases productivity. This is a remarkable inference given the pre-pandemic times and has become even more imperative during the pandemic. Employees form the soul of an organization and getting the best from them by giving them the best online workspace can do wonders to their passion and in return to the results of the organization. Freelance is the new normal that has ushered in a renewed hope in this domain and Unusual Hire is happy to be a part of that change . We are an innovation supportive network that bridges the best freelance talent with the most astute employers in India. Be a part of the Freelance story , visit https://unusualhire.com for more !