“Like many other companies across the globe, last week we took the decision to close our office. Within 24 hours probably 75% of our staff were operating from home and within 5 days we reached 100%. “says Havas CEO , Lynn Madeley.
“If you had told me that we were going to do that within 5 days, 5 days ago I would have told you it was impossible. Well it wasn’t, and what this coronavirus teaches you is that if there is one common big goal, we will achieve what we need to achieve.”
“However, this is not about ‘How to close your office’. This is about my observations about working from home in these very strange times. It’s my hints and tips if you like, a little List–atorial (that’s not another new disease – it’s numbered headlines with copy attached, to make it easier to read). ” she adds.
So here goes:
1. A video call is worth about 1000 emails and 100 whatsapps A Zoom call or Microsoft Teams or Skype Meeting (the platform doesn’t matter) is MUCH more effective than an email, a whats app or even a phone call. The reason is that via video we pick up on the body language of each. Communication is about more than a mail with ten bullet points. It needs visual and facial interaction.
2.We need to check in with people on a regular basis checking in with people is really important. We need human contact. Ask people how ‘they’ are, not how work is, because right now no-one is okay and we all
need to stick together emotionally. Having more, but shorter, check-ins is the way to go , rather than an hour long meeting once a week, a 15 minute daily chat is probably better.
3. We need to make sure that we help people remain accountable rather than telling people to be accountable we need to help them be accountable. Be clear with the deliverables that are required and make
everything is SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timeous). Oh and by the way, hold yourself accountable too.
4. We need to understand people’s individual circumstances and challenges in this WFH
World, WFH for me is easy. Decent work space, good WIFI, lots of data if the power goes down, no kids running around demanding attention (though the dogs can be a bitneedy) but for other people it really isn’t so easy. Help them create a work space for themselves. Remember that it’s tricky for people with kids, perhaps it’ll work better for them if they work in the morning, take the afternoon for doing things
with the kids / being an unpaid teacher, and work again in the evening.
5. You really really need to be friends with IT .The first person I called on sunday night after the President’s address was Batman and by Batman I mean the head of IT. The discussion was simple: We
need to give people data and we need to get them access to the servers, and if we break a few rules along the way that’s just fine. By Tuesday morning this was in place, that was 36 hours, without IT nobody can WFH.
6 .How do we mitigate loneliness for our people? Video check-ins are vital and part of them should just be a chat. Asking people how they are, and then letting them tell you, is so important for that. At Hava we are going to try Virtual Friday Drinks via Zoom, let’s see if that works. Virtual coffees in smaller groups are also happening. We still need to interact with each other, it just works differently now.
7. Create work/home boundaries. The most difficult thing for me this week has been switching off. My chosen work station is in the kitchen. This is good because the table is comfortable to
work at and I am near the dogs, but its bad because I don’t stop working all day
and then into the evening. So next week I’m going to try a couple of things. I will try have a clearly defined “end” to the day, and mark that end of the day by going into the garden for a few minutes. I think it will help create a physical switch between “work” and home.
8.How to stay focused. Split your day up into bite size chunks, perhaps about 30 minute chunks. Break
for that cup of coffee and that snack. Go and stand in the sun about 5 times a day, just to recharge. But whatever you do, don’t just sit in one place all day and suddenly realise at 5pm that you haven’t even been to the loo. It will work for a day or two, but by day five you will be burnt out. And you may also sustain some
kind of damage to your bladder.
9 Find a pattern, routine and a rhythm that works for you. If you manage people try and help them do the same. If you have a boss and they are not giving you the support that you feel you need, then ask them to help you. Afterall right now we need to help each other.
“Good luck and stay isolated.”
