To help reduce the spread of Coronavirus, governments of countries around the world have asked everyone who can work remotely. Working remotely can be new to many people, and there are a number of helpful tips online from professionals around the world. In this context, in order to help everyone work in the best way at home, the LinkedIn team, always attentive to everything connected with agile and smart work, has edited and created two lists of suggestions for smart workers in this period.
One of these is designed for parents who are working remotely in the company of their children in this period, and created with the contribution of Marcello Albergoni, Country Manager of LinkedIn Italy, father of two children and expert in issues related to the development of career. The second, by Cameron Veasey, LinkedIn career expert, offers suggestions on some of the best practices to consider when you are in the situation of having to share, even for work reasons, the home spaces with family, friends and roommates .
LinkedIn’s advice for working remotely during this period with your children
1) Talk frankly about what’s going on and help them understand why you need to focus on the job. Explain that they should try not to disturb you (except in an emergency …) while reassuring them that you are still there for them. It is likely that they will find the whole experience new and fun, but there is a possibility that they may be confused or worried.
2) Create a designated space in your “home office area” for your children so they can be with you while you are not, for example, on a call. This can range from a crib or playpen to a coffee table equipped with useful tools for creativity, or with books and notebooks for homework, if the child is older.
3) Try to organize important calls and meetings during the children’s nap hours. If your kids are too old for naps, set a “quiet game time” every day where they can read or play silently, and use this time for calls or work that require your full attention.
4) Explain to the people you talk to on the phone or video conference that your children are at home, so there may be background noise or interruptions. Some people may even welcome one of your kids who appears on the screen. If your kids end up disturbing you, handle the situation with a cold mind.
5) Make sure to organize regular breaks to have quality time with your children during the work day. Whether it’s their favorite game, or reading together, the attention you pay will help ensure that your kids don’t feel ignored and haven’t had a boring day!
6) You are not alone! Many people will be in your same condition. Make the most of your community on LinkedIn to combat the sense of isolation you might feel and use the different tools available on the platform, including 16 homework courses that have just been opened to all by the LinkedIn team on the LinkedIn platform Learning
7) Finally, be kind and considerate of yourself too. Balancing an intense workload with the attention given to children can be difficult, and creating moments of self-recognition in some days will be more difficult than others will. In this context, chatting and sharing ideas with your network can certainly make the experience a little easier.
Tips for working from home effectively, even when you share your space
1) Treating your roommates as if they were co-workers: respecting the space and working hours of other people just like you would in the office is extremely important. Although the possibility of discussing things not necessarily related to work can offer slight relief, it is good to consider roommates as close to colleagues and treat them professionally during working hours.
2) It is useful to communicate the program of the day: the meetings of people at the moment have “taken a step back” and will return in the near future, while the amount of important calls and video calls has significantly increased. So far, one of the most difficult situations has arisen when both tenants have organized calls at the same time. To avoid this type of inconvenience, it is useful to share verbally what the most important remote meetings and meetings of the day will be, so that you can guarantee a space of peace and tranquility when you need it most. The mutual designation of specific work spaces at home, so as to have all the limits during working hours, can also be useful.
3) Keep the house in order: in the current situation, with several people all together in the same domestic environment, it is easy for the house to become messy soon. The best thing is to be able to divide the cleaning tasks every day, so that you can keep the rooms in your home as spaces suitable for work and concentration.
4) Plan breaks: while at home, it is helpful to plan shared breaks as a time for socializing. This will help to give a healthy break to the day and also feel inspired for the future. It can certainly do well, even among roommates who don’t know each other very much, being able to have lunch together and even cook together in the evening. You could also agree on a moment to watch a movie or a new TV series together.