While some of us may not have the privilege of work from home (WFH), many of us have been thrust into this world due to COVID. Several major companies have announced extensions until mid-2021 before allowing employees to return to the office. In fact, corporations may be realizing the benefits to their bottom line by allowing employees to operate remotely. Think about it: they have to pay for office leases, utilities, furniture, etc. But, in the WFH world, employees pay all that! Plus, having a workspace at home is shown to increase productivity!
Take a proper lunch break. Pens have limited nutritional value.
On the flip side, those of us with kids at home or other household distractions may struggle to be as productive as we would in an office setting. I already talked about balancing WFH with your personal life back in April, but with video conferencing becoming incredibly popular, I wanted to revisit this topic. With the recent deployment of Microsoft Teams, as well as existing technology like Zoom, Ring Central, and other business video tools, we are getting as much (if not more) face time than when we were in the office! This week, I'm going to focus on helping you succeed in your virtual meetings.
Homer was a true trendsetter!
Personally, I have anywhere from 5-8 hours of Teams meetings per day. I have interviewed for a job (and got it!) and presented to the C-Suite, all from the comforts of home. Fortunately, I have an office in the basement that provides some solitude . However, many are working from a dining room table, couch, or bedroom. One of my co-workers even had to commandeer his children's playroom - trust me, we made sure to have some fun with the unicorns painted on the wall behind him! Regardless of platform, "Zoom fatigue" is real. It's hard to be "on" constantly, especially in your home. However, you are still working and need to project a professional image. Here are my suggestions on how to survive the constant spotlight.
Use Backgrounds
Many video platforms let you either blur or use a backdrop instead of your actual surroundings on video conferences. They're not perfect - I've seen many a kid or dog jump into frame and get some screen time. However, it gives you some sense of privacy. As long as it's professional, use backgrounds if you prefer.
How will I explain Y2K to my children???
Office Space
As much as I'd like to dedicate a blog exclusively to the brilliant Y2K-era movie, I'm referring to the place you choose to work at home. If you find the blur/backdrops annoying, find a room to focus on your work. I spoke about this my WFH work/life balance blog at length, but it will allow you to be more productive, professional, and comfortable. Ideally, if you have room you can dedicate to as a workspace, you will be less distracted by your personal life. The benefit of finding an office space goes beyond work life - you can also "unplug" and get away from this space outside of work time!
Video Off
Is it okay to leave your video off? My short answer - depends. If you're in a large meetings (in my mind, 10+ attendees), it may be okay to turn off video. If you're speaking, you should have your video on. It gives others the physical cues of when you're done speaking, facial expressions, etc. that get lost in audio-only meetings. Also, if you've never met someone, do video at least once so they can meet you! I work with many people outside my company, and some that I've "met" with a dozen times have never turned on their videos. Keep in mind, I'm the customer in these transactions, and it's frustrating they aren't presenting themselves while I have my video on. I've heard the excuses - I haven't shaved, done makeup, etc. But is it worth impacting your performance just so you can avoid general hygiene and upkeep?
So... she switched from a bizarre tablet/phone setup to a Dell laptop?
Dress Code
The "Video Off" segues into the next consideration: what's appropriate attire for the WFH video conference? Read the room! Does your boss wear a blazer and blouse, or a brewery hoodie and Oregon Ducks hat? Just like in an office setting, dress about as well as your boss, and your fine. Also, remember who you're meeting with. If it's just your team, and everyone is wearing t-shirts, you're good to follow in kind. But, if you're presenting to a client or senior executives, dress to impress. Don't think that WFH means you get a pass on looking presentable! Personally, I have anywhere from 5-8 hours of Teams meetings per day. I have interviewed for a job (and got it!) and presented to the C-Suite, all from the comforts of home. I've worn a full formal outfit (including slacks and dress shoes) to look and feel as I would in an in-person meeting in these high-profile meetings. In more casual meetings, I try to at least wear a collared shirt. Just keep this in mind - would you be able to hide in the office wearing your Snuggie and slurping a bowl of Frosted Flakes? No. Act like you're at work... because you are!
Background Noise
While video appearance is important, so is background noise. Hopefully you have a space where you have minimal background noise. But, those of us with children or pets know they find our quiet spots and disrupt any semblance of silence with cries, barks, and yells. Thankfully, I have the cure - the mute button! My general guidance is having the mute button on as a default, and only unmute as needed. This ensures you don't disrupt the meeting with your boxer puppy barking at the Amazon delivery driver. Yes, you will get caught with the dreaded "you're on mute" at least once, but it beats having your 6-year-old demanding fruit snacks in the middle of critical meeting.
While we all hope to return to life as normal again, WFH may remain as a part of our work lives. I know my team and I have been very effective in this new reality, and I hope we can at least have the flexibility to work remotely as an option in the future. It does have its personal perks - less time/money spent commuting, being able to eat lunch at home, and Judge Judy every day at 3 PM! Seriously, it takes effort to keep your focus on the tasks at hand. But, if you enjoy WFH, make sure you do all you can to be professional when working from home, and perhaps that will sway your leader/company to allow it to happen long-term!
P.S.
So, confession time. I wrote last week's blog on my phone! But, like all mistakes, lessons were learned. My lesson? GIFs! I learned how to add GIFs to the blog, and the world falls off its dang axis! People loved it. I will strive to incorporate a little extra flavor into my blogs going forward. Also, I really appreciate all the new readers in the last few weeks! I truly do this to help others and for my own enjoyment, and seeing the new subscribers and growing page hits encourages me I can make a difference. My long-term goal is developing a 501(c)3 that allows me to dedicate more time to the personal finance and career advice one-on-one help as a non-profit, but I always want to continue the blog as a quick, fun way to talk about personal finance and career topics. Appreciate you reading, subscribing, and contacting me!
Comments