Albeit forced, work from home (WFH) has become the new norm with the Government suggesting, even requiring, the population to stay and work indoors. For those who are not used to working at home or who don’t have an organized work station, distractions can disrupt your productivity. After all, you’re in your personal space, not your usual professional environment which often plays a key role in maximizing your output. Here are a few thoughts in the matter to make WFH an effective and viable option. 

i)        Atmosphere: A conducive atmosphere is of utmost importance to successfully WFH. This entails not only a designated workspace, but a regular work routine and work attire as well. Understandably it may not be possible to create a formal office within your homes, that need not prevent you from identifying a designated workspace for your daily working hours. In choosing a workspace, besides a comfortable table and chair, try and ensure the same is in a quiet environment and has adequate lighting. Equally important is a work attire. While a formal attire is not necessary a reasonably professional attire (business casuals etc) goes a long way in creating the right state of mind to work, increasing efficiency, and making WFH a productive and rewarding experience. A work attire during working hours also ensures that client calls and video conferences can be attended to at short notice and without second thoughts.   

ii)      Routine: Though WFH will be interspersed with household responsibilities, that need not prevent you from having a routine of designated working hours. The work routine maybe framed around your household responsibilities or vice versa. Equally important during working hours is to avoid social distractions whether be it non work calls, social media, family commitments etc. The simple test would be if it would not have been done whilst in a physical office set up, it ought not to be done during working hours whilst WFH. Over time you will find a way to strike a balance between various responsibilities. 

iii)     Connectivity:  While selecting a designated working space, ensure the space has good mobile and internet connectivity as good connectivity is your lifeline from WFH. Additionally, it is recommended that you have a fallback option for your connectivity. WFH can only be a viable if you find means to make it a success. Do not find an excuse to impede the process, find a way to make WFH a viable option for you.  

iv)     Discipline: In a WFH environment, there is no direct supervision. WFH thus requires immense personal discipline. Only those with the highest level of personal discipline, commitment, and the will to make WFH a viable option for themselves will survive in the long run. Building the necessary degree of personal discipline thus assumes immense significance. The progress of your career in WFH thus now squarely depends upon your diligence, commitment, and discipline. 

v)       Internal & External Interactions: WFH by its very nature implies that internal and external interactions will either be telephonic or through video conferences. It is important to adopt video conferences as a regular mode of communication for multiple reasons (a) its puts a face to the matter more particularly in matters where you may not have met the person(s) you are interacting with; (b) it creates a sense of genuineness as there is neither anonymity nor a scope for multitasking; and (c) it provides opportunities to sense body language or gauge a person’s reaction in a virtual environment. The ability to sense body language or gauge a person’s reaction are critical skills and Video conferences with colleagues and clients will go a long way in providing opportunities to hone such skills. 

vi)     Technology: We are effectively in unchartered territory. Therefore, be on the look-out for technologies, solutions and advances that will make WFH a seamless exercise. Discuss and exchange thoughts and most importantly embrace technology. These changes are possibly here to stay and the faster you accept and embrace them the quicker we will all progress.  

Cheers!