Pre-pandemic, we were productive during our workday, in part, due to the people in our office and the cues and resources present in our workplace. When the pandemic hit last spring, many of us were mandated to work from home for our own safety and the safety of others. Some of us continued to work in the office with a “skeleton crew” and by practicing masking, social distancing and other safety measures our employers put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Today, many of us may be working in a hybrid situation, spending several days each week in the office and working from home on the other days.
In the office, we had our supervisor / executive who we met with regularly that created our workload by giving us things to do. We had teams to work with and support, and some of us had people to delegate to. We had in-person meetings to prepare for with printed agendas and materials, coffee to make, and catering to order and deliver.
Most important in some ways, is that we had the ability to stop by a co-worker’s desk or office to ask for help or problem-solve, and the constant contact kept us on track regarding upcoming deadlines and team / company events. We had opportunities to chat spontaneously with our co-workers in the breakroom, the copy room, and in the hallways of our offices. We caught up on business with each other over lunch and coffee meetings.
When our computers malfunctioned, we could call our IT department and someone would appear at our desk to take care of the issue. IT helped us install new programs and tools to assist us with our work and often held trainings to help us use them. We had systems in place to order supplies and have them delivered when we needed them. In a pinch, we could borrow what we needed or ask for help from others in the office so we didn’t skip a beat!
Due to the pandemic, our in-person or in-office support network disappeared quickly, didn’t it? We have the same role but the game changed. Our support network and resources are primarily virtual. We don’t have the daily interactions with others and cues to rely on to keep us moving forward in a collective effort. Our productivity is ours to manage. It always was, yet it is glaringly so now. Without much warning or practice, we were expected not only to adapt to working from home but to master it. As we start the new year, we’ve been working remotely, working from home, working from anywhere or living at work. No matter what you call it, we can be productive in this virtual world.
I’m going to suggest you start with the basics to help you be, stay, and gain productivity. Virtual work is the future of work and mastering it starts with mastering the basics. You need to work in a productive way in a productive work environment to do your best work and be successful. When I say the basics, I am referring to a calendar / priority list; computer desktop / email Inbox; and an organized physical desktop / workspace. It is more important than ever to focus on these basic items to lay the groundwork for effective work and greater productivity. Add in those programs, tools, and apps that support, streamline, and create additional efficiencies.
Author: Lisa Assetta, Founder and Owner, Office Assistance Plus
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