We’ve got a job to do!
I would be remiss if I didn’t have this conversation up front. Homies, first and foremost, we have a job to do, so do it we must. My intention for this Blog is to better our Working From Home experience, not to keep us from your day jobs. Here are what I consider to be essential work fundamentals whether you work from home or at the office.
Know and abide by your Company’s Policies: Most companies with a Work From Homeforce have documented their policies on how to conduct business remotely. You are accountable to abide by those policies. Know them and follow them.
Secure the Company’s Assets: Whether it is your computer, your company Phone, or documents, you need to keep them secure. In other words, lock that shit up! At the end of your work day, safely secure your home office equipment and documents. Either lock them in a file cabinet, close the door to your home office, or shut down and lock your laptop. Whatever you do keep it safe. I, for one, would not want to make the call to my Security Office to say, “My laptop was taken from the backseat of my car when I nipped into Starbucks for a Flat White.” Would you?
Know your company’s Acceptable Use Policies: With corporate issued computing devices, there are typically rules in place on how you can and cannot use them. Checking your Facebook page or Cyber Monday shopping would generally be considered unacceptable. More likely than not, you had some training and an annual acknowledgement on this topic. Be smart and follow it. Like it or not Big Bro knows what you are up when you are on the company’s assets, and they probably even told you this in your Acceptable Use Training.
Do your Job: To me, working from home is a luxury. Being remote requires trust between you and your employer. Meet deadlines, keep regular office hours, and be available when your boss needs to get in touch with you. You don’t need to give minute by minute updates when you are away from your post (e.g., BRB bio break, running to the mailbox, grabbing a cup of Joe, etc.), but if you need to be away during office hours for more than 10-15 minutes (outside of taking 30 minutes or so for lunch), let them know.
Stay Positive: No one likes to be around a complainer. At work, and in life generally, attitude is everything. As one of my favorite teachers the late Wayne Dyer said, “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change”. If you are faced with a seemingly unsurmountable task, or a difficult discussion, look within and change your thoughts. There is something attractive about “playing the victim”, but it will not get you where you want to be.
Keep your focus on the important tasks: My inbox has over a hundred unread emails, many of which do not require my action and I have an outstanding project that is hanging over my head like a sword of Damocles. Guess which one I pick to dig into, the inbox. A clean inbox can give you a sense of accomplishment and pride, but when it gets in the way of the task that will deliver the most in your work, it is just a distraction Pareto’s 80/20 Rule in action. Simply put, spend more of your time on what will deliver the greatest results for your company. Admittedly, they tend to be more challenging, but step up your game and put your energy there.
Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments!
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