Establish a routine so that you don’t compromise on office hours. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Q: Working from home, as we have been instructed to
do during this pandemic, is a new experience for me. I am trying to
adapt fast but I’m experiencing a number of challenges in discharging my
duties because I feel like nobody is seeing my efforts. How can I stay
productive and ensure that I stand out among my peers so that my seniors
and employer take note?
Working from
home is the new normal and will most likely be adopted by many employers
even after the pandemic is over. Most people are struggling to work
from home and still be productive.
Thankfully, there are a number of things you can do to maintain your productivity even while working remotely.
Create a conducive working environment at home whereby there will be minimal interruptions from other members of your family.
Establish
a routine so that you don’t compromise on office hours; then ensure you
have all resources required for you to deliver. You could subscribe to a
reliable internet provider now that you are saving a little on
commuting expenses.
Discuss your targets, priorities
and deliverables with your supervisor on a weekly basis so that you can
focus better and adhere to set deadlines.
Maintain communication with your supervisor and team members and ensure you are responsive on e-mails, messages and WhatsApp.
Treat
remote meetings the same way you would face-to-face ones. Prepare and
ensure your dress code is acceptable. Do not show up to the meeting with
a bare chest or a torn T-shirt. Maintain professionalism at all times.
BE POSITIVE
Word
of caution: do not undertake personal errands during working hours. In
fact, you should be on standby since you can be called in to the office
on short notice.
When the workload demands it, be open
to flexible working hours and even during weekends or past official
working hours. However, it is important to take time to rest. Give
yourself breaks in between the working hours so that you don’t burnout.
Be
supportive of all cost-cutting initiatives that your employer might
implement, and maintain the same level of energy and enthusiasm.
Be positive and encourage your colleagues to also stay productive so as to support the business during this difficult time.
In
case you have ideas that might improve the business during this
difficult period or rationalise costs, share these with your supervisor.
This is also an opportunity for you to demonstrate to
your manager that you can deliver on your roles even without
supervision. This might work to your advantage when normalcy resumes,
and could define your next career move.
Jane Muiruri - Senior HR Manager, Nation Media Group; jwmuiruri@ke.nationmedia.com
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