The Luxury Property Forum’s Top 10 Tips for Working from Home
Whilst the world deals with the impact of Covid-19 and the essential lockdown continues, companies and individuals across the luxury property industry have moved their business to their homes. With the latest guidance from the government and the World Health Organisation to “stay home”, it is realistic that for a large part of this industry, the shift to the “home office” will become the new normal.
For many, it will be the first time that they or their employees have worked from home. This will no doubt raise challenges on communication, staying on task, productivity, home environment and mental health.
Here are The Luxury Property Forum’s Top 10 Tips for Working from Home:
1. Communication, Communication, Communication
Most of us who work in offices or on site see members of their team every day, therefore communication is easy and effortless. When working from home, this is not the case. Therefore the key is to overcommunicate!
Check in with your team more and provide them with regular and productive updates. Try to have quick calls so far as possible to prevent long streams of emails and embrace technology. The richer the communication the better. Therefore, encourage face to face and instant contact, such as video calls - luckily there is now a range of technology available.
2. Dress for the day
There is a temptation when working from home to get up a little later and stay in your dressing gown all day. However, it will come as no surprise that this significantly lowers motivation and productivity. So, have a shower and get dressed. You need to feel like you’ve stepped out of your home and into the office. Not only will it make you feel ready to work, you will look professional when hopping on to any on-screen meetings which may arise during the day.
3. Think about your surroundings
It is important to create the right environment when working from home. It is too easy to work from the comfiest spot in your home (usually on your sofa, in front of the TV). Try to set up a deliberate workspace. Somewhere quiet with as few distractions and interruptions as possible (ideally where you can shut the door). Consider your ergonomic needs as well, making sure you are sitting in an upright chair and to the extent that you can, at a desk. One of the main complaints about working from home, is the inability to switch off from work. As such, if you can, set up your home office away from your general living space.
4. Be accountable
Regardless of our surroundings, we are still accountable for our work responsibilities and deadlines. Be clear on deadlines and expectations for your work and communicate with your team if deadlines need to be moved or you encounter problems. As a manager, ensure that you are available to your team. Whilst communication is important, being a chat addict is unproductive and can be disruptive to others. As such, if you need to get your head down to work, block out some time in your calendar and take time to focus and get the work done. As a manager, trust your team. Working from home does not mean lower productivity, but ensure your expectations are clear.
5. Think about your health and well being
Working from home can sometimes be more sedentary then working in an office and definitely more so then working on site. So, stand up, do some stretches, take a walk. Try and change your posture twice each hour and try to perform some tasks whilst standing throughout the day. Make sure you are taking controlled breaks, eating lunch away from your workspace and if necessary, setting alarms so you don’t miss your breaks.
6: Banish the distraction of notifications
When working from your home computer there may be an array of notifications from social media apps, shopping websites or continuous news updates. In order to focus, try to silence these on your computer and your phone. This will help you to focus on work, without worrying about personal updates which may not need your immediate attention.
7. Enjoy the home perks
There can be an element of pining for the office environment when working from home. Fear of missing out on those team gatherings, the office lunches or Friday drinks may be real. But working from home has it’s perks too (missing out on the commute in particular). If you are feeling like you are stuck in a rut, it may help to reset and take a minute for yourself. Do a 60-second meditation, a 15-minute run or walk the dog. Escape from your work mindset for just a moment to refocus on the tasks you need to complete.
8. Schedule in Socials
Working from home does not need to be all about work. There is plenty of time during the working day where your interactions are not work related. Making a cup of tea for someone else, waiting for a document to print or standing at the lifts - all of these microinteractions are essential for a sense of belonging. However, they are lacking when we are working from home. So, put them back in. Say good morning and good bye to your teams. Make time for light conversations with your team before getting stuck into work. Put something in mid-afternoon, such as a virtual cup of tea to just make time to talk to your co-workers as you would in your work kitchen.
9. Working from home with children
During these uncertain times, it is important to be honest with yourself and those you work with. While for many, the prospect of working from home seems idyllic, the reality of having to juggle work commitments and a hectic family life can be terrifying. If you live in a two-parent household, discuss your workload with each other so you can establish how your working days are going to run alongside taking care of your children. If your children are still having naps you could try to schedule working hours around these times. Use the various modes of technology which you have at your disposal – there are now so many apps and programmes which can be both entertaining and educational. Once you have established a schedule and routine that works, don’t be afraid to discuss it with your employer. Find your own balance that works for you and your children.
10. Be kind to yourself and keep your spirits up
There is a lot going on right now, so it's understandable to feel stressed about work, income, family and health - so be kind to yourself. You don't have to be 100% productive and pretend everything is normal.
If you are struggling to stay connected to your business or colleagues, reach out to your fellow colleagues for helpful advice and tips. Everyone works differently and it’s important to explore and discover what works best for you.
If you are a manager, it is on you to provide clear communication and it is also crucial to keep up morale. Do your best to attend 121 sessions and talk to your people about how they are finding this change. It is likely that we will all be working from home for more than a few weeks, so it important to keep each other’s spirits up.
Whilst quarantine can be challenging, remember this is not forever.
