John Pierce is Head of Business Development at Cetera Financial Group, driving Cetera's financial professional recruiting strategy.
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With millions of Americans not expected to return to the office until mid-to-late 2021 and major corporations exploring work from home (WFH) policies indefinitely, it may finally be the time to buy a proper desk chair. As we embrace WFH long-term, it's important to address some of the more practical matters of maintaining and operating a remote workspace.
For those of us in financial services, discussing sensitive money matters with customers requires a setting that is comfortable, professional and secure — not an easy task given that houses and apartments aren't generally built for productivity. For professionals in all industries looking to get the maximum from a virtual workspace, here are three considerations to help you thrive professionally and personally.
Set Up Your Zoom Room The Right Way
• Make it work for you. Stop cranking the camera to hide the laundry basket or relegating yourself to the most sterile room in the house. Find an angle that makes you feel good and keep that professional blouse nearby if you really need it.
• Let your personality shine. Your background allows you to share your personality as your prior office workspace most likely did. So, what's in your background? I like some artwork (kids' or classic), consider rotating fresh flowers weekly and change the scenery with items that have meaning to you. This spurs fun questions while also showing colleagues what's important to you.
• Attempt to get natural light in your video environment. Research has shown that natural light may boost productivity, help with mood, improve mental health and brighten up your day.
• Reduce the noise. While we can't help the natural intrusions from kids, pets and family members, try to set up your video environment in an area that reduces background noise. There may be a natural conflict with traffic when the window is open, and that is OK. Just be cognizant of the impact of noise on professionalism and task execution.
• Don't beat yourself up. We are living in a totally new and different environment. For many, this is our permanent reality and we need to accept that things will happen — noise, interruptions, bandwidth issues — and not sweat it. Everyone is going through the same thing. Laugh off the dog that pawed the door open or the child who has come in to ask for a snack during a call. The comedic relief may have made someone's day better.
Evaluate Your Technology
• Take some time and evaluate what is working and what is not with your technology.
• Ask colleagues to evaluate your sound and lighting and make a checklist to ensure you have what you need for your technology to operate smoothly. Maybe you need a headset. Maybe you need to be able to rotate your computer as the sun moves east to west. Ask for your company's help. It is a sign of strength, not weakness, and your IT team needs to understand if a computer repair is on the horizon.
• Consider a direct connection to your modem. While we can't always control bandwidth usage at home, having a direct connection to your modem will help eliminate screen freezes. (Until the kids start power using later in the day!)
• Consider a stand-up desk to break the monotony and lethargy of sitting in a chair all day. If you cannot afford a stand-up, put the computer on the kitchen counter every other meeting to stretch your legs.
• Keep an eye on expenditures and costs and ensure you understand your company's reimbursement policies when it comes to home office-related expenses.
Create Boundaries
• WFH has been great for commuting time, but we need to truly separate work from home. Your home should be your refuge. Try and set aside a designated WFH room where you can leave your phone and computer and close the door when you take a mental health break. If you don't separate yourself from work, you will keep glancing back at your screens. Also, prohibit yourself from drifting back into that room after dinner or work hours. The work will be there next morning. If you don't separate, you will end up working unsustainable hours that can lead to burnout or other negative side effects.
• Force yourself to stop every two hours or so to stretch or get some air. When we began working from home, we lost the benefit of casual chatter around the water cooler. Do yourself, your colleagues and your family a favor and take a break. Block time on your calendar if that is what it takes. You will be more productive when you take quick breaks throughout the day.
• Don't forget to eat. Many of us are stacking meetings to get offline at a decent hour. Sometimes that means skipping lunch. Try not to do that. Nutrition and hydration are important factors in staying productive. If possible, eat lunch away from your workspace to create a 15-minute break from the computer.
I started my current job at the onset of the pandemic and have only met a handful of colleagues in person. I never would have imagined this is how I would have started a new role, but in this time I've learned a few things that I trust may help others. Finding time in the morning before starting the workday to be reflective allows me to level-set and find peace and clarity before the onslaught of Zoom meetings. Start with 15 minutes then try 30 minutes each morning.
Force yourself to get away from my desk and get fresh air — it's an instant energy booster. And finally, it's OK to say, "No, let's do a phone call instead of a Zoom" or, "No, my workday is over. I must unplug." Lead by example and those around you will follow, allowing others to have a better work-life balance and, more importantly, a more stable emotional state as we embrace our new realities.
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