Dear Ilana and Jess: How can I make the most of working from home? I’m finding it very difficult. - Michael
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Dear Michael: Working from home poses a new challenge for all workers who were accustomed to, or worked exclusively in, an office – or any other external setting. Some tasks are easy to translate to the home environment and others are not. Here are a few strategies you can use to make the transition as seamless as possible.
As we mentioned in our previous post, establish clear physical boundaries. Even if you don’t have a home office, create a home work station that stands apart from more relaxed zones in your home. This is a simple way to help you compartmentalize and establish clear cut routines.
Let family members who are old enough to understand know when you’re working. If your schedule is predictable – for example, if you have predetermined meetings or conferences, notify the family of when you’ll need some quiet. If you have kids and live with a partner, lean on one another and take child care in turn. As much as possible, coordinate schedules with each other to avoid meeting overlap. This will allow you to be as mutually supportive as possible.
Communicate with your coworkers. We’re all in quarantine together, and now more than ever we need to be empathetic and understanding. Certainly, you aren’t the only person at your company who is contending with the new normal. Let your coworkers know if you have inescapable home demands; childcare is certainly one of them. Ask your superiors about policies and protocols they may be implementing to help their employees navigate this unprecedented time.
Say This: “Team, I apologize, but I will have my children with me during this call. I will mute myself if necessary and will be participating as thoroughly as possible. Thank you in advance for understanding.”
Not That: “Is it okay that my kids are here?”
Say This, Not That is based on the work of Cognition Builders: a global, educational company headed by Ilana Kukoff (Founder & CEO) and Jessica Yuppa Huddy (Chief Learning Officer). Everywhere from New York City to California to Shanghai to Zurich, the Cognition Builders team is called upon by A-list entertainers, politicians, CEOs, and CFOs to resolve the conflicts that upend everyday life. When their work is done, the families they serve are stronger than ever. With their new book, Say This, Not That To Your Teenage Daughter Kukoff and Yuppa Huddy have selected the most common conversational mistakes parents make, and fixed them. For more information, please visit: https://cognitionbuilders.com. To purchase Say This, Not That To Your Teenage Daughter visit: http://publishing.andrewsmcmeel.com/books/detail?sku=9781449488055.
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