As we move in to a new normal in working practices, the work from home policy remains a popular, and perhaps, permanent feature for many businesses. Companies navigating this change need to be mindful that many people in our teams are in the honeymoon period. No need to commute, set your hours, less distractions from colleges, greater control of your working day. It all looks very rosy, and it is.
I have been working at Spa Strategy for over 14 years and in all that time I have worked from home or remote locations, it’s the nature of my role. As an old hand at the work from home club I have felt the ups and downs and wanted to share my biggest take away; to be successful, working from home has to be co-created.
It’s a given that it takes constant self-discipline and self-motivation, however it is how you and the company forge a connection that ultimately brings success.
A recent masterclass led by Mia Kyricos and hosted by the Global Wellness Institute, inspires the listener to embrace love as a business strategy. The 60-minute presentation and Q&A is worth the investment of your time.
https://www.globalwellnesssummit.com/wellness-master-class/mia-kyricos/
Listening to Mia reminded me why we as a company do what we do, why I love it and why that shared passion is so important when working remotely especially now with companies fractured by the logistics of keeping people safe.
There have been many social media articles on how to successfully work from home. Topics such as: how you set up the space, how you prep for your day, the merits of what to wear etc, etc. However, without recognising the need for the ideas and concepts shared by Mia the company’s chance of success is far lower.
Another insight for me is encapsulated in this article from the BBC. https://tinyurl.com/yyfftmak
The article is about how close friends are important but casual acquaintances can be really positive for our mental health. In an office environment the “water cooler conversation” is an integral part of building a sense of belonging within the company. As a work from home college you miss out on this and need to create that lost sense of belonging within your everyday. This is a chance to find a new and different way, perhaps by embracing a social activity that also supports your health.
I am fortunate. Joe, the handsome boy in the picture, is being fostered by us until he can be rehomed. Walking him each day has reconnected me with the dog walkers that I had stopped seeing since our dog passed away late last year. These casual acquaintances lift my mood. We connected over shared stories of how naughty the dogs are, well mine in particular, and other aspects of our lives. This sharing means we know just enough that we become partial witnesses to each other’s life. Checking in on different events or simple daily activities gives me, and I hope them as well, a shared feeling of belonging.