Providing tips to working from home

One of the joys of working from home is that you are in 'your space'.  However, working from home also means organizing, creating a peaceful space to allow creativity and thrive, and keeping it simple.

There are challenges to working from home.  

Simple points such as:

• not being distracted by clutter, noise, or household jobs,
• being present in getting your work completed and not distracted by scrolling on social media,
• ensuring your family and friends know that you have set times when you are working, and not available to socialize, even though you are physically at home,
• keeping your space clean and tidy so that distractions of clutter or accumulation of piles don't deter you from completing assigned workloads.

How could you minimize distractions?

• Set time aside weekly to clean your office space and go through any piles of accumulated paperwork, etc,
• Set time aside daily to ensure that you have completed simple tasks before you begin working in your home office.  (Making your bed, cleaning the bathroom and kitchen, vacuuming, etc)
• Set your break times and take them.  For example, morning tea or lunch.  Do not bring your lunch back to your office.  Take time to eat away from your laptop and desk.  This might mean you have your lunch on the back patio or sit in the sunshine for 10 mins.
• Once you have completed your assigned work for the day, leave your office tidy and close your equipment, just as you would when leaving the workplace office.

These are just some ideas.  You will have more ideas that you can implement.

Value your Team

Many people make a team.  How you or management treat can determine whether the team is cohesive, excited, encouraging, and forward-thinking, or, in dissension, disheartening, reactionary, and critical.

So, how can you value your staff and/or volunteers? One simple step is simply saying 'Thank you'! But do not just say the words, follow up with action. You may choose to hold a monthly or bi-monthly morning tea, encouraging your team to engage with one another and build their working relationships and discuss the challenges and successes within their areas of volunteering or work.

Communication 

I cannot emphasize enough how important communication is to value your team, whether paid or volunteer.  Regular, open communication is vital to building an effective team that is cohesive, excited, and working well together.

Equip Your Team

Your team is unable to effectively engage in their roles if they are not equipped with resources and training.  In many industries, "toolbox talks" are held where opportunities to bring up concerns, training requirements, and provide professional development are concentrated on.

If there are courses, and/or professional development opportunities available, ensure your team is aware of them and how they can participate. 

Ensure when fresh staff or volunteers join your team, they are introduced to the whole team and welcomed.  

Reward Your Team

Be available to encourage and reward your team.  Something as simple as a morning tea or doing a team-building activity together.  Saying thank you, giving certificates, or an acknowledgment of outstanding contributions. 

Communication, equipping, and rewarding your team will encourage longevity, respect, cohesiveness, and unity. 

How can you value your team today?

How To

 As a 'seasoned adult', I've had many years of experience in areas of not-for-profit, as well as paid employment.

Having trained several incoming staff through a variety of various positions, I noted it can be difficult to pass on all information that the incoming staff member may require.

Trivial things such as where floral arrangements/wreaths are purchased, or what to remember at various times of the year may not be recorded in the job guidelines but are intrinsically part of the role.

That's where a "How To" document might be helpful.  In this document (which I refer to as a 'living document), you note small incidentals, timelines, and practical notes that can assist the incoming staff member as they learn about what is required, especially after you are no longer working in that area. Looking back, I now realize that such a document in my early years of working in both paid and N-F-P work, would have been invaluable.

This document can be continually changed and updated by those referring to it so that as functions, timelines, and things change in your role, there is an up-to-date place of reference. It is an intentional document and one you are continually updating.

Such a document might seem to be a waste of your time, however, once you are not in that role, it can assist the new person, especially if they cannot contact you. Such a document, alongside the PD and PG, can stimulate conversation and help with communication in the working environment.

One way you might like to begin your "How To" document is by going through your Position Description (PD)/Guidelines (PG) and making notes on the small points that are not listed in these documents.

In some roles, knowing the manager's coffee preference can help set a more positive start to the working day!

Small incidental points, which seem trivial, can help create a positive working environment, or cause dysfunction as people become frustrated because the previous staff member "knew", but the new member of the team does not.

How can you create a "How To" document today and into the future, for when you train someone in your role?

Who Am I?

 Recently, I posted on my social media pages a few thoughts about how often women are asked, "What do you do for a job?"

As I've reflected further on this issue, I am encouraged that as women, we have been given the ability by God to encourage, love, and nurture others, even under immense pressure and responsibility.

In a world that so often defines us by our accomplishments, looks, dress code, and what we own, we can forget that God created us. Scripture tells us, "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  Ephesians 2:10

What am I? When considering this question - the first part of the answer is that I am a child of God, saved and forgiven, a believer in Jesus Christ.

Secondly, my job description now encompasses financial director, executive housekeeper, event planner and coordinator, diary manager, and secretarial administrator.

Reading the stories of Esther and Ruth reminds us that these women did not have easy choices to make.  They endured and participated in making a difference for their community, and family. Their stories are written down for us to be encouraged.

Read:  Ruth and Esther

My quote for 2023 is "To be successful at anything, you must simply be what most people aren't: Consistent" Anon

So, our question is not What Are You? Not what is your job?

Instead, ask yourself - Who Am I? Now that's an interesting question to ponder!

For further reading you might like to undertake - click here 

To read more about Who I am in Christ - click here

To view the social media post - click here