1.619.852.1391
Still Working Remotely? Six Tips To Stay Focused, Motivated & Productive Amidst The Distractions Of Working From HomeWhether it's constant kid interruptions, the call of the couch, or feeling the need to finally fix that lopsided shelf in the kitchen, working from home is fraught with distractions. And, boy, have we been hearing about it. With many, if not most, membership professionals forced to work from home during the pandemic, we’ve received a number of requests for tips on how to stay focused and motivated when working remotely. If you're not used to working remotely, it can be a challenge. Here's some advice to help you stay focused, motivated and results-driven while working from home. 1. MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS When you work at the chamber office, the separation between work and home is physical. We recommend trying to recreate this separation as much as possible. If you’re one of the lucky ones with a spare bedroom, this is relatively easy. If not, we recommend setting up a specific workspace. This could be a corner of your bedroom or living room, or even your kitchen table. Make a concerted effort to make it feel as separate from your home life as possible. Entering that designated workspace will help you get into work-mood each day. And it’s equally important to leave your workspace at the end of the day and fully disengage. If you work from the kitchen table, or another area that you need for your personal life, pack up your work at the end of each day to help maintain the boundary between work and home. 2. SET GROUND RULES WITH THE PEOPLE WHO SHARE YOUR HOME You must avoid unnecessary interruptions as best you can – while maintaining important relationships with the people you live with. Take the needed time to make sure that your living mates (especially your loved ones) understand that you have a job to do and to make sure they support you when you are working. It’s not personal, but they need to understand that you must avoid unnecessary interruptions and distractions when you are trying to work. Of course, we understand that this is often easier said than done. At minimum, we recommend that you institute a “do not disturb” agreement when you are making calls. 3. ACCOMPLISH CRITICAL ACTIVITIES FIRST No matter if you are working from the chamber office or your home workspace, it’s easy to get caught up in less important non-recruiting activities. And, for whatever reason, we have found that distractions just seem to spiral out of control more easily when you work from home. So, it’s important to prioritize tasks and start your day with the most critical activities such as prospecting and follow-up calls. Doing so offers the best opportunity to make sure you stay on top of your goals. 4. MAINTAIN YOUR ROUTINE It’s easy to get out of step when you aren’t required to go to the chamber office every day. If you’re not careful, you may find yourself working too many hours, not enough hours, or working irregular hours scattered throughout the day. The best way to stay on point is to simply maintain your regular routine as you did back at the chamber office. Stay consistent with your chamber’s start and stop times, take morning and afternoon breaks, and don’t work through your lunch period. Reasonable routine is the best way to stay productive…and keep your sanity. 5. KEEP IN TOUCH It’s second nature to text or email people, including your coworkers. Before you know it, you can cut out all human interaction and lose that sense of “team”. One surefire way to nurture your work relationships and support camaraderie is to simply text and email a little less. Make it a point to pick up the phone more (or hop on a video chat) when you want to discuss strategy or update your manager. For managers, regularly check in with your reps and schedule virtual team meetings to review progress, celebrate accomplishments, and discuss issues. Working remotely doesn’t mean you can’t stay connected. 6. DON'T HESITATE TO SEEK ASSISTANCE While working from home may make you feel like you’re on your own at times, you’re not. You can’t just walk into your manager’s office like you used to, but the support you need is only a phone call away. Don’t hesitate to call your manager to get the help and support you need. LEARN MORE PROVEN TIME MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES SPECIFIC TO MEMBERSHIP PROFESSIONALS Want more? Join us next week for our virtual learning event Take Control: Time Management Strategies & Productivity Hacks For Membership Professionals, Thursday, February 18 at 11 a.m. PST. In this fast-paced webinar, we will emphasize proven practices to help you successfully balance your day while staying motivated, organized, and sane. |
Holman Brothers Membership Sales Solutions © 2024 All Rights Reserved.