This is not a normal work from home situation
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James Clear explains in Atomic Habits that your environment is the invisible hand that shapes your behavior.
Great leaders understand this and are quick to address the resulting elephants in the room. Right now for instance it’s helpful to admit that this is not a normal work from home situation.
Let’s address the elephant in the room. Our current work from home situation is not a normal WFH situation.
This was sudden and we‘re not allowed outside. I’m an introvert. But even I enjoy stretching my legs and maybe feel a bit of that coffee shop bustle as I get a take away.
Shops are closed. Would you like a nice big external monitor? If you didn’t buy one before the computer shops got locked down you’re out of luck. Same for a good headset.
Working remotely with your kids at home all day creates a different dynamic than if they were at school until 2pm. We‘re juggling home schooling with financial pressures, cabin fever, a pandemic and Internet connections that only work properly half the time.
But in the midst of these challenges good leaders find ways to help their colleagues. My leaders at Standard Bank noticed how quickly everyone’s diaries filled up with back to back meetings from 8-5.
It’s understandable as people are still adapting to a world with less “walking over to your desk for a quick chat”. But importantly they took swift action and encouraged us to cut 30 min meetings to 20, 60 mins to 45 and to keep lunch hour free.
That’s great leadership. The question on my mind today is, under the circumstances, how can I help my teams.
This was sudden and we‘re not allowed outside. I’m an introvert. But even I enjoy stretching my legs and maybe feel a bit of that coffee shop bustle as I get a take away.
Shops are closed. Would you like a nice big external monitor? If you didn’t buy one before the computer shops got locked down you’re out of luck. Same for a good headset.
Working remotely with your kids at home all day creates a different dynamic than if they were at school until 2pm. We‘re juggling home schooling with financial pressures, cabin fever, a pandemic and Internet connections that only work properly half the time.
But in the midst of these challenges good leaders find ways to help their colleagues. My leaders at Standard Bank noticed how quickly everyone’s diaries filled up with back to back meetings from 8-5.
It’s understandable as people are still adapting to a world with less “walking over to your desk for a quick chat”. But importantly they took swift action and encouraged us to cut 30 min meetings to 20, 60 mins to 45 and to keep lunch hour free.
That’s great leadership. The question on my mind today is, under the circumstances, how can I help my teams.