Guest post by Kristina Wright
You’ve all probably seen or heard the phrase, “The future is now.” It is often used when making predictions about emerging technologies or when articulating a “future trend” that is actually happening right under our noses. Through Covid and quarantine and business continuity changes that individuals and organizations have experienced in the past three months, we are living in the midst of a technology revolution that will change the way we work going forward.
Or at least it should.
Work from wherever
WFW is a phrase that is new to me, but a concept for which I have long advocated. Replacing the more common WFH (work from home), WFW is a shift to work from wherever. A minor shift in terms of wording, but a major shift in concept and practicality.
Many employees and companies have already embraced WFW. From coffee shops to cabins to car dealerships, much of the work that we do from our offices can be shifted to remote – so long as proper data privacy and security practices are in place. Rather than drafting up a complicated remote work policy, consider making it simpler.
- Get your work done.
- Be available.
- Over-communicate.
This will allow the best of both worlds –
- employees who have flexibility in their work arrangements and the ability to make the choice that is best for them and their family.
- employers who have engaged, loyal employees who are given the flexibility and trust to be their best selves and do their best work.
As a working parent, I recently renewed a commitment to myself that I had let slide. “I will not miss the 1:00 choir concerts anymore.” Because there is no need to. I am responsible, I work hard and I can be trusted to get the job done. Period.
Not business as usual
It’s important to bear in mind that the home working environment that we’re currently experiencing is NOT the typical “work from home” arrangement. Especially for parents with children under the age of 18. CONGRATULATIONS, you made it through the 6-week phase of working-full-time-while-navigating-distance-learning. But now, with the cancellation of camps and sports and many traditional summer child care options, many of you have moved to the phase of working-full-time-while-being-the-summer-activities-director.
ACK!
If this is you…
- Give yourself some grace. You have a lot on your plate right now.
- Be honest with your employer about your situation and reaffirm your commitment to your job, your team and/or your company.
- Be proactive in sharing your current state and how you plan to get work accomplished in a slightly different way.
- Be sure you are clear on your leader’s outcomes and expectations, and be creative in achieving those expectations. Even if you need to get up before the sun and/or grab some late-night hours to get the job done.
If you’re the boss and this is the reality for some of your employees (*high likelihood*)…
- GIVE THEM SOME GRACE! Work hours may not be 9-to-5. Kids and pets may make appearances during morning meetings or afternoon Zoom calls.
- Be sure that employee effectiveness is being evaluated on results, not time spent.
- Be clear in your expectations of their work product, and you will probably be surprised how they rise to the occasion. In the words of Brené Brown, “Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.”
- Learn to trust. The old equation of “butts in seats = productivity” is long gone. (Or if not, it should be!!)
As a business community, we must embrace the WFW mentality. It is a reality – a necessity – for many. But it requires relaxing your grip on the desire to control the setting. Rather than focusing on where and how the work is done, you must focus on the outcome.
KRISTINA WRIGHT is a strategic writer and corporate communications professional who focuses on effectively leveraging communications to create clarity within organizations. She works with leadership teams on employee communications, organizational messaging and positioning, quarterly webinars, presentations, talking points and strategic plans. In her work, Kristina straddles the fence between strategy and execution, ensuring a long-term focus on initiatives while rolling up her sleeves to get the work done. She excels in simplifying and sharing complex information so that it is easily understood and adapted for diverse audiences.