Back to School Means Back to Basics

September 2, 2016

The start of a new school year is a great time to remember the basic rules of spelling and grammar. As a self-proclaimed “Grammar Girl,” nothing irritates me more than receiving newsletters from my child’s school that are filled with typographical, spelling and grammatical errors. What is the message the school is sending me with this type of communication? It’s certainly not a good one. While I realize (sadly), the art of English grammar is dying; it shouldn’t be dying at our schools.

Nor should it die in the corporate world. Any message a company sends out – by press release, web site, Twitter, Facebook, brochure or letter – should be written well, and that includes spelling and grammar. Think about the message your customer receives if your (or is it you’re?) communication is not written well (or is it good?).

Your company should present itself as intelligent, eloquent and educated at all times. Writing for different media requires different styles: Internet writing must be short and impactful, while brochure writing and white papers allow for more detailed information. Good grammar and attention to spelling in all your internal and external outlets can raise your message above the din of others who don’t take the time to craft a message that is impactful and smart.

Take the time to really review your messages before you send them out. If you’re not sure if your message is on point or correct, hire someone who can do it for you.

Author: Robin Imbesi

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Eight Work-From-Home Etiquette Tips

Eight Work-From-Home Etiquette Tips

Whether telecommuting is old hat or something you’ve been forced into as part of the COVID-19 shutdown, here are a few tips to make the experience run smoothly for both employers and employees.

Managing expectations

Successful work-from-home strategies always begin with clearly communicated expectations. Make sure your employees have any necessary equipment, tools and resources. Will they need to track their time? Participate in regularly scheduled meetings? Be available at certain times of day? For employees, know what you’re accountable for and clearly communicate any challenges you’re having.

Constant communication

Keep the lines of communication open and be accessible. Check in with employees regularly through apps like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts and Skype, or even an old-fashioned email or phone call. Be genuinely interested in how they’re doing but don’t overdo it. Foster a feeling of trust by not micromanaging.

Nine to five…ish

While having a daily schedule is ideal, it may not always be practical right now. Make sure your people know when you need them to be available and try to offer flexibility at other times. They may be juggling school schedules as well as work schedules and working at “off-shift” times may be necessary. Be mindful of employees in different time zones as well.

For employees, try to work when you’re at your best, and not when you’re exhausted by kindergarten playtime and fourth grade math. Make sure people know if you will be unavailable at certain times.

Taking a break

Getting up and moving clears the head and helps with creativity and problem-solving. Whether it’s a walk around the block or a break for lunch, make time to get away from your desk throughout the day.

Signing off

Working from home does not mean being available 24/7. Set an actual end to the workday if possible. Don’t send and respond to messages at all hours. Sign out of messaging apps and close work programs. Understand and respect these boundaries.

Location, location, location

When setting up a home office, think about where you will have the fewest distractions – for yourself and for those who may be seeing you and your background on a video conferencing platform. Try to avoid busy spots that may include semi-clad people walking behind you, barking dogs and kids vying for your attention.

Conferencing and calls

Be clear about whether you expect people to turn on their cameras during meetings. If so, be clear about how they should be dressed. During calls, mute your phone when you’re not talking to avoid background noise. Headphones can also help with call quality. When speaking, pause frequently so others can participate in the conversation.

Social engagement

It’s ok for managers and employees to have some down time together, which may help ward off feelings of isolation. Keep up your normal level of interaction, perhaps with a virtual coffee break or happy hour. Managers should set the tone for how casual to be. Let employees choose what they would like to share, and never pry into areas that were off-limits before.

Author: Erin Alderfer