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Taking off the training wheels to find business balance

March 3, 2017Lori Rohrbach

A few years ago — my children, who are two years apart in age — were ready to learn how to ride a two-wheeled bike.  That Christmas, the kids received a balance bike to share.  My daughter had little interest in the bike.  My son loved it.  In less than a month, he was zipping around the neighborhood with abandon.  My daughter opted for the more traditional bike with training wheels.  In the summer, it was time to take the wheels off my daughter’s bike.  After many tentative starts and about a week of running along next to her, she finally got the hang of two wheels.  My son – who now had to follow his older sister’s lead – decided it was time to transition to a “real bike.”  After one hesitant start on his new bike, I ran with him for less than ten feet and he was off – and he never looked back.

Sometimes, we become so used to certain ways of doing things, we close our eyes to something different that can make our lives easier.  Now that social media is engrained in business operations, it may be time to look at new ways to manage the information stream coming in and out our companies.

When social media became a platform for corporate communications, many companies assigned one or two people to oversee streams of information coming in from channels such as Facebook, Twitter and Linked In.  Over time, these information channels exploded, and now are the priority communication channel.  Having one or two staff people to monitor social media is like trying to ride a two-wheel bike after having training wheels on for too long.

Today, there are social media businesses that can manage this influx of information and monitor all the channels efficiently.  Companies like HootSuite, Buffer, Viralheat and Sprout Social (among others), offer unique dashboards and outlets that allow companies to gain instant insight into their Internet presence, as well as efficiently push messages out.

When I was growing up, I never heard of such a thing as a balance bike.  Fifteen years ago, a social media dashboard company didn’t exist.  While it is easy to rely on traditional training wheels and established social media staffing, maybe it is bolder to find your balance in a different way.  Whether by a balance bike, an internal staff using a dashboard, or using an external company to manage social media content and volume – trying a new tact could provide the quick, smooth ride your company needs.

 

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

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