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The Power of the Professional Network

September 4, 2018Lori Rohrbach

At a recent client meeting, my previous work lives collided.  I was working on a presentation with a former colleague, when his phone rang.  On the line was another former co-worker who we both happened to work with at another company.  As my previous worlds intertwined, I realized how interesting professional networks are – and how they need to be maintained.

 

I worked in corporate communications for more than 25 years before I took a hiatus to raise my young children.  I went off the grid for about seven years.  During that time, I maintained contact with former co-workers and contractors through LinkedIn, Facebook and the occasional lunch or email.  At the time, I didn’t think much about it: these were people I truly enjoyed working with, and I wanted to know what was going on in their lives.

 

When I was ready to dust off my keyboard and start writing again, I reached out to some of these people for guidance.  Fortunately, they were all gracious with their time and advice.  (Full disclosure: I started writing for MAC4 thanks to my former working relationship with Danielle MacDonald, who gave me a chance to join her team).

 

Keeping in touch with people – and letting them know I was working again – helped me find new opportunities.  It didn’t happen immediately, but over time, I was getting more assignments and gaining new professional contacts.

 

There is power in your professional network, but that power lessens over time if you don’t continue to nurture it.  It’s important to maintain your network through personal contact and social media.  You never know when your past will impact your present.

 

 

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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