610.409.2522
dani@mac4comm.com
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
  • Home
  • Who We Are
  • What We Do
  • Who We Work With
  • Blog
  • How to Reach Us

Innovating for Business Change

March 15, 2019Lori Rohrbach

March is International Women’s Month. UN Women, the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and women’s empowerment, is a global champion for women and girls. The highlight of this month is International Women’s Day (March 8), which centers on the theme: “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change.”

This theme resonates deeply for me.  As a freelance writer and consultant, I applaud efforts businesses are taking to provide innovative ways of employing women. Being able to work from home provides me with flexibility to care for my children and mother, while maintaining my professional career.  I have clients I’ve never met – communicating only by phone and email – and that’s fine.

I’ve been affiliated with MAC4 Communications since 2015 and am constantly impressed by the talent and creativity of this nearly all-female team – all of whom work on a flexible schedule.  So, I will shamelessly give a shout-out to Danielle MacDonald, who has built her business by recognizing and nurturing women who want to work in an innovative way.  MAC4’s business model allows us to contribute our talents in creative ways with flexible work hours – so as a team, we can deliver a great customer experience.

So, this International Women’s Month, I hope other businesses will find ways to attract smart, creative women and provide them with opportunities that are equal, smart and innovative. It’s a business model whose time has come.

#WomensDay

Author: Robin Imbesi

Previous post Let Your Grammatically Correct Voice Be Heard Next post Mind the Millennial Mindset

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

HomeWho We AreWhat We DoWho We Work WithBlogHow to Reach Us
Copyright © 2016 MAC4 Communications, LLC.