Women who have a history of working remote, I have a question for you!

32 Comments

1. Barb HansenMarch 26,2020 at 4:07PM UTC

   I am a Product executive in startup/tech. Now I am a COO/co-founder for a startup.

   1. How long have you been working remote?
   About 15 years over the last 25 years.

   2. What are the habits you use to stay connected with your team or other people in your life?

   a) I have a daily stand-up conference or video call with my team.
   b) We use slack (or similar) for asynchronous and hallway conversations, and team updates.
   c) I do this and I encourage my team members (who have also work remotely) - pick up the phone to talk to me or someone else on the team if they have an idea they want to bounce off someone, don't save it for the daily stand-up. Ideas are like good virus and we should never keep then to ourselves :)
   d) We have a "fun" channel in slack, where people post picture of their pets, their weekend activities and fun memes.
   e) We have a corporate sponsored gym membership program which doesn't help people now but in the past it was a great way to encourage people to get out of the house.
   f) We sponsor "volunteer days" where employees can take paid days to work for whatever local charity they want to help. We encourage(d) employees/contractors to spend at least two days a quarter at a charity.
   g) I personally go (went) to the gym daily, now I'm going to my garage to work out which is great for physical health but it's lacking the mental health aspect of talking to different friends at the gym.
   h) Now, I check in with friends and family every few days and I remind staff to call with friends/family at the end of every stand-up
   i) We are kinda old pros at working remotely so our work day-to-day has not changed much

   2. How have these routines changed due to COVID lockdowns?

   My work routine has not changed at all, other than making sure that my direct reports and employees are doing okay. My husband is now working from home and he's not used to it at all. He's taken my home office as it's set up like an office and I have moved to the spare room downstairs working on a craft table.

   When we on-board new remote employees, I spend about 30 minutes on a video call with them talking about what it's like to work remotely. I tell them about how I structure my day, the tips/tricks that I use (which I will list below) and answer any questions they might have about remote working. I found that having a frank conversation about the ups/downs of working remotely as helped with productivity and preventing new employees from working too many hours.

   Some other work remote tips:
   1) Scratch the wandering-mind itch
   If you are worried that you won't be focused, and you will just wander around your house, then scratch that wander itch, then get back to work quickly. (set a 5 alarm on your phone if you have too)
   When my mind starts to wander, I get up from my laptop and throw in a load of laundry, do some other small chore around the house that takes a few minutes, or I step outside for 5 minutes, then it's back to work.

   2) Walk around when you are on the phone.
   I always do walking meetings, for meetings that don't require me to be in front of my laptop -- I walk around my house or I walk around the block.

   3) Missing the fresh air?
   I try to work outside for an hour or so when the weather permits. I try to block an hour in the afternoon, when I'm heads-down working or doing my emails, and I set up outside in my backyard.

   4) Dress for work.
   I do not dress for "work" (I work in leggings and a sweatshirt) but I put on the same make up i would wear to work if I worked in an office. I don't wear a lot of make up anyway but I still spend the time in the morning to "get ready for work"

   5) Create the same soundscape you had at work.
   Use the same entertainment modality at home as you would use at work -- if you listen to podcasts using noise-cancelling headphones, then do that when working from home as well.

   6) Start and end your day at the same time (or close too).
   Even if your work inside your house does not mean you should be working more hours. Close the door on your new home office, or close your laptop at the end of the day. It you feel your laptop calling to you after work, then hide it in closet or put it in your laptop bag.

   7) Treat yourself
   There are many benefits to working from home. Find something that brings you joy that you won't have in your office - a neighbor walk during a conference call, sitting outside or by your favorite window with your laptop for a few hours, or your 4-legged co-worker "helping" you answer your emails - whatever it is, stop to enjoy the moment.

2. AnonymousMarch 27,2020 at 2:42PM UTC

   I have worked either fully remote or partially remote for 18 years.
   I have used email, IM, online meetings and phone calls to stay in touch. (Granted, I had a superbly inane manager who would demand a response to emails within 5 minutes or drop the hammer on me. Try writing code when you have to stop your train of thought every time an email comes in...Then he would ask me why I couldn’t finish faster. Hmm, I do wonder!)
   The only thing that has changed for me is that now my husband is working from home too. So what once was my office and where I got a lot more done, is now very much like being in the office with the other employees or that one loud employee who has conference calls on speaker phone. ?

3. AnonymousApril 1,2020 at 12:40PM UTC

   Hi Barb! Thanks so much for your response, you can find part of it included in my article here :) https://fairygodboss.com/articles/5-ways-to-feel-less-lonely-while-working-remotely-from-women-whove-done-it-for-years

4. wendyl@alaedu.orgMarch 26,2020 at 4:31PM UTC

   I have a home office, but am in the field every day.... until now. There are four of us in different areas of the state who are very close... we keep a text message thread going al day every day. Have for a long time now, but this has helped particularly during this trying time. We work for the Alabama Education Association And in light of school closings, virtual lessons, making sure systems And educators are in compliance with state directives has been trying at best.

5. AnonymousApril 1,2020 at 12:44PM UTC

   Hi Wendy! Thanks so much for your response. I'm glad to hear you all are staying in touch and thanks for doing such important work in Alabama!

6. AnonymousMarch 26,2020 at 4:49PM UTC

   My dad started working remotely when I was in middle school. I made fun of him because he was always laughing and chatting on the phone, so it never seemed like he was *actually* working. After working a few remote jobs now, I realized he was right all along - you should always check in with your colleagues, even if it's not directly work-related. It brings you closer together, which can make you more efficient when working, and it helps with any feelings of isolation!

7. AnonymousApril 1,2020 at 12:44PM UTC

   Hi Zoe — I completely agree that spending some time on the phone just checking in is so important to both efficiency and feelings of connection :)

8. Alexa CordellMarch 26,2020 at 5:18PM UTC

   I've worked remotely for several years now... and I realize that part of my success in this is due to my own personal characteristics and work ethic. I think we can all be honest and say that working remotely is not for everyone. Just like being in an office every day isn't for everyone.

   Not all remote workers feel alone or disconnected, even when they are. For me, personally, I am more productive when not being tied up with meetings (whether virtual or in person) and "water cooler" chat.

   A few things I do appreciate:
   1. Check ins from my boss, with specific questions about projects or tasks. This can be via email, text, MS Teams Chat, whatever method - but preferably not a random, unscheduled phone call (as I have a 4 year old at home with me during this Covid-19 pandemic)
   2. When meetings are scheduled and purposeful - utilize your camera. Body language, social queues, facial expression is so important to how we respond to each other.
   3. Flexibility in "working hours"... this won't work for every person or every position... however, right now we are experiencing a very odd time, world wide, and thus some of our workforce can only get projects done or emails answered at 11:00 PM... and that's because they have families to take care of during the day, greater things to worry about when you look at the big picture... so allowing employees to be flexible in time (not suggesting flexibility in deadlines) can be such a gracious and productive tactic.

   Also - some pros of working remotely that you all probably already know: pets allowed, you don't need to worry about heels or dress pants, you are in charge of the coffee bean to water ratio, a self-serve kitchen with all your favorite items, ability to work out during meetings or breaks (check out ZWIFT, as I love my cycling apps) and of course, the safety aspect of being home with no travel needed.

   Just a few of my thoughts... I have plenty more if anyone needs them. Have a great day!

9. AnonymousApril 1,2020 at 12:45PM UTC

   Hi Alexa! Thanks so much for your response. You can find part of it included in my article here: https://fairygodboss.com/articles/5-ways-to-feel-less-lonely-while-working-remotely-from-women-whove-done-it-for-years

10. Heather Atchison-WhalenMarch 29,2020 at 2:08PM UTC

    I have been working from home for 20 years. I love it. It allowed me to have the best of both worlds raising my daughter. I rarely ever missed a school party and was able to volunteer when she was younger. To keep from getting lonely, I go to the gym every morning, I have GNOs at least once a week and I interact with customers in person.

11. AnonymousApril 1,2020 at 12:45PM UTC

    Hi Heather! Thanks for your response; nothing is better than a GNO when you need some socializing :)

12. Ivelisse BoerenkoMarch 29,2020 at 3:42PM UTC

    So thankful for your responses! I had worked remotely but not on a daily basis, missing the gym routine the most. Now is our full team offsite and remote, these tips will be shared.

13. LadybossCheriSmithMarch 29,2020 at 4:40PM UTC

    How long have you been working remote?
    I have been working remotely (and traveling multiple days per month) for 20 years. I say DITTO to every single thing Barb_Hansen said, above! Plus..

    What are the habits you use to stay connected with your team or other people in your life?
    When I'm managing a team, I set us all up with a desktop chat app, such as Slack. This way, when one of us has a question, we can quickly dash off a note from the screen we're working on without having to email or pick up the phone. Doesn't seem like much of a time saver, but over the course of the day, it does save a chunk of time. It also serves to keep us all feeling like we're truly working together.

    How have these routines changed due to COVID lockdowns?
    Since I've been working remotely for so long, the pandemic hasn't changed much about the way I work, at all. The major difference is, now, my husband and my youngest daughter, who is now attending her high school classes virtually, are in "my space" and make a lot of noise! LOL. Just yesterday I had to kick them to the basement so I could conduct an important call that was being recorded. Even in my office with the door shut, the mic was still picking them up. That's been a challenge, but a sacrifice I'm more than willing to make, to have them safe at home.

14. AnonymousApril 1,2020 at 12:46PM UTC

    Hi Cheri! Thanks so much for your response; you can see part of it included in my article here: https://fairygodboss.com/articles/5-ways-to-feel-less-lonely-while-working-remotely-from-women-whove-done-it-for-years

15. Yvonne MunyanMarch 29,2020 at 6:29PM UTC

    Hello Una,

    I have over 25 years working remotely. In the late 1990s my global company decided to cut travel costs; everyone was given a laptop with video capabilities and Instant Messenger (IM). I reported to a VP in London and I resided in the US. Throughout the day, our team would IM each other and hop on a videochat whenever needed. Those consistent conversations allowed the team to remain close although we were countries apart.

    Since COVID-19, not much has changed for me because this practice was already instituted in our company many years ago. I would encourage you to IM, text and schedule times for videochats with your friends, colleagues, and family.

16. AnonymousApril 1,2020 at 12:46PM UTC

    Hi Yvonne! Thanks so much for your response; you can see part of it included in my article here: https://fairygodboss.com/articles/5-ways-to-feel-less-lonely-while-working-remotely-from-women-whove-done-it-for-years

17. mathisfunMarch 30,2020 at 1:32AM UTC

    I am a WFH novice compared to most people who commented here- only 5 years. I did notice a few things that were not mentioned and maybe that's because my company does not have a WFH culture and has had poor employee engagement when they have had people WFH. Most people have worked in the office until this time and are struggling to find enough to do online. Coronavirus has not changed how I work at all. I do not supervise and I am the only person responsible for my part of our shared projects.
    1. Identify those people you would talk to everyday if you were in the office for "face-time" and find a way to communicate with them every day- about a project, a questions, an idea, a check in. Keep up the contact.
    2. Overcommunicate. When you get an email that you can't work on right away, let the person know you got the email and it'll be a bit before you can get to it. Ask if they have a deadline by which you need to return the info. This works especially well with those that have been burned by WFH colleagues prior to you.
    3. Come to terms with the fact that people are in the office and you are not and so will miss out on some things. Find a way to participate- a conference call during office parties, for example.
    4. Have a technology ally in the office when you are not. Hopefully you can ask someone to arrive at least 5 minutes early to meetings to log onto the meeting platform so you can be "in the room" when people arrive. When you don't have someone to do this for you, you are the last person to arrive and it can be perceived as if you are always the late one.
    5. Be aware of those people who have a tendency to be pessimistic toward co workers and choose to overcommunicate to them the most. Nothing is worse than hearing from someone else that your former office mate is talking negatively about you in the office. When you overcommunicate to these people you are CYA on any problems they may bring you later.
    6. On calls, make sure you contribute something. Do NOT remain silent the entire time. Find something to comment on, present an agenda item, question, or lend your expertise. This way, you remain present in the minds of your non-WFH co workers.

18. AnonymousApril 1,2020 at 12:47PM UTC

    Hi mathisfun! Thanks so much for your response; you can see part of it included in my article here: https://fairygodboss.com/articles/5-ways-to-feel-less-lonely-while-working-remotely-from-women-whove-done-it-for-years

19. Jennifer TaylorMarch 30,2020 at 3:24AM UTC

    In my current position, we are allowed to work from home 1-2 days a week. They are my most productive days! Prior to this position, I was self-employed and only worked from home.

    To stay productive, we utilize MS Teams for video/audio conferencing, as well as the channels within Teams to collaborate.

    I do not miss going into the office at all and wish we could telecommute full time.

20. AnonymousApril 1,2020 at 12:48PM UTC

    Hi! Thanks for your response – I'm glad to hear you're enjoying telecommuting so much! I definitely love not having a commute myself (and I'm finding my team is pretty great at staying connected while remote). I've never tried MS Teams, but I've heard good things!

21. Patty JagodzinskiMarch 30,2020 at 5:38PM UTC

    I have been working from home just over 3 years. The first few months were the hardest adjusting to not being around colleagues and having water cooler talk. The key when working from home is BALANCE. It is easy to work too much with no one to take a break or lunch with to pull you away. My team has a lot of meetings to keep in touch. All web calls so we can see each other. Take time to have personal conversations with your colleagues. It shouldn't all be work focused. This helps with the virtual connection. A couple of times a year we gather at home office for "training" but its really just a chance to reconnect. Hopefully you have a company to support this concept. Covid has not made any changes to our work space so transition did not exist for us. However, our work loads have drastically decreased which hopefully will only be a temporary concern. I love working from home and am grateful everyday that I get to do so.

22. AnonymousApril 1,2020 at 12:52PM UTC

    Hi Patty! Thanks for your response. Totally agree that balance is so important to working from home effectively — I try to block out a break or two for myself every day!

23. AnonymousApril 1,2020 at 12:53PM UTC

    Hi Patty! Thanks for your response. I completely agree that balance is important to working from home effectively! I try to block out breaks for myself every day!

24. Anne BarnwellMarch 31,2020 at 1:09PM UTC

    How long have you been working remote: I worked remote exclusively from 2010 to 2015. After that, I took a new role that had me work in the office, however, through the years, I have been able to return to some remote work, about 50%.

    Habits you use to stay connected with your team or other people in your life? Two key tips on this. First, whenever you can be on video, be on video. It helps the communication and the connections. And two, be yourself. Don't be afraid to let a little bit of your personality come through. Obviously, always be professional in this.

    How have these routines changed due to COVID lockdowns? Mine haven't changed too much except that I'm WFH everyday. However, the stress of the situation is different, kids are home, etc. I think that connecting with people in a caring and understanding way is the best way to help everyone get through this.

25. AnonymousApril 1,2020 at 12:53PM UTC

    Hi Anne! Thanks for your response. You can find part of it in my article here: https://fairygodboss.com/articles/5-ways-to-feel-less-lonely-while-working-remotely-from-women-whove-done-it-for-years

26. Oksana HorbachMarch 31,2020 at 1:45PM UTC

    How long have you been working remote?
    In a prior position I worked from home for 3-4 years, then moved to a position that allowed occasional WFH. Over time and as my role changed, this changed to only going into the office 1 day/week.

    What are the habits you use to stay connected with your team or other people in your life?
    My team, which has 28 people in it in 4 geographically distanced offices plus 3 remote workers, primary stays connected via a Slack for social and professional sharing. We celebrate birthdays, big events, etc. We meet bi-weekly and when we do utilize Zoom video chats. There is a LOT of screen sharing for explanation and training purposes. Shared documents for instant collaboration and group editing using a tool like google docs/google sheets. There are a lot of ways to work together that are almost as good as being in the same room as the other person. :)

    How have these routines changed due to COVID lockdowns?
    Oh my..so much more video chatting. Waaaay more video chatting than I'd really like to do, but I know my colleagues, many of the extroverts need the visual connections. But other than that, it's business as usual. The routine and work that we're doing has stayed exactly the same.

27. AnonymousApril 1,2020 at 12:54PM UTC

    Hi Oksana! That is an impressive collaboration setup across so many locations. Thanks for these tips!

28. anadumacMarch 31,2020 at 1:58PM UTC

    I've been working full time remotely for 3+ years, and prior to that worked 1 day a week remotely for 20+ years. Big transition going full time. I was very lonely. I would describe it as feeling like I was wearing an electric dog collar and couldn't leave my home, i.e. I'd always segmented home and work and now the two worlds had collided. A few tips for making it work. Find a space that you are not generally in and make that your home office. While I have an office that was a former bedroom, I prefer working in the dining room. Its a big table, I can spread out, and we don't use it that often so I don't feel like I'm intruding on the "home" space. Be sure to exercise, be it a full workout, a walk, etc before and during the work day. It helps you remain focused and again, separating activities from work. Use instant messaging, zoom meetings, etc to connect with colleagues so you "see" people. When we are not asked to social distance, consider 1-2 days working from the library or a Starbucks to interact with others. Lastly--don't start to do lots of chores and errands. That's going to encroach on your productivity. Set aside times for those activities, similar to what you'd do if you were in an office and needed to go pick something up. Lastly--there are huge benefits to remote work. I used to commute 4 hours a day (2 hours into NYC; 2 hours back). With the time I gained back I work out each morning, take the dogs for walks, and am more productive at work. I also "end" the day versus hopping on a train only to start working again at 9/10 p.m. Hoping some of these ideas help. We're living with alot of ambiguity and isolation--so connect to the extent you need to with others, and be good to yourself!

29. AnonymousApril 1,2020 at 12:54PM UTC

    Hi Ana, these are awesome tips! Thank you

30. HeatherFerreyraMarch 31,2020 at 7:24PM UTC

    The first year I worked remotely, I was dying to get out of the house all the time, so I would walk the dog to a local coffee shop before work and then I found that I made a lot of plans with friends for after work. I still do the dog walk now, but I'm less antsy about leaving the house as much anymore.

31. AnonymousApril 1,2020 at 12:55PM UTC

    Hi Heather — I am totally finding myself antsy to get out and about. With social distancing measures in place, I can't do much but walk, so that's been my go to. I wish I had a dog to walk with! I'm glad to hear you're prioritizing friend time in your day-to-day life, too! :)

32. Deb StricklandMarch 31,2020 at 8:26PM UTC

    I've WFH fo 7+ years and early this month (March 2020) got a new job that doesn't support remote workers. Of course, now with COVID19 we are all WFH but it's temporary. I much prefer WFH over any in-office work space. I haven't made any changes to how I work because of this current self-isolation situation. I have a bedroom office with a door, a nice window and it's quiet. I don't have kids so that's a big advantage over many who are now dealing with WFH and kids that aren't in school. Husband also WFH but he's in his basement (a well appointed shop and office). We usually only see each other for dinner HAHA.

    I'm an introvert so I much prefer being on my own. I don't get bored or lonely. I can't stand going into an office and dealing with the non-stop chic-chat from coworkers who think their every thought has to be vocalized. I am not looking forward to when I have to back to the office. I really debated whether or not to accept the job offer for a few reasons, one of which was no formal WFH policy. Fortunately, it's a 5-mile commute but I still to deal with very loud co-workers. No job is perfect.