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Stacey Dunleavy
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99
Graphic designer - pivoting to motion graphics
11/02/20 at 2:40PM UTC
in
Career

Working From Home

How do you handle your workflow? More accurately, how do you handle your workflow when you're dependent on coworkers to send you components of a project? It's one thing to do research or study while I have down time at the office, but I feel weird about it at home.

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Alyssa N. Batchelor, M.S.
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66
I put the lit in politics
11/08/20 at 5:48PM UTC
I wouldn't worry about it too much. if you are still getting your work done, then what you do in between is up to you.
Janice Enoch
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81
Associate Director
11/05/20 at 1:16PM UTC
I agree with the above comments, put together a robust project plan with milestones, due dates and owner names to hold people accountable to do their part. Maybe schedule a bi-weekly meeting to review status updates and progress and to keep the upcoming due dates on everyone's radar.
Kristin Johnston
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64
Senior Digital Marketing Lead
11/03/20 at 12:36PM UTC
I wouldn't worry about filling every minute with active project work! Working from home invites flexibility; throw a load of laundry in, take a walk around the block, then come back to your work. It doesn't mean you work less, or slack off; in fact, you are likely more productive with those 10-15 minute breaks.
Stacey Dunleavy
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99
Graphic designer - pivoting to motion graphics
11/03/20 at 1:19PM UTC
I finally got emails in the afternoon - and ended up working a nine hour day...
Kristin Johnston
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64
Senior Digital Marketing Lead
11/03/20 at 1:36PM UTC
It always seems to work out that way! ?
Jackie Ghedine
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5.76k
Coach for Gen X Women | Jack Russell of Humans
11/03/20 at 11:12AM UTC
Have you thought about introducing a project management software to the company that allows everyone to view projects and their tasks and timelines? It's a great way for everyone to prioritize and understand what they need to do for the greater good. One low-cost tool is Trello, easy and affordable.
Stacey Dunleavy
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99
Graphic designer - pivoting to motion graphics
11/03/20 at 1:18PM UTC
I'm jealous of everyone else's companies that are technologically advanced...
User deleted comment on 11/02/20 at 11:16PM UTC
D
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26
11/02/20 at 7:51PM UTC
I always try to have a slush fund of internal projects I can be working on that aren’t part of my day to day responsibilities, but that add value to my team. Is there a document or process or something that you or a team use that could use some tweaking? Ask your manager if they have anything on their “nice to have” list with no deadline but that would give you something to work on ad-hoc during lulls between projects.
Stacey Dunleavy
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99
Graphic designer - pivoting to motion graphics
11/02/20 at 7:57PM UTC
Ha! One of the reasons I'm keeping my eyes open for another job is that they're so disorganized! If I asked my project manager if there was a lower-priority project to do during downtime I'd get yelled at for even considering anything other than this project. That's why I study on my own and try to develop new portfolio quality pieces...
D
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26
11/02/20 at 10:56PM UTC
Sounds like maybe the Project Manager is the wrong person to talk to about the problem. If you are not a freelancer, you should have a manager or someone else you can go to for an “internal” project to work on. If you are a freelancer, you should not be doing anything extra, and you can use non-billable time however you want and it’s nobody’s business. You say things are disorganized, assuming you’re an employee and not a contractor, have you identified a specific way that things could become more organized? Volunteer to tackle a solution to that problem in your project downtime. Don’t ask for a random project to work on. Volunteer proactively for one you want to work on that solves a bigger business problem. Talk to your manager about it, not the project manager. If the Project Manager is creating a bottleneck by not keeping you optimally busy, and doesn’t have anything else to fill your time, but complains that you do personal things to fill that time, have a frank conversation with your manager about what is going on, and have them speak to the PMs manager to make sure you are utilized correctly and have correct expectations set about how the downtime while waiting for project work should best be used.
Stacey Dunleavy
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99
Graphic designer - pivoting to motion graphics
11/02/20 at 11:16PM UTC
Another problem is that I am underutilized... I'd like to be involved in our social media (i'm studying some motion graphics) and I'm ignored. I propose ideas and they're called stupid. There's no room for growth at all, it's a dead end job. I only took it because it was the first one to come along with an easy commute and nearby daycare... Again, keeping my eyes open, even during the pandemic...
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Sue
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516
Seasoned Sr Treasury Coordinator, Sr Exec Asst
11/02/20 at 6:32PM UTC
I find this one of the biggest challenges I face. Before WFH I could go up to people I was waiting on and ask in person, now it is email or IM and wait. I have decided rather than stress myself out about their non-response, I document where I stand so if asked I can give an honest status. During these crazy times at home I am worrying less about what I can't control - it is a new part of the norm.
Anonymous
11/02/20 at 6:02PM UTC (Edited)
Project timelines and goals. Set up your day as you would your day at a normal workplace. Take 5-10 minutes out of every hour to get coffee/go to the bathroom, take a break. Take a lunch break. Make sure there are deadlines for each part of a project that are clear for each person who is part of that project. If you have research you want to do and you're waiting on a colleague to get back to you with something ask yourself if there is anything else work related that you could be doing? If not do your research. I find that it's easy to let all the small work stuff slide when it's not interesting so just make sure you're getting that stuff done if your boss expects you to get that stuff done. Otherwise, like it's your workday, you set the rules-as long as you are getting the work done that you are expected to get done I don't see an issue.
Malissa
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822
Controller in the Agricultural Industry.
11/02/20 at 5:29PM UTC
My answer to this can go either way. You don't say if you are salary or paid by the hour. If you are paid by the hours I'd want you to at least be reaching out to your coworkers and trying to get the stuff you need done while you are on the clock. A little professional development in the down time is fine. If you are salary, go do the dishes, do the laundry, binge watch Amazing Race or what ever, as long as your work gets done on time. If you are running behind make sure you have documentation of who's holding you up and make sure your boss is in the loop about it.
Stacey Dunleavy
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99
Graphic designer - pivoting to motion graphics
11/02/20 at 5:37PM UTC
Yes, I'm hourly... So, I'm on Adobe in between emails from my project manager...
A Liberated Woman blog
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19
11/02/20 at 4:53PM UTC
I think the follow up is just as important as the setting of goals and deadlines. Following up and being transparent about what needs to be done helps move others toward the same goals without being felt left out or not having sufficient time to make deliverables. Following up ensures and helps facilitate communication among everyone.

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