Sandra Love, MSN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CPC’s Post

Here's a general overview of what a day might look like for an employee: Morning Routine: Arrival and Check-In: Employees typically arrive at the office or log in remotely, check emails, and plan their day. Meetings: Some organizations start the day with team or department meetings to discuss goals, updates, and priorities. Daily Tasks and Responsibilities: Project Work: Employees focus on their core tasks, projects, and responsibilities. This may include client meetings, project development, or working on specific assignments. Collaboration: Interactions with colleagues, team members, and supervisors occur throughout the day for collaboration and information exchange. Problem Solving: Addressing challenges, resolving issues, and finding solutions to problems are often part of the daily routine. Lunch Break: Employees take a break for lunch, either socializing with colleagues or taking some time for personal activities. Afternoon Activities: Continued Work: Employees resume their work, which may involve additional meetings, client calls, or focused project work. Training and Development: Some organizations schedule training sessions or professional development activities in the afternoon. Communication: Emails and Communication: Throughout the day, employees engage in ongoing communication, responding to emails, participating in virtual meetings, and staying connected with team members. End-of-Day Routine: Task Review: Employees often review their tasks for the day, ensuring that goals are met and prioritizing any outstanding work. Preparation for the Next Day: Planning and organizing tasks for the next day is a common end-of-day practice. Flexible Work Arrangements: Many organizations offer flexible work arrangements, allowing employees to balance work and personal commitments. Team Building and Social Activities: Some organizations schedule team-building activities, social events, or casual interactions to foster a positive work environment. It's important to note that the specific details of a typical day can vary widely based on the nature of the job, industry, and organizational culture. Additionally, remote work has become more prevalent, impacting the traditional office-based routine.

Now that remote work and globally distributed teams are becoming the norm, the significance of daily standup meetings cannot be ignored. These brief but focused meetings play a pivotal role in creating communication, collaboration, and overall team cohesion across different time zones. 🌐 Daily standups provide a dedicated space for team members to share updates on their progress, discuss ongoing tasks, and raise any challenges they may be facing. This routine communication helps bridge geographical gaps and ensures everyone is on the same page. With team members scattered across various locations, maintaining alignment on project goals and priorities becomes crucial. Standups offer a valuable opportunity to reaffirm shared objectives, clarify expectations, and reinforce a unified sense of purpose within the team.💡 In a distributed environment, issues and roadblocks can arise at any time. The daily standup acts as a proactive forum for identifying and addressing challenges promptly. Team members can collaborate on solutions, offer assistance, and prevent potential bottlenecks from escalating. Regular face-to-face interaction, even if virtual, creates a sense of connection among team members. 🤝 This humanizes the work environment, making it easier for individuals to relate to one another and understand the unique contexts in which their peers operate. Knowing that daily updates are expected encourages accountability and responsibility. Team members are more likely to stay focused on their commitments, as they are aware that their progress will be shared with the team regularly. Standups are designed to be brief and to the point, ensuring that the valuable time of globally distributed team members is used efficiently. This structure allows for quick updates and minimizes the disruption to individual work schedules.🌟 By discussing achievements and challenges daily, teams can continuously refine their processes. This iterative feedback loop promotes a culture of continuous improvement, helping the team adapt and optimize its workflows over time. ❇ Hear what Sean Diljore thinks about daily standups and how he manages it within his team. VentureOn Partners Cake Equity

Here's a general overview of what a day might look like for an employee: Morning Routine: Arrival and Check-In: Employees typically arrive at the office or log in remotely, check emails, and plan their day. Meetings: Some organizations start the day with team or department meetings to discuss goals, updates, and priorities. Daily Tasks and Responsibilities: Project Work: Employees focus on their core tasks, projects, and responsibilities. This may include client meetings, project development, or working on specific assignments. Collaboration: Interactions with colleagues, team members, and supervisors occur throughout the day for collaboration and information exchange. Problem Solving: Addressing challenges, resolving issues, and finding solutions to problems are often part of the daily routine. Lunch Break: Employees take a break for lunch, either socializing with colleagues or taking some time for personal activities. Afternoon Activities: Continued Work: Employees resume their work, which may involve additional meetings, client calls, or focused project work. Training and Development: Some organizations schedule training sessions or professional development activities in the afternoon. Communication: Emails and Communication: Throughout the day, employees engage in ongoing communication, responding to emails, participating in virtual meetings, and staying connected with team members. End-of-Day Routine: Task Review: Employees often review their tasks for the day, ensuring that goals are met and prioritizing any outstanding work. Preparation for the Next Day: Planning and organizing tasks for the next day is a common end-of-day practice. Flexible Work Arrangements: Many organizations offer flexible work arrangements, allowing employees to balance work and personal commitments. Team Building and Social Activities: Some organizations schedule team-building activities, social events, or casual interactions to foster a positive work environment. It's important to note that the specific details of a typical day can vary widely based on the nature of the job, industry, and organizational culture. Additionally, remote work has become more prevalent, impacting the traditional office-based routine.

Cooperation is the easiest means of success and progress

☕💻The Caffeinated Collaboration: Making Work Sessions with Friends Work Working with a friend from a coffee shop can be equal parts exciting and challenging. On one hand, you get to hang out with someone you enjoy. On the other, you're both trying to get stuff done and not get distracted by EVERYTHING! For the past few years, Tsiyonawit Ashenafi and I have been trying to get work done together at coffee shops. You know, stuff like personal projects, school assignments when we were in college, or just our normal work. But we never seem to be as successful as we want to be. It always starts out the same way - we'll pick a cute new coffee shop, get all excited about how much we're going to accomplish, and then...well, not much actually gets done. Before you know it, we've ordered like 3 different fancy coffee drinks and I've taken a million pictures of her, always begging her to move her hand away from her face. (She's such an እጅ በአገጭ 🤭) I don't know what it is, but we just get so distracted. We have all these good intentions, but then we get caught up chatting and dreaming up new ideas instead of actually checking things off our to-do lists. It's a vicious cycle! So upon having another semi productive work session with her, I tried to examine what took most of our time and wrote down a few tips to make our caffeine-fueled work sessions a success: 1. 🕓Be on Time and Choose a Convenient Place Pick a spot that's easy for both of you to get to, and make sure you show up when you said you would. And for the love of God, don't change your mind after getting to the spot. Nobody likes waiting around andddd moving around is just going to make you tired and waste your time. 2. 💪Divide and Conquer Don't try to do the same task together. Assign each other different projects so you're not stuck talking about a particular issue at the same time. You can still chat in between, but keep the tasks separate. 3. 🍲Know When to Eat Most of us feel a little sleepy and sluggish after a big meal. Time your food breaks wisely, so you don't lose precious productivity to a food coma. (The last time we planned to work together, we had something called cheesy chips and it was a disaster.) 4. 📵Set Boundaries Before you get started, agree on some ground rules, like no phone scrolling or gossiping about your other friends. You're here to work, not plan your next photowalk lol 5. ✨Embrace the Chaos Let's be real, things won't go perfectly. Rigid schedules are for the office, not cozy coffee shops. So embrace what comes. The key is finding the right balance between productivity and fun. With a little planning, some strategic snacking, and a lot of caffeine, you and your friend can conquer the world...or at least a few tasks. እስኪ tell us what helps you with being productive when working with a friend? Comment some tips below. 😊

With the rise of remote and hybrid work, supporting team wellbeing has become more critical—and challenging—than ever.   Here are some common challenges reported to us by remote employees in the tech industry:   - Lack of casual interactions and visibility - it is harder to network and build meaningful relationships without regular face-to-face contact.  - Stress from constant connectivity - being always “plugged in” leads to increased fatigue and enhances risk of burnout. - Feeling of loneliness and isolation - this can lead to greater disconnection and disengagement from the team.   Navigating such dynamics often doubles the workload on managers. And they themselves need effective tools and strategies to handle their expanded responsibilities.   💡 Some effective approaches for managers can include:   - Encourage and facilitate casual interactions beyond the team members. For instance, connect with potential mentors or invite guest speakers from other teams to your team meetings. - Maintain clear and frequent communication, including informal 1:1 conversations and team fun-time. - Help employees set healthy boundaries by leading by example. Consider implementing a culture of delayed messaging, deep work hours or meeting-free days.     You can always discuss with your HR partners the opportunity to utilise professional coaching, as coaching can be instrumental in supporting people leaders to better manage the unique challenges of overseeing distributed teams. ❓ From your experience, what works well for maintaining remote or hybrid team well-being? 👇

Yesterday, I attended Bryan R Montpetit's Masterclass on 'Managing International Teams'. 👨🏫 Bryan skillfully packed so many valuable insights into a very easy-to-digest webinar. The numbers he shared were astounding for everyone. Can you believe 70% of employees are disengaged at work? 😱 The number is even higher for remote workers! As someone who has been working remotely for US companies for the past 4 years, I could relate to all of the challenges he mentioned. It was a very validating experience to see my concerns being acknowledged with no judgment and having been provided with solutions on top of it. Don't get me wrong, I love working from home... But the isolation becomes TOO REAL at times. And only communicating with your colleagues when you need them doesn't really help. 😬 Bonus points if you're mainly texting during the day. More room for misunderstandings. Add different time zones to the equation. 🕒 I work between 4 pm - 12 am every day. I guess you could tell from that statement how many concerts I've been to in the past few years, unless it's happening at a daycare. 👀 Bryan talks about accommodating the needs of your team members and he comes from a place of understanding and empathy.🌱 ⚠Not micromanagement.⚠ There were so many great points overall and tips to overcome obstacles.💡 Highly suggest this Masterclass to anyone working with a remote team! Check out Bryan's page for more management tips. 🙌

Workplace productivity is the value each team brings to the success of the overall business. It measures the output of individuals or teams to better understand how an organization can optimize its workflows. Business leaders and managers worry about it in terms of their teams and employees working in a hybrid environment. And most of us, individually, make some assessment as to whether we "felt" very productive on a given day.  Being more productive is a common goal, but it’s also a goal that many people struggle with. Productivity enhancement at work is crucial for both personal growth and contributing to your organization's success. Here are some specific strategies to boost productivity in a workplace setting: 1. Set Clear Goals: Define your objectives and prioritize tasks based on their importance and deadlines. Having a clear sense of purpose helps you stay focused. 2. Time Management: Use techniques like time blocking to allocate specific time slots for tasks. Avoid multitasking, as it can decrease efficiency. 3. Minimize Distractions: Identify common distractions and take steps to minimize them. This could involve silencing notifications, using website blockers, or finding a quiet workspace. 4. Organize Your Workspace: Keep your physical and digital workspace organized. A clutter-free environment can help you think clearly and work efficiently. 5. Delegate When Possible: Don't hesitate to delegate tasks to colleagues or subordinates when appropriate. This frees up your time for higher-value tasks. 6. Use Productivity Tools: Utilize productivity apps and software for task management, communication, and collaboration. Tools like Trello, Slack, and Microsoft Teams can streamline work processes. 7. Effective Communication: Communicate clearly and concisely with colleagues and team members. Miscommunications can lead to unnecessary delays and errors. 8. Regular Breaks: Take short breaks throughout the day to recharge. The Pomodoro Technique, for example, involves working in focused intervals with short breaks in between. 9. Skill Development: Continuously upgrade your skills to become more proficient at your job. This can lead to increased efficiency and effectiveness. 10. Healthy Lifestyle: Maintain a healthy work-life balance by getting enough sleep, eating well, and engaging in regular physical activity. A healthy lifestyle supports sustained productivity. Remember that productivity enhancement is an ongoing process, and it may require adapting and fine-tuning these strategies to fit your specific job and work environment.

Building effective teamwork while working from home requires intentional effort and strategies to foster communication, collaboration, and cohesion among remote team members. Here are some tips to promote teamwork in a work-from-home setup: 1. Communicate Clearly: Use chat, email, and video calls to keep in touch with your team. Make sure everyone knows how and when to communicate. 2. Set Goals: Clearly define team goals and what each person is responsible for. This helps everyone stay focused and work towards the same objectives. 3. Regular Meetings: Schedule regular meetings to discuss progress, share updates, and solve problems together. This keeps everyone on track and connected. 4. Use Tools: Use online tools like project management software to track tasks, deadlines, and progress. It helps everyone stay organized and accountable. 5. Encourage Collaboration: Encourage team members to share ideas, help each other, and work together on tasks. Collaboration leads to better results. 6. Be Transparent: Be open and honest with your team. Share information, ask for feedback, and address any concerns or challenges openly. 7. Clarify Roles: Make sure everyone knows what they're supposed to do. Clear roles and responsibilities prevent confusion and duplication of work. 8. Support Well-being: Respect work-life balance and encourage breaks. Happy and healthy team members are more productive. 9. Celebrate Success: Celebrate achievements and milestones as a team. It boosts morale and motivates everyone to keep up the good work. 10. Offer Help: Provide support, training, and resources to help team members succeed. A supportive environment leads to better teamwork.

Identify the Problem: Determine what specific aspect of your team's performance is lacking. Is it communication, collaboration, productivity, or something else? Communicate: Open a dialogue with your team members to understand their perspective on why things aren't working effectively. Encourage honest feedback and listen to their concerns. Set Clear Expectations: Make sure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities, as well as the goals and objectives of the team. Clarify deadlines and priorities to avoid confusion. Provide Necessary Tools and Resources: Ensure that your team has access to the technology, software, and resources they need to do their job effectively. This might include project management tools, communication platforms, or training materials. Establish Regular Check-Ins: Schedule regular meetings or check-ins to track progress, discuss challenges, and provide support to team members. These can be daily stand-ups, weekly meetings, or bi-weekly updates, depending on your team's needs. Encourage Collaboration: Foster a culture of collaboration and teamwork within your remote team. Encourage sharing of ideas, feedback, and best practices. Promote Work-Life Balance: Remote work can blur the lines between work and personal life, leading to burnout. Encourage your team members to take breaks, set boundaries, and prioritize self-care. Address Communication Issues: If communication is a problem, consider implementing communication guidelines or protocols. This might include setting expectations around response times, using specific communication channels for different purposes, or scheduling regular virtual team-building activities. Provide Support and Training: Offer support and training to team members who may be struggling with remote work or specific tasks. This could involve providing additional resources, mentoring, or arranging for skill-building workshops. Evaluate and Adjust: Regularly assess your team's performance and effectiveness. Solicit feedback from team members and be willing to adjust your approach based on what's working and what's not.