Making It Work From Home (With Everyone Home)

Making It Work From Home – With Everyone Home

As a virtual company, our team has always worked from home (and always will).  We already had the tools we needed to work remotely.  However, when “stay-at-home” orders were issued in each of our home states, our children came home from school and it changed the way we work.  In addition to being Equipment Planners, we now have the added job titles of Teacher and Stay-at-Home Parent. 

Embracing the Video Conference.  As a team we’ve fully adopted video conferencing as our everyday meeting venue through Microsoft Teams.  The ability to have visual as well as audio communication gives us a constant reminder that we are people first.  It helps us stay connected to each other. 

Keeping Flexibility.  Flexibility is vital to our productivity as we navigate the competing demands of project deliverables and family responsibilities.  Attempts to engage workers with contrived meetings and busy-work are counterproductive and inevitably lead to burnout.  Instead, we prioritize the quality of client interactions and deliverables over the number of hours logged.

Leaning into Distractions.  With kids at home, it’s nearly impossible to prevent interruptions in our workday.  There will always be runny noses, snack requests, and homework questions that need answering.  Sometimes the best course of action is to “lean in” to the distraction, prioritize family, and return to work when everyone’s needs are met.

Here are some ways our team is making it work:

• “We have been successful with an established schedule and routine. The boys are excited to follow the schedule and keep me on task – learning to tell time.” – Adam Hurst, Principal

• “I am grateful, my kids have been able to follow the proposed daily schedule from their school. Some backyard play time and lots of dancing during recess keeps them and us entertained!” – Atabong Fonkeng, BIM Manager

• “We have been doing a lot of outside time! Helen has started doing chores and it has helped give her direction. E-learning took some getting used to in our house, but it’s helped us build a schedule.” – Laura LeTang, Project Coordinator

• “We try to do schoolwork in the morning and take walks/hikes/bike rides in the afternoons.  My husband and I take turns in ‘kid mode’ so the other can focus on work.” – Melody Vandivere, Principal

No matter what happens in the coming weeks, we must remember that we are all in this together.  Everyone is facing similar challenges right now, but we will thrive if we give ourselves and each other the grace to keep moving forward.