Hill+Knowlton Strategies

Pioneer, trailblazer…and some less favourable comments have been made since I started working remotely from Valencia over a year ago. It works for me and H&K but I knew when I requested to work remotely to my boss and the CEO that it wasn’t all going to be a walk in the park or in my case, on the beach! It is sometimes tough and you come against some serious issues. For example, once my laptop decided to just die on me and where once before I could get an onsite IT engineer to my desk. Suddenly being 800 miles away in Valencia presented its own problem. Thankfully that is the most serious incident in a year and with the support of a great company, and of course the marvels of modern technology, it can be accomplished to the benefit of all parties concerned. 

Here are my personal tips on remote working:

1.    Technology – Ensure you have a good ISP and connection. Wifi is great but I am sure most remote workers are cable connected to ensure a faster more reliable connection.  When I first got to Spain I had to upgrade the speed of our connection at home to cope with the stress of the work I needed to do.

2.    Routine – Be strict about doing the normal daily routine.  That includes getting up, showered, dressed and to you your work area fresh and ready for the day head.  It puts you in the right frame of mind and ensures you are awake, alert and ready to work. I know I couldn’t have a serious conference call with my boss sat in pyjamas… or worse!

3.    Environment – Ensure the area where you work at home is fit for purpose. Don’t sit on the sofa or in front of the TV. It just doesn’t work and your productivity will suffer!  I tend to listen to music during the day which I find works for me.

4.    Working hours – Just because you are working from home doesn’t mean your BlackBerry and/or phone has to be permanently attached to your hand.  That said, you do need to be contactable by the office during working hours, it’s just a balance.  Also, don’t be afraid to stop working when the office has finished for the evening too! 

5.    Don’t be a stranger – Return to the office as often as you can with agreement of your company. Working remotely can be great but you need to ensure that you are still a familiar face in the office. Nothing beats a face-to-face meeting and it is also good to connect to your colleagues this. You have to remember being out of sight should not mean out of mind…and as H&K in London has a fabulous bar, it’s always a great place to catch up with everyone.

Right, I am off to get a shower and dressed… it’s been a long day here chatting on twitter and Facebook! (Ha-ha – only joking!)