Work Hard Anywhere

The COVID-19 pandemic has most traditional workplaces closed-down for the foreseeable future. Some of us are fortunate enough to be able to continue working from the comfort of our own home; others not putting themselves at risk either on the front lines, as a public essential service or simply out of work. A shadow in comparison in terms of challenge, we recognise the small feat of working at home, but it is a challenge to some. This week we would like to help by sharing first one of the most important practices we think and that is how to collaborate and work with teammates and colleagues more effectively from home.

At STL Engineering we don’t shy away from arranging virtual meetings. We realise that when working remotely, it is very easy to lose sight of colleagues (literally and figuratively!). Without support from the team, personal tasks and projects can seem unclear and days can begin to feel less productive. Not only can teleconferencing allow for clearer communication within the team, it also allows everyone to nurture their professional relationships from afar.

For example, at STL we employ a daily scrum in the morning to keep up to date on tasks and to prioritise our day. This gives us an opportunity to share our accomplishments from the previous day, discuss upcoming goals and tasks, ask questions, chime in with ideas and keep us updated on projects and their status. It also enables us to rise out of bed, prepare ourselves to meet and ready ourselves for a productive workday! Starting the day off with a team meeting helps us all feel connected even within our own home, or remote.
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We typically follow this up with a virtual coffee break in the afternoon – this is a “no-shop-talk” meeting that gives us a small window to relax and catch up with our coworkers. It also gives each day a familiar rhythm like we would experience in the office. When working from home, there are less social opportunities. These opportunities normally help us clear our minds and recharge. Without these social interactions we can find ourselves labouring through the workday, unable to get in to a ‘zone’ or give in to hopping on the latest social media post.

Creating a system for how we work collaboratively has helped our team stay on track and keeps everyone informed and accountable. A game plan has proven to be key when tackling new obstacles like social distancing and working remotely. Our general practice of scrum and socials has made transition to working from home at least a little easier and is something we hope can be of help to others as well.