When asked how he got into journalism, Roger Vincent replied “I had a great professor who pressed me – and I didn’t know plumbing. He said, ‘You’re not going to make a living with a typewriter unless you get serious.’ So, I did.” Today, more than 25+ years later, he covers commercial real estate for the Business section of the Los Angeles Times and is one of the most respected journalists in the country. 

Born and raised in Sacramento, shortly after graduating from college, he decided to head to Los Angeles where he landed a job at the Los Angeles Business Journal as the first real estate columnist they ever had. He then became the founding editor of the California Real Estate Journal, and in 1996 he joined The Los Angeles Times. The Hoyt Organization (THO) caught up with Roger and asked him to share some insights on how the industry has changed. 

THO: How has the industry changed since you started your career? 

Roger Vincent: I’ve been in journalism since the ‘70s so the biggest change was going electronic. I started on a manual typewriter and I miss the sound of the thundering typewriters. That said, today, we’ve been overwhelmed by the changes brought on by the internet. So many things pop up online that now we’re competing with many other sources. It used to be that traditional media was the gatekeepers for news,  but today we are competing with everyone. That simply means we need to be laser-focused on providing the best news for our industry. Given the LA Times is a 150-year-old brand, it’s important that it continues to evolve to keep it going, and it is.  

THO: What was one of your most interesting interviews? 

Roger Vincent: Many years ago, I interviewed a man named Gypsy Boots who was a health food fanatic.  He rolled into the LA Times and sat at my desk, extolling the virtues of eating natural foods long before it was popular. Everyone thought he was a little nuts at the time, but history told us a different story.

THO: What is one of your more memorable stories?

Roger Vincent: I was reporting in Chico where Amtrak had just created a stop. This was big news at the time. It came in at 2:00 a.m. in the morning and I arrived just as it was disappearing in the distance. But I interviewed all the locals and wrote the story. It didn’t reflect that I wasn’t there to actually see it arrive. It’s all in how you shape the story. 

I also once went to John Cushman’s office to do an interview and noticed a telescope in the corner. It was trained on the swimming pool across the way. 

THO: What’s your pet peeve when it comes to working with PR people?

Roger Vincent: I’m no different than most journalists when I say that it’s getting a call or email from someone who hasn’t done their homework, or they don’t really know what I cover or how the Times is now covering things.  I get pitches all the time that have nothing to do with real estate. We also don’t cover promotions, but people send them anyway. Please stop. 

THO: What is your dream assignment?

Roger Vincent: This would be an assignment where I can go anywhere, but I don’t have to write about it! 

THO: What does the future hold for journalism?

Roger Vincent: The next generation of journalists will look just like I did when I started. Bright people who are eager to learn and want to report the news the old-fashioned way; while we may no longer get a paper thrown in our driveway, there is always a market for conscientious news gathering and dissemination. True journalism will never go out of style. One of the hurdles we do face is getting people used to paying for news; the news gathering process isn’t free – we need to retrain people to understand that.

For more “Media Mondays,” be sure to check out our blog!

This post is courtesy of Jessica Muzik at Bianchi Public Relations, one of our Public Relations Global Network partners.

With COVID-19 “stay at home, stay safe, save lives” orders now firmly in place nearly everywhere, those that are working from home are finding themselves using one of a variety of video meeting services such as Skype, Zoom, WebEx, Abobe Connect, Microsoft Teams and others to stay connected and accomplish day-to-day business activities.

Here are some helpful tips that we have found for achieving the best possible video conference meetings with your colleagues and customers:

Be sure you have a good connection – A stable, fast and reliable Internet connection is key to any successful video conference meeting. If you’ve found that your home Internet is prone to “go out,” you will want to make sure that you are sitting near your router or, better yet, use a hard wire connection. You might also consider upgrading your home service to “business class” internet service, which obviously is more costly, but may be well worth it if you’re having internet speed or bandwidth problems that can arise when multiple people are home putting unusual demand on your internet;

Select a video conference service that works best for everyone – Whether it’s Skype, Zoom or one of the many other video conference meeting services available, make sure that you have selected a service that works well for everyone. Also, you will want to make sure that you test the service before utilizing it for a actual meeting, so that you can ensure that the video and audio are working properly when you join the video conference meeting;

Familiarize yourself with the features – Take some time upfront to become acquainted with the features of the video conference service you have chosen to utilize. If you are the host, make a point to inform the other participants how to utilize the features to help ensure that the participants are able to utilize the necessary video conference features. Two must-know features are muting and unmuting the microphone and sharing screens; 

Location, location, location … and lighting – Pick a suitable location within your home that is free from distraction, quiet, professional and void of any background noise. Speaking of backgrounds, make sure the visual background is uncluttered and tidy, so that visually it does not distract people from your comments. If you are using a virtual background, such as a photo of board room that you’ve loaded into the application, make sure to use a green background, so your face doesn’t fade in and out. Also, if you’re using a laptop or notebook computer for the video conference, remember to put your cell phone on mute. Good lighting is also key. Chose a location within your home that has proper lighting, as well as minimal glare. If possible, make sure that there is good natural but diffused light on your face and avoid sitting between your camera and the window where your image could be backlit. If possible, sit at a desk or table with your face and computer screen facing the window light and your back against a wall that is not too distracting for your audience;

Level up your camera – Position your device’s camera so that it is straight on or even pointed slightly downward toward your eyes. If the camera is lower than your eyes, those that you are meeting with will get a very unflattering viewing angle of your face. Use books or a shelf – something stable – to get the camera to the right height. And make sure you frame yourself in the center of the screen;

Enhance the sound – Consider using a headset with a microphone to enhance the sound quality of your video meetings. This will improve the quality of the meeting for both you and the other participants. And make sure to enunciate clearly and inject enthusiasm, passion and energy into your voice, to make up for some of the visual cues that will be missing because of the virtual nature of the meeting. On a video conference, you have to work a little harder to get your point across;

Dress professionally – As with in-person meetings, you’ll want to dress properly and professionally, just as if the meeting were taking place face-to-face in your client’s office or conference room. Also, be sure to develop a meeting agenda and share it with your video conference participants, so that everyone can be on the same page. This will help the meeting to go as smoothly and productively as possible;

Consider the time zones – Given the globalization of nearly all industries these days, it is important to be mindful of time zones when setting meetings. So, before you send a video conference meeting invite, make sure that the day and time is convenient for all involved and that the invite offers clearly marked time zone information; 

Maintain eye contact – Try to keep good eye contact with your audience, in this case, your camera lens. Wandering eyes can be distracting and uncomfortable. Look into the lens and maintain that contact. Try to avoid fidgeting with your hands, glasses or pens. Also, watch that your body language doesn’t send signals that conflict with your words. Sit up straight or stand, keep your shoulders relaxed, gesture as you normally would and smile; and

Hold that thought – In spite of the many improvements in video technology, you may still experience a delay in the conversations. If you are experiencing this lag, try to maintain eye contact and be patient – pause for a few seconds after someone has spoken before you respond. Otherwise, you risk the frustration of talking over one another in a sort of awkward ping-pong game of fragmented sentences. While it is typically up to the host to manage the video conference meeting, try your best to pause before you speak, so you set a good example for the other participants. 

We welcome your feedback … what have we missed from this list of video conference meeting tips and tricks that you have found to be helpful and / or necessary in this new work from home landscape?

For a market with a seemingly adverse attitude towards density, even in the midst of a severe housing shortage, small-lot development can be a solution for buyers and investors. Looking around the Los Angeles metro area, it is apparent that more and more submarkets are embracing this style of redevelopment opportunities as raw land, when available, tends to be on the smaller side. Small-lot development is an often-misunderstood land-use policy that encompasses the building of multiple single-family homes on a single land parcel. 

What is a small-lot development?

A small-lot subdivision is a project with multiple free-standing single-family homes on smaller than conventionally-sized home lot. These homes are more affordable while making density more appealing. Small-lot homes may be attached or separate, with as little as 3- to 5-foot side yards between homes – per the Los Angeles city ordinance. Here are three reasons why small-lot development might be a good investment.

1. Lower purchase price

Many small-lot developments start with the purchase of a small, older house in an area governed by the city’s small-lot subdivision ordinance. These homes can be replaced with new, efficient residences, often near L.A.’s expanding mass transit system.

• One house turns into multiple assets

Small-lot development can replace a single house with multiple individual residences. Several small-lot projects in Los Angeles have come online recently or are in the works. A 27-unit development recently broke ground in North Hollywood. Houses are expected to start in the high $600,000 range.

Other small-lot developments in L.A. include a seven-unit project in Hancock Park with individual homes that start at $1.7 million and 10-unit project on the border of Echo Park and Silver Lake with homes that start at about $1 million.

• Apartment/condo convenience with single-family benefits

Apartments, townhouses, and condominiums are rented and include shared walls or purchased but include costly association fees and assessments. Small lot development homes are individually owned. Straightforward maintenance agreements govern common areas, such as driveways, and don’t include (often expensive) monthly homeowners’ association fees.

Thinking Small Can Be a Big Opportunity

Small-lot development can be tricky and finding the right neighborhood with the right zoning and right market characteristics isn’t easy. However, the right small-lot subdivision can be a big opportunity for savvy market investors.

It has been difficult to ignore the mention of a U.S.-China trade war in the last year and its impacts on real estate. One of the most jarring statements by the U.S. was in decision to increase on tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports in mid-2019. The products affected, which are in List 3 within Section 301 of the Trade Expansion Act (TEA) of 1962, include hundreds of metal and chemical compounds used as raw manufacturing materials as well as finished goods like floor and wall panels, furniture, and bedding. The Section 301 tariffs specifically targeting China are of particular relevance to real estate industry because they could affect the potential return on real estate investments.

Despite negotiations, it is likely we will see even more tariffs go into effect. This creates waves of uncertainty for the real-estate industry, which relies on China for a big chunk of its building materials. For example, Chinese imports to the U.S. in 2017 accounted for 42% (by value) of all electrical machinery and equipment. Similarly, iron and steel imports from China in 2017 accounted for 31% (by value) of all the goods in that product group.

China, in turn,  has fired back with tariffs of its own on $60 billion in U.S. goods. This also includes building materials like bricks, wood flooring, pipes, and tubes.

Opinions are mixed at this point. Some commercial real estate pros say the situation with China has been an issue for a while and the industry has already absorbed the impact. However, the projected 150% increase in tariffs will make it impossible for companies to avoid passing costs down to consumers. Developers and builders may be forced to buy more expensive materials domestically, if they aren’t doing so already. This will mean pricier rents and condos. As for construction costs, they could go even higher, which could reduce the size and scope of ongoing projects or curtail future projects. Since developers typically plan deals two to four years out, they have a bit of an edge in predicting any effects on their individual projects. Deals that were underwritten without accounting for higher prices are most likely to be at risk. There are many impacts of a trade war.

• Trade Expansion Act of 1962 authorizes the president of the United States to impose tariffs on imports from other countries if the quantity or circumstances surrounding those imports threaten national security. 
• 2%, the actual percentage of total steel the U.S. imports from China.  
• A new deal to remove tariffs on metal from Canada and Mexico is designed to prevent Chinese steel from being shipped to the U.S. through these nations. 

Healthcare providers have an opportunity today that no other provider, hospital or clinic has had in the past. Today, healthcare providers have the ability to connect with your local communities, communicate about issues impacting those around them and share knowledge in a major way. 

When we think of social media management or public relations and the industries that need it the most, we often think of major corporations. The example that often comes to mind is BP and the crisis management after the infamous oil spill in 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico. But it is not just billion-dollar corporations or those needing to act quick in the case of a crisis that benefit from a strong social media presence and a solid digital communications plan. Healthcare needs social media; controlling what message you put out there can shape public perception, de-stigmatize intimidating or nerve-wracking procedures and connect with your patients in a new way. When you control the conversation, you can wield knowledge as a powerful tool to connect with your community. 

You want current and potential patients to talk to you about the difficult things. 

There are countless conversations that patients may be afraid to discuss with their healthcare providers. Social media gives healthcare the opportunity to start conversations and remove shame or fear from the conversation, once and for all. This open dialogue can empower patients to ask the difficult questions. Carilion clinic designed the above campaign to open a dialogue via social media and answer questions in the comments about breast cancer. It was a personable way to answer questions, start a conversation and take away any misconceptions. 

By bringing up topics that should be on patients’ minds during annual check-ups, you remind them to ask, make an appointment or gather more information. Social media allows hospitals or clinics to directly respond to questions and concerns, educate in real-time and personalize the healthcare experience. These campaigns show clients that when they choose you, they aren’t just choosing a business or a service provider; they’re choosing an ally to stand beside them in difficult times. 

You can position yourself as more than a clinic or a healthcare provider. 

Many feel that their experiences with healthcare aren’t personable, their provider doesn’t spend enough time with them or their concerns aren’t heard. Social media campaigns can help mitigate any negative feelings and if a portion of your patients are walking away feeling unheard, it gives you the opportunity to hear that feedback and make the appropriate changes. 

You can share essential information with your community. 

Is it time to get the flu shot? Has there been a chicken pox outbreak? Even health issues that are small, such as lice, can be addressed on social media. Infographics or reminders to prioritize proactive healthcare measures can help your patients to stay on top of their health when they’re outside of the office. Fun graphics can be used to educate, alert or remind the community what is going on, and how to protect themselves. 

Healthcare services can raise awareness or reduce stigma around difficult topics. 

Many people find they are afraid to talk to their providers when they’re struggling with a substance use disorder or a mental health related concern. Utilizing social media campaigns like the ones above can take a serious topic and reduce stigma, allowing patients to feel more comfortable bringing it to the table at an appointment. Sharing information about mental health and then encouraging conversation at an appointment is another way to control the kinds of conversations you want to have. 

In its essence, healthcare is about people. Healthcare is about healing and connection. Social media gets the conversation started, the relationships formed and the loyalty solidified. Out of all industries, healthcare has incredible important work to be done online, and a strategic public relations firm and a social media campaign is a great place to start. 

According to Mental Health First Aid, almost half of adults in the United States will develop a mental illness in their lifetime. It is a condition that affects a person’s thinking, feeling, mood or behavior. Biological, psychological, and environmental factors influence whether or not mental health concerns will develop. 

Up until recently, mental health was not a topic of discussion. Even though people struggled with mental health concerns, they did not want to share this with others, as they were afraid that they would be looked down upon by society. But since it has become discussed more frequently in the United States, it is important to have an open conversation about it. Raising awareness around these topics will help eliminate the misconceptions, making people feel more comfortable reaching out for help. 

There are a number of organizations that are dedicated to helping people cope with mental health concerns. Some of these organizations include Mental Health America, National Institute of Mental Health, National Alliance on Mental Illness, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and Child Mind Institute. In order to best get out a message of prioritizing health, organizations often hire a public relations firm to spread the word about what they have to offer. The public relations firm will write press releases, engage in media relations, and create social media strategies for them. Without public relations, people would not know about the services, resources, and programs that are available to them. 

Before creating a holistic communications program for an organization that helps raise awareness and point to available resources, the public relations professional must understand the industry. This will ensure that they are providing the public with accurate, up-to-date information. In order to gain a deeper understanding, they must conduct extensive research about the topic. If they don’t take the time to understand the topics before developing the program, they may include inaccurate information and contribute to the stigma. It is the public relations professional’s responsibility to share the facts so that people are aware of the resources that are out there. By providing truthful information in press releases and social media posts, they will change the it is perceived by society. 

Public relations professionals can learn about mental health by reading our blog post about mental health concerns. This will provide a basis for their research and help them understand the fundamentals of mental wellness. 

About Mental Health

Even though mental health is a very complex topic, it is important for public relations professionals to understand mental health if they are working on mental health accounts. Mental health and mental disorders are often used interchangeably, but they mean two different things. Mental health refers to “our emotional and psychological state, our social well-being and how we feel about ourselves and interact with others.” Poor mental health can lead to mental illness, but it is not certain.

As mentioned in our blog post Mental Illness and Public Relations, biological, psychological and environmental factors can influence one’s mental health. The exact cause of mental health concerns has not been discovered yet, but researchers believe that a combination of these factors contribute to poor mental health. The biological factors include abnormal functioning of the brain as well as genetics. Those who have a family member with mental illness are susceptible to mental health concerns. If they experience stress, abuse, or a traumatic event, the illness may be triggered, according to WebMD. Other biological factors, such as infections, brain defects or injury, prenatal damage, and substance abuse, also play a role. The psychological factors that contribute to poor mental health are severe psychological trauma, an important early loss, neglect, and inability to relate to other people. The environmental factors refer to a number of stressors, like death or divorce, low self-esteem, and social or cultural expectations, which can impact people who are prone to mental concerns.  

There are about 300 mental disorders, in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM.) Healthcare professionals all over the world use this book to diagnose mental health concerns. Below are the main groups of mental disorders: 

• Anxiety disorders (Generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, phobias)
• Mood disorders (Depression, bipolar disorder, cyclothymic disorder)
• Psychotic disorders (Schizophrenia)
• Eating disorders (Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder)
• Personality disorders (Antisocial personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, paranoid personality disorder)
• Trauma-related disorders (Post-traumatic stress disorder)
• Substance abuse disorders 

Even if two people have anxiety disorder, they will not have the same experience. National Alliance on Mental Illness argues that “each person will be affected in a different way because of their own unique nature and personality.” Therefore, they will not have all of the same symptoms. They may have a few symptoms in common, but they will vary in intensity and severity. Some are easier to manage than others. They may still impact daily life, but they will not cause severe distress. Other mental health concerns have such a large impact on people’s lives that hospital care is required. 

Struggling with mental health is just as serious as having a physical illness. When someone is suffering from mental health issues, they need a proper diagnosis and treatment. If they do not get the help they need, they will continue to suffer and possibly consider suicide. But people with a mental health concerns are not treated in the same way as those who have a physical illness. For example, people with depression are often asked questions like, “Have you tried not being depressed?” What people don’t realize is that people with depression do not have control over their illness and that they have physical symptoms, such as chronic fatigue, insomnia, difficulty concentrating, persistent feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness. Because people with depression are perceived to be “overly sad,” many of them resist treatment. They believe that their depression is a personal weakness that they can treat themselves, when in reality it is a serious medical illness. By providing information about depression, these organizations are changing people’s views and encouraging people with depression to get help. 

Treatment involves medications, psychotherapy, brain-stimulation, and programs. Medications are not a cure, but they do lessen the symptoms. If a person with mental illness takes medication, their other treatments will be more effective. For many people, it is recommended that they don’t just stick to one type of treatment. They should undergo different types of treatment for the best results. The most common types of medications include antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, mood-stabilizing medications, and antipsychotic medications. Psychotherapy refers to speaking with a mental health professional. This helps people gain a deeper understanding about their condition and how they can cope with it. Just like there are many medications, there are many different types of psychotherapy. If medication and psychotherapy don’t improve one’s symptoms, brain-stimulation treatments, like electroconvulsive therapy or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, are often used. But it is important to know the risks and benefits of a particular brain-stimulation treatment before agreeing to it. If one’s mental health gets worse, it is recommended that they check into a psychiatric hospital for treatment. This includes 24-hour inpatient care, partial or day hospitalization, or residential treatment. Because many people with mental illness have problems with substance use, they may need treatment. If they don’t get help, their mental illness will get worse. 

Before public relations professionals start working on mental health accounts, they should research the types of mental illness, their impact, and the resources that are available. This will help them achieve success for their clients. Because there is a lot of information about mental illness on the Internet, public relations professionals ensure that the websites they use are credible. Find out how mental illness is portrayed in the media [MSB3] by reading our next blog post. 

How Mental Illness is Portrayed in the Media

Many people learn about mental illness through the media. This is an issue, as the media often portrays mental illness inaccurately. Stephen Hinshaw, a professor of psychology at the University of California-Berkeley, claims, “The worst stereotypes come out in such depictions: mentally ill individuals as incompetent, dangerous, slovenly, undeserving. The portrayals serve to distance ‘them’ from the rest of ‘us.’”

To address this issue, the Associated Press began providing information about mental illness in its Style Book so journalists could discuss mental illness in a fair and accurate way. Despite this, the way mental illness is portrayed in the media is more harmful than ever, according to Dr. Otto Wahl, director of the graduate institute of professional psychology at Connecticut’s University of Hartford. 

Therefore, it is important for public relations professionals to be aware of this issue, as they have the power to change the way journalists portray mental illness. They can include factual information about mental illness in their press releases and social media posts to influence the way journalists write about mental illness. Below are some of the ways in which people with mental illness are being portrayed by the media. 

Multiple news outlets have written sensational stories about people with mental illness engaging in violent acts. For example, there was an article in which a mental health patient was depicted as threatening, aggressive, and illogical. This slanted language does not provide an accurate representation of people with mental illness, as it has been reported that people with mental illness are actually less likely to engage in violence than those without mental illness. Fictional media also portrays characters with mental illness as violent, further contributing to the mental health stigma. 

Fictional media also suggests that people with mental illness appear a certain way. For instance, television characters with mental illness often have messy hair and wrinkled clothing. This leads people to believe that people with mental illness are unable to take care of themselves. While there are quite a few homeless people that are mentally ill, “there are also a huge number of people with mental illnesses who are getting up – showering every day, going to work, etc.,” Wahl claims.

In addition to making people with mental illness look unkept, fictional media suggests that people with mental illness are silly and immature. Their condition is equated to a quirk when in reality it is a serious illness. This does not “convey the way most people with serious mental illnesses are in pain,” Wahl says. 

The way the media portrays people with mental illness is very harmful, as it makes people with mental illness feel like outcasts. It also impacts people’s perception of mental illness. For this reason, it is important for public relations professionals to be aware of these portrayals so that they don’t engage in similar practices. 

Writing About Mental Health Concerns

Not only is it important to understand mental illness and how it is portrayed by the media, but it also important to understand how to write about mental illness. Public relations professionals should not use derogatory language, such as nuts, deranged, psycho, or crazy, when talking about people with mental illness, as it contributes to the stigma. In addition, it does not make people with mental illness feel good about themselves. This terminology can negatively affect people with mental illness and worsen their symptoms. For this reason, public relations professionals should pay attention to the words they use to portray these topics.

In addition to not using derogatory language, public relations professionals should use person-first language. This means writing “a person with schizophrenia” instead of a “schizophrenic person.” By doing this, they are not defining people by their mental illness.

Public relations professionals should not write that people are “suffering from” or “battling”, as the former suggests they should be pitied and the latter suggests they are not doing everything in their power to overcome the illness. They should also include specific diagnosis names rather than using generalizations. 

By choosing their words carefully, public relations professionals have the ability to change the way mental health is perceived by society and eliminate stereotypes. This will motivate people to get the help they need. 

For the past couple of weeks, The Hoyt Organization has been working from home in order to curb the spread of COVID-19. While it was an adjustment at first, the THO team has discovered ways to be effective and achieve success for its clients. Keep reading to learn THO’s six tips for working remotely during the coronavirus. 

1. Make lists when working from home

“One thing I have done is started making handwritten lists. Since my task list on Outlook doesn’t sync properly, I can’t use that on a second monitor. So it becomes easy to lose sight of what needs to be done. It also still feels great to cross something off!” -Bill Hess

2. Create a workspace 

“Set up a place that’s away from the couch and TV so you can concentrate and focus without the distraction of the ‘what’s going on out there’ noise. Make it a place that doesn’t use the comfy couch, which is too easy to sink into and never get up again and is not conducive to an actual work station. Make the couch and TV a reward. That way, you avoid becoming a work potato!” -Erika Snow Robinson

3. Stay in touch

“Hold daily ‘coffee chats’ at the beginning and end of the day to make sure your team is still engaged.”  

-Leeza Hoyt

“One of the main things I have learned working remotely is the need to stay in touch with people on my team and have check in points or calls to discuss accounts, current pitches, deliverables and any other concerns that may come up along the way.” -Amber Hergen

“You should schedule video chats with coworkers to minimize the feeling of social isolation. Instead of only corresponding through email, you should set aside time to speak to your coworkers about projects using video conferencing tools like Slack or Zoom.” -Kate Artmann

4. Use technology to your advantage 

“Turn on your notifications for your email and Slack so that if you are in a Word document, you will know when someone messages you. Also, make sure to have all of your digital tools downloaded onto your cellphone. There is an app for everything.” -Cinnamon Thompson

5. Create pretend coworker

“You can create a fake coworker for you and your roommates or significant other to blame annoying things on to keep the peace, like, ‘Ugh Karen keeps leaving out her cereal bowls. I’m not sure what we are going to do with her.’” -Pippa O’Brien

6. Take breaks when working from home

“Set aside time for lunch, go for a walk, or clean up your space. Setting aside time for breaks will allow you to focus more on your work and take care of other household distractions later.” -Lauren Howe

Working from home can be a major transition for some, but creating these little routines or habits can be a lifesaver. What are some of your tips and tricks for successful remote work?

Many of us have found ourselves thrown from our offices and daily commutes to managing working life in tandem with Shelter In Place laws. As once bustling offices move to remote work, it can be difficult to bridge the transition smoothly, keep communication up and ensure productivity does not drop. Here are a few tips for ensuring your team is as successful as possible during this time.   

1. Talk about accessibility. 

Do all of your employees have functional laptops? Are they outfitted with the best wifi, or are they using a hotspot from their phone in a highly trafficked area? Talk about what kind of computers, if any, your employees have. Older models may run more slowly, causing delays in projects. PC to Mac differences can cause errors in translating documents and formatting. Knowing these things in advance can help everyone to understand that some errors may simply be attributed to technology problems, and to come up with solutions. It can help you to understand who may need assistance to work remotely as effectively as possible

2. Go digital for workflow management. 

There are many programs to help keep productivity up and to manage workflow. We use programs like Monday.com to keep projects organized. Programs like these are essential during remote working. This way, deadlines can be set and you can stay up to date on the progress each project is making. While you may used to have created meetings to go over tasks and deliverables, now much of this conversation can be cut down on by making sure your tasks are up-to-date online.

3. Touch base. 

Now that you’ve made sure everyone has access to the internet and has the technology necessary to complete their job, touching base via programs like Skype or Zoom can be essential. Programs like Slack can also help with quick chatting throughout the day, just like you would be able to do if you were in-office. Scheduled times to check in, especially through video, provides similar structure to the day and gives face time which is essential. Any issues or roadblocks that could not be handled over workflow programs can be handled during these calls.

4. Understand that life happens. 

If you find that your teammates have large families, young children or relatives they care for, working from home can be complicated and may require more flexibility. It can be easier to lose focus. Trust that your team is still getting in their hours – it just may be a little earlier or later than normal. Have a conversation letting employees know that to communicate if something comes up, and that they will be met with understanding and flexibility. This opens the door to communicate about potential concerns and allows the team to help one another ensure deadlines are still met. 

5. Keep it lighthearted. 

No one planned for remote working, limited social interaction and waiting in lines at grocery stores. Try to keep the tone the same as it was in the office. Sharing funny videos with one another, messaging each other jokes or checking up on how the office plants are doing are simple ways to keep things casual. Remove the focus from negativity, news updates or illness. 

While moving into uncharted territory for businesses, the most important thing your team can do is stay connected and emphasize that you truly are a team, taking on challenges together and understanding that additional roadblocks may arise due to the nature of working at home, with family, pets and/or roommates.