Leadership Tip

How to stay productive while working from home

The government is recommending that as many employees as possible work remotely until the virus can be slowed. But working remotely is a double-edge sword - sure, you get to stay home, but it can be harder to focus on actually working. So, first thing’s first: you should probably sit up straight, eat some breakfast, and put on some pants. How else can you stay focused on the job and mentally healthy while working remotely? Here are five tips from a work-from-home veteran:

  1. Have a dedicated workspace: Create a dedicated workspace within your home and keep it free from clutter and physical distractions. Clock in and out as you would in any other out-of-home job.
     
  2. Identify your high-value tasks: From your to-do list, find out which tasks yield the most value. Pick three, and prioritise them above anything else.
     
  3. Allocate time for deep work: Carve out a few distraction-free hours each day to pursue your most important and challenging tasks in a highly concentrated fashion. Let your colleagues know what these hours are by blocking off your schedule or marking your online status accordingly.
     
  4. Organise your communication: Thoroughly familiarise yourself with all the communication and collaboration tools you have available and know their intended purpose. Practice appropriate digital etiquette.
     
  5. Limit your working hours: Don’t let work seep into the rest of your life. Set a sensible schedule and stick to it. Make sure to carve out time for leisure, including socialising, exercising and pursuing your favourite hobbies.

HOW TO THRIVE IN THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES

As part of the government's business support package announced last week, we have been awarded funding to deliver our acclaimed 10/10 leadership development and mentoring programme "live and online" to help those now working from home. This 10-week cyclical programme offers cutting-edge insights into change, resilience, wellbeing, motivation, teams, communication, strategy, influencing, effectiveness and self-awareness. READ MORE


The above leadership tip...
was sent in response to a question from a participant on our acclaimed 10/10 leadership development and mentoring programme. Whether you're a first time manager or an experienced leader, straightforward, practical advice on best practice is hard to find. Until now. To find out how you, your team or your organisation can benefit, please join us on our next complimentary WEBINAR or CONTACT us.


For more tips...
on leadership and management good practice, subscribe to a Minute with Montgomery on 10TV.


Looking for a first-class speaker...
William Montgomery, Founder and CEO of TEN, is in demand to speak at events and conferences and usually achieves the highest ratings and accolades. To make a speaking enquiry for your next event, whether online, in-house or in public, please CONTACT us.

Subscribe

Free weekly email on things you didn't know last week with links to articles on leadership excellence. To view previous editions click here.


Learn how to lead effectively

Gleaned from wisdom acquired by working with hundreds of highly successful leaders from the world of business, media and sport, our workshops are fortified with practical tips to help you better lead yourself, your team and your business.

Read More

Leadership Articles

10 Ways to influence people

The ability to form mutually respectful relationships with others and to succeed in getting your ideas heard is a vital element of being a good manager.  Having influence enables you to gain support and commitment for your proposals, and... read more

10 easy ways to lose 10lbs

An extra 100 calories here and there may not sound like a big deal if you are watching your weight. Yet if over the course of one year you saved yourself this number of calories each day, you could save 36,500 in total, which equates to dropping 10lb in... read more

10 ways to motivate your team

There are many different ways to motivate your employees without throwing money at them. Treating your workforce fairly and letting them know they are valued often have a bigger impact on employee motivation than salary, as our top ten tips show... read more

Leadership Tips

How to maintain your mentoring relationship

Maintaining a strong mentoring relationship requires effort, communication, and mutual respect. By nurturing trust, accountability, and open communication, you can ensure a mentoring relationship remains productive and rewarding for both parties.... read more

How to save a failing meeting

We've all been stuck in long meetings that bounce aimlessly from one topic to the next. Instead of rolling your eyes, take control. Be brave enough to propose a solution. If a meeting starts veering off track, or feels like it's losing control, try these... read more

How to keep your to-do-list fresh

In a world of constant distractions and endless demands, keeping a to-do list is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to stay organized and productive. However, the challenge isn’t just in creating a list - it’s in keeping it fresh, relevant, and... read more