AdNews brings the stories of those working from home (WFH) in the advertising and media industry during the coronavirus crisis.
Angus Keene is director of sales at Twitter Australia.
How do you deal with WFH?
It has taken me some time to adjust, reset and identify what is achievable and where I need to spend my time to get the best outcomes for our team and for myself. I have three young children at home with me, including an eight-month old. The initial phase of trying to juggle homeschooling and my job was a genuine struggle. I’ve now had the time to adapt and to better plan my days around staying active, taking regular breaks and prioritising the work that matter most.
I'm also incredibly proud of how the company has taken such a strong stance on protecting our employees. Working from home globally was enforced at Twitter very early on, with the utmost dedication to ensuring the team remain healthy and supported. Amongst a number of benefits rolled out, there was the opportunity for Twitter parents to reimburse additional daycare expenses to give us greater flexibility with how we transitioned in the early days. I'm really proud of the level of support that has been offered to everyone at Twitter here in Australia and around the world.
The good of working from home?
I'm benefitting from having sustained periods of quiet and focus, where I can get work done. No longer having to commute for two hours a day and fewer meetings is also really making a difference to what I can get done whilst juggling the new realities of WFH during COVID-19.
When everything goes back to 'normal' hopefully my kids are only going to remember this time as for the daily bike rides or the fact that I'm home for dinner every night.
The bad?
I do find some parts of work collaboration have become a little harder, but it's definitely resulting in us collectively pushing boundaries as a team and thinking differently and creatively. I underestimated how much energy I get from being around other people.
Also, coffee! The home blend just isn't quite the same as my local.
Tips for making WFH work?
It seems obvious, but being strict in taking time to exercise or do something to get away from your desk. Almost every day I go for a surf or run on the beach before I start work. Also, set clear boundaries for yourself around what is work time and what is not, and stick to it. I end my day with some reflection on what has and hasn't worked, prepare and plan for the next day and then try to completely disconnect from work.
For managers and leaders, over communicate with your team and make sure they have full visibility of your schedule to maintain that transparency and trust.
I am looking forward to being back in the office because…
Just being back with the team. Twitter Australia is an incredibly tight knit group and I really miss that vibrant day to day office environment. We're lucky enough to have a culture squad who collaborate to create fun activities and workplace initiatives each month. I can't wait to get back in the mix.
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.