AdNews brings the stories of those working from home (WFH) in the advertising and media industry during the coronavirus crisis.
Chris Reid is agency account manager – audio at Southern Cross Austereo Brisbane.
How do you deal with the silence?
Music definitely comes first to mind - I have a few favourite streaming playlists to set my focus and keep up the momentum. 90s/00s flashbacks, pub rock favourites, dance and house all form part of the regular rotation.
Then of course I have to say radio – and I mean that genuinely. Granted it’s the product that I sell, but it truly is a great way to stay informed, engaged and be entertained.
What’s the upside?
- The lack of a commute – so much extra time for activities!
- Flexible hours – so many people are up at work super early now, it’s a great time to get so much done.
- Thinking time.
- Shorts every day and not having to iron business shirts.
- Lights, temperature, and music of your choosing.
- Lunchtime excursions to the park…or a quick Netflix ep on the couch.
The downside?
- Finding the right balance of staying in-touch with my clients and agencies. Working in sales, those interactions are a vital part of the job - but I’m acutely aware that there is a fine line between “helpful rep” and “oh what does he want now?” At the end of the day, I want to be the call that everyone wants to answer.
- Ergonomics – the lack of. It’s hard to recreate your posture-friendly office chair and multi-height desk at home with a stack of old Lonely Planet books, a tangle of cords, and a deceivingly hard dining room chair. I don’t know what half the levers on my office chair do, but damn I miss it.
- The isolation factor – I have always worked in a bustling office environment so it’s been hard to adjust to not having anyone sitting near me to bounce ideas off, to vent with, or just have a laugh.
- Interacting with a team of amazing, smart and ideas-based people – this is tough. I love working with people that intellectually feed off each other.
Tips for making WFH work?
There’s certainly no shortage of WFH tips and tricks going around, but my top three would be:
- Begin the day with an achievement – it’s a tough time for a lot of us out there at the moment, so it’s important to start the day on a positive note. For me, some days it’s an over-ambitious workout (there’s something particularly terrifying about a PT with lots of time on their hands for you to “try this new routine I’ve created”). Other days it’s as simple as making my bed…at 8.59am before arriving on-time for a 9.00am team Webex call. Make whatever you set achievable, and ensure you always attack the big and the smaller projects.
- Speaking of video calls - be self-aware. Mute your microphone when necessary, turn a light on, and make sure your iso-buddy in the background is wearing pants.
- Pack it all up – nobody wants their Tiger King binge interrupted with the ding of an Outlook reminder. When the weekend arrives (or perhaps some compulsory annual leave) pack-up the dining room table or close the door to the home office. There has to be a line between work and home.
I am looking forward to getting back to the office because...
I miss the collective energy of our team, the friendly banter, and being inspired by those around me. We’re fortunate to have an abundance of tech-led ways to stay in touch - but it’s not a complete replacement for in-person interactions.
In an industry that is famous (perhaps infamous?) for being highly social, it’s often those authentic connections that we create beyond the screen and off the phone that are the most memorable.
I think we can all admit that a Friday arvo iso-drink on Zoom doesn’t compare to the real thing!
Similarly, a radio station has a unique atmosphere; a spontaneous energy or buzz that’s near impossible to replicate at home. I love seeing and hearing our product being shaped and brought to life right in front of us – and I can’t wait to be immersed in that again.
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.