AdNews brings the stories of those working from home (WFH) in the advertising and media industry during the coronavirus crisis.
Darren McKenzie is CEO of McKenzie Partners
How are you dealing with the silence?
There hasn’t been much time for silence with constant video hook ups. I feel I spend more time with staff now through video then I have when we were in normal trading. Outside of that, I have touched up on my Queen Lyrics!
What’s the upside?
Hard to find an upside in these times. but I think the biggest upside is allowing us to go back to basics. Reassessing how we do things. How can we do things better. Our industry moves so fast, we don’t get time to think about internal innovation and process enough. Now is the time for that!
The downside?
Digital collaboration. Hard to read staff's views, feelings and temperament sometimes through video and email conversations. Maintaining a calm environment with my team is a battle. We are in the communications industry, and we have had to develop new ways to communicate with each other. And it can be clunky!
How are you using the commuting time saved?
I walk to work anyway, so there are limited people on the streets…. I do have a little sleep-in in the past week though! Outside of that, mental health is key, I have upped my meditation regime.
I am looking forward to being back in the office because …
I’m looking forward to having my team back in the office, because we are so much stronger together. the conversations had over email and video are so much quicker face to face. I really don’t know how businesses that a work from home policy have remain successful! Hats off to them!
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