Life is no longer as we know it to be. Thanks to technology, we can now conduct business transactions, sell and buy online, close deals, or do any other hustle we’re into from any part of the world. This is the new 9-5 and many organizations are beginning to embrace the idea all over the world as it saves them cost in operations and staff bloat. Individual contribution or performance will be easier to track, which implies that only employees that possess relevant skills will retain their jobs. Working From Home (WFH) will naturally enable the segmentation of work, which is good for future automation.
This is a time you want to keep your knives sharp and not lose your edge by obtaining the relevant skillset and solving unique problems in your organization. As WFH or remote working becomes more popular or increasingly becomes the new norm, we must realize it’s not going to be easy for everyone, especially those that are far from their family or relatives.
For many such people, their jobs are the main source of socialization. The environment will be better for it though, but it might also impact some industries negatively. For example, the oil and gas sector and the auto sector in general, fast foods, formal apparel, taxis, and transportation. However, this is a time to be innovative in service offerings and deploy the right strategies while we adjust to the change.
Remember, work is work irrespective of where you’re doing it from. It can be tempting to spend the entire day or week in your undies as you’re working from your bed or couch but don’t fall for that temptation. Note that you’re still on the clock and you represent your company or business (if you’re an entrepreneur) which standards or work ethics you need to uphold.
DRESSING WELL DOESN’T MEAN DRESSING UP
One of the mainstays of remote working is video calling, which implies you still have to face the digital world. Matter of fact, the stocks of tech companies like zoom, skype, and the likes have gone up significantly this period and by all indications, it will remain so, as they’re an essential component of modern business. As a result, you don’t want to show up on those calls looking like some guy that left his drive in the office. You want to show up looking sharp, professional and up to the task, especially if your job requires interfacing with clients. Trust me, nobody wants to see footage of a guy in a bathrobe or boxers and singlet giving business advice or trying to close a multi-million dollar deal, and you never know, the boss may decide to check-in unexpectedly.
Besides, research has shown that getting suited and booted doesn’t just affect how others see you, but also how you see yourself. Dressing sharply can greatly boost your mental performance, making you feel empowered, focused, and ready to handle any business interaction with confidence. In fact, a 2012 study shows that there’s a direct relationship between clothing apparel and cognition. Like doctors feeling more doctorly in their scrubs, or officers of the law feeling more confident in their uniforms. Also, a 2007 study on a group of professionals revealed that they felt most ‘authoritative, competent, and trustworthy’ when dressing formally. The corporate uniform made them feel like they were worth their paycheck and likely to succeed – and self-perception is everything, right?
Note, I’m not suggesting you should suit up while sitting at your kitchen counter or on your favorite sofa, but putting a bit of thought and effort into your work at home outfit will definitely pay off, putting you in the right mindset, while you deliver on your duties.
3 TIPS ON HOW TO ACHIEVE OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE WORKING FROM HOME
1. GET OUTTA THAT BED
Prior to now, you get up early and get into the city hustle and bustle either catching a bus or in your private vehicle. These activities increase your testosterone levels because of increased metabolism, which has a positive effect on the brain. So, you’re charged up somewhat before you even get to work. You can also simulate the same experience at home, by getting up early which creates a feeling of urgency in the brain that work needs to get done.A bit of 10 minutes aerobics will go a long way, and if you can do more than that, perfect. This gets the brain charged up, due to increased blood supply, making you feel ready to take over the world.
2. EAT LIGHT
Of course, you’re working from the comfort of your home, and the house is stocked with food items you can jump on, so there can be a temptation to jump on a little too much, but don’t give in to that temptation. Eating heavy and maintaining brain power don’t really mix… It usually ends in sleeping, which makes it easier given the fact that your lovely bed is just around you. So keep it light. Food items like oily fish, dark chocolate, strawberries, nuts, etc, can be used as snacks while you work, as they are known to boost brain performance. Another angle to eating light is keeping the weight down, you know where I’m going with that right?
3. CREATE YOUR WORKSTATION
One of the finest things you can do for yourself is creating a workspace. Nothing elaborate, just a comfortable chair and table, where you can organize your work documents and the likes.
This gives a sense of order in the home and creates some kind of boundary for kids or others as your work corner. Also, choose a part of the house that is well lit or close to a source of light like a window.
If possible, decorate the background of this workstation with simple items like a flower vase or a bookshelf. This gives the impression of professionalism and style, which makes one take you more seriously or just generally enjoy the view at your end.
Having clutter or people walking around behind you can be a distraction, so avoid it by all means.Lastly, there’s likely going to be an increase in your workload as compared to working in an office, so you might be working round the clock.
Therefore, creating a workstation can help you separate your working life from your personal life, giving you a sense of work time while you’re there and playtime when you are not.
4 WORK-FROM-HOME WARDROBE ESSENTIALS
Comfort is key when working from home, you just have to make sure they’re outfits you can confidently tell yourself “let’s get this bread” in. For those new to remote working, choosing the appropriate work from home clothes can be perplexing. How do you dress for a video conference call? What’s appropriate attire for a Skype recruitment interview? Here are simple clothing combinations that are comfortable, yet stylish.
1. SMART CASUAL
This outfit is ideal if you have fewer client-facing responsibilities and want an achievable compromise between style and comfort. A plain t-shirt worn over a fitted sweatpant or jeans is just fine. It’s the perfect combination of comfort, ease and style and a must-have basic for quick and easy layering with other items like a shirt jacket in case an unexpected video call comes in.
Layered with a shirt jacket Tees and jeans
2. BUSINESS CASUAL
This is a step above informality and a step above in effort. This outfit is based around corporate staples that have been dressed down just a little. Appropriate for less face-to-face work and you don’t have to change, should you be required to leave your home desk or jump on a video conference call. A short sleeve dress shirt over chinos or jeans is just fine.
3. OFFICIAL CASUAL
Many recruitment processes will henceforth be carried out online via video calls. In fact, it’s not a new trend for multinationals to conduct interviews for potential employees in different parts of the globe without being physically present. The saying ‘first impression matters’ is literally, first impression matters. You want to show up at such interviews looking as professional as possible, versatile and stylish. A simple blazer worn over a shirt and pants will do justice to the image you’d like to project. Lose the tie. You could do a pocket square though, to project you pay attention to details.
TRADITIONAL OFFICIAL
This is a boss-tier or CEO level kind of outfit. When you have subordinates that report to you or clients, investors, and partners you may want to have video conferencing with. You don’t want to look too casual as the boss and you don’t want to look too formal either. Besides, It’s been the progressive working culture outfit in our African climes and it’s the Friday ‘dress down’ staple for most organizations. It brings enough formality to a video conference or client meeting without any major sacrifice to comfort. A kaftan with a cap is just perfect to pull this off.
DRESS FOR SUCCESS
In a nutshell, the key to cracking the work-from-home fashion code is a compromise in Striking a balance between corporate and comfy. These work from home outfits will keep you mentally sharp and energized to tackle those emails and spreadsheets head-on. Plus, there’s a sense of accomplishment that comes with taking your work clothes off at the end of the day, letting your brain know that it’s time to switch off – no matter where you’ve put the hard hours in.
Olowe Segun
Tolulope
