Buzz
After months of working from home exclusively, the thought of returning to the office might be a welcome change. Shared microwaves! Water-cooler gossip! Conference room bookings going over! These might be the minor inconveniences of the past, but they’re now part of the new normal.
Even though some workplaces are beginning to reopen, coronavirus cases are still on the rise, and we are far from being fully in the clear. Before getting too comfortable in your old office routine, it's crucial to plan for what might happen if someone falls ill—whether it’s you or someone under your care.
Ensure Transparency About Ongoing Projects
If you're in charge of a project or a portion of one, you might be used to keeping the details to yourself until your part is ready or until it's time to collaborate. But if there's a chance you could be away from the office and unable to work for several weeks, it's crucial to share what you're working on and your progress so far.
Art Markman from Fast Company suggests creating a shared document that outlines the projects you're involved in, your role in them, and their current status. Update it regularly so that a designated team member can take over seamlessly.
Ideally, your supervisor and team members will be aware of your project statuses. However, if they can't easily reach out to you with a question or concern, you don't want to leave them in the dark.
Don't send your colleagues on a wild goose chase
As you set up that shared document to track your project statuses, focus on over-communicating. This doesn't mean you need to write lengthy updates for each task, but make it as easy as possible for others to get up to speed while you're away.
List client contact details and preferred methods of communication. Include any deadlines and components you're waiting on. If there are any 'what ifs' that you've been too busy to address or discuss, make sure to note them in your shared document.
The goal is to provide your team with a complete overview of your projects, not just a list of tasks for when you're away.
Inform the key stakeholders
If you regularly interact with clients, vendors, or colleagues, designate someone to reach out and inform them of your absence for potentially a few weeks. This person can provide communication options during your time away.
As for everything else? Don’t stress. Spend five minutes setting up an out-of-office message with contact instructions for urgent matters. Then, turn off your notifications and take a well-deserved break.
