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Month: April 2020

Working from home: Keep your Team Connected

Posted on by Ashley Darwen


After completing an audit on 2020, we have come to the conclusion that this version has a virus and we would like to uninstall it. I.T jokes aside, we are current living in a time of change and uncertainty, with many of our lives completely upended and many now working from home. For those that Scott Morrison (Scomo, for the ‘cool corporates’ of the world) calls ‘essential’, we continue to battle the 9 to 5 grind, with many of us working from home for the first time. Although grateful for the continued work, the unique circumstances can be hard to navigate, with the recommended isolation having side effects of loneliness. We are here to provide you with the top tips to support you and your employees in tackling working from home.

Maintain a work-life balance

Although the lack of commute is a welcomed benefit, it can be hard to switch into work mode when you don’t physically travel to work. We recommend setting up a designated workstation, utilising the same routine of ‘arriving’ and ‘leaving’ your office. You should support your employees in doing this, keeping work-related conversations inside of work hours.

Communication is key

Mass media speculation is making it difficult to sift through the facts and falsehoods of the current situation. To combat this, we have set up management meeting rhythms in line with those of the National Cabinet. Then, formal communication is distributed amongst our Team to ensure everyone is fully informed on the impact these changes will have.

Praise each other

Although we love a bit of self-confidence, high fiving yourself about an excellent spreadsheet just doesn’t feel the same… Validation and reassurance from your Manager or colleagues goes a long way. Be sure to continue checking in with your Team and letting them know they are appreciated.

Tech is your friend. Use it

The world is becoming smaller as the digital age continues to evolve; use this to your advantage. Do you usually have lunch as a team? Have after work drinks become a ritual? Is a chat over coffee compulsory? All rituals can still be completed through Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or whichever program you utilise in your workplace. Make time to take time with your Team; it will be appreciated, trust us. Whether you’re in Brisbane, Townsville, or beyond, make time to connect with your team; it will be appreciated—trust us!

We sincerely hope these tips help you to work from home with sanity.
Take care and stay safe.

Work from Home: Enhanced with IT

Posted on by Ashley Darwen

Hi – Joe Average here! The Tech Team at ADITS have been inundated with requests regarding their I.T. when working from home.  So take a seat, slap on the hand sany and get ready for my top tips on how I.T. can enhance your new work from home environment.

Communication & Social Connections

As an extreme extrovert, it saddens me that the only human interaction I’ve had this week was a horrified glare I received as I stifled a cough. In a time full of change and uncertainty, communication and connection is crucial. We recommend tools such as Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business to boost team morale and stay informed as you work from home.

Productivity & Accountability

Your home’s heat map may show a much greater frequency of trips to the pantry and couch, than to your desk. Maintaining productivity and holding yourself and your team accountable can be difficult, but not impossible. We recommend utilising tools such as Microsoft Planner or OneNote for goal setting and workday planning. We also recommend setting up boobytraps in the kitchen for those that are on the same ‘sea food’ diet as me…

Remote access and support

ADITS has been practicing social distancing since 2006 with our Helpdesk providing remote support to all customers, no matter whether you work from home, in the office, or around the world. Your IT advisor should also provide you with accessibility options on your device, ensuring a seamless transition between work environments.

Security

Working from home can be high risk, requiring a better security blanket than 100 rolls of toilet paper.  We recommend your trusted IT advisor provides you with a clear set of security practices, inclusive of password, virtual private networks (VPN’s) and device safety guidelines.

So, there you have it! My top tips on how IT can make working from home a breeze. For questions, concerns and smart remarks, call my knowledgeable tech mates at ADITS on 1300 361 984 or email at enquiries@adits.com.au. Whether you’re in Brisbane, Townsville, or beyond, we’re here to help!
Take care and stay safe, 
Cheers!

Working from home: Continue scaling your business

Posted on by Ashley Darwen

Coronavirus really is the talk of the town. The best way to describe how its antics have impacted upon business is change. Many employers are now working from home for the first time; many are no longer working at all. No matter how you have been impacted, we have listed a variety of ways that you can continue to grow your business in the current climate.

Upskill

The importance of technology and utilising online platforms is being realised now more than ever. This also means that some learning opportunities are now accessible online, which are usually only offered in a face-to-face format. It is important that decision makers take advantage of the opportunity to upskill both themselves and their employees whilst working from home. Remember, soft skills are just as important as hard skills and are often overlooked. This might be the time to change that.

Update

I can guarantee that there are processes in your business that haven’t been updated since dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Take advantage of the time you may now have and look for opportunities to improve.
Additionally, it can be predicted that the current climate will significantly change the way we work, with many now working from home. It is important to update what ‘normality’ will look like for your business and your employees on the other side of COVID-19.

Pivot

‘A pivot is a change in strategy, without a change in vision’ – Eric Ries. Look into opportunities to either expand your offering, update it, or change your offering completely. For example, YouTuber, Joe Wicks has pivoted to provide home-based workouts for children and seniors to keep people active whilst isolating. From this, he has seen 1.4million new subscribers in three weeks. Continue to adapt to change and align your offering with the current climate.

Plan

So often people are spending time working in their business and not on their business. Use the time that you may now have to do the latter. Processes taking too long? Streamline them. Not happy with the service from one of your providers? Find a better alternative. Take your plans off the back burner and get stuck in.

So there you have it: our top tips on growing your business in isolation. If I.T. changes are on the cards, we are only too happy to take it off your plate and support you in achieving your mission.