Smart Working
I was just saying in my personal blog space that the current situation surrounding Covid 19 will change the way we see the world forever. This signals a monumental shift in society and is a revolutionary moment. Although not so good for my current fledgling businesses and general economic growth, it is going to make a huge environmental difference. When you think about the change that is going to occur because of this: Aviation is going to be more or less brought to its knees – reducing carbon emissions to it’s lowest point since air travel began as a result of grounded aircraft. Even after this is finished, people will have less money for overseas travel and will think twice. Air pollution, as seen in China, is going to be at its cleanest for however long. People will realise that it is possible to work Smarter – work remotely and commute less in big diesel, gas guzzlers! People will realise that they can survive on far less and throw less away; that it is possible to buy locally, make yourself and recycle more. People will realise how important it is to think about personal and home hygiene in more natural ways. I’m not expecting miraculous changes in mindset; I am a pragmatist after all, however, it does signal a change.
What is Smart Working?
It is based around having the tools, network, technology and culture to be able to choose when, how and where you work. It is based around having the flexibility to adapt your own productivity by changing the normal 9-5 office routine. This is especially important at this time where a worldwide pandemic is dictating our every move.
Smart working is so important that the UK government expects 70% of departments and other agencies to comply with the British Standards Institute’s Smart Working Code of Practice by 2020, with 100% by 2022. Scott Steedman, Director of Standards at BSI said:
“In the competitive business environment, more and more organisations are realising the importance of unlocking their full potential. Smart working provides opportunities for greater flexibility and mobility through new technologies and concepts in workplace design, it means a further step on that journey. Smart working is about harnessing the potential of flexible working in a strategic way, to deliver benefits both for the business and for employees. Employing effective practices is a key goal for all businesses, and smart working is not restricted to one sector, it is applicable to all businesses regardless of size or sector.”
For years now modern thinking companies have been encouraging flexible working environments and advertising this as a ‘benefit’ – which, of course, for working parents, for example, it truly is. It is based around trust on the part of the employer, however. This means that instead of measuring punctuality and how many hours an employee sits in his or her office, employers must use productivity as a primary measure of ‘presence’ in the working environment.
Covid-19 means I can’t go to the office but I have load of work that can still be done…How?
Trade in your old PC for a laptop, ensure you have a smart phone receiving your company emails and phone calls. If you are still using hard copy files, beware of what you can and cannot take out of the office for GDPR and other reasons.
The Essence of Smart Working:
1. Flexible Timings;
2. Measurement of Results not Time;
3. Commuter Hubs;
4. Virtual Meetings;
5. Crowdsourcing;
6. Blogging & Vlogging;
7. Social Media Networking;
8. Creation of online Intellectual Property;
9. Abolition of Hard Copy Files;
10. Automate, Automate, Automate;
11. Stop Multi-tasking;
12. Make time to De-Stress
Even if you aren’t quite in the place to do this 100% effectively at this point in time, it really is worth thinking about for the future. Working Smarter is the way forwards. If you are in a position at this moment where you have to work from home and you’re not feeling like you’re getting the most out of your time, get in touch with us for some tips on productivity, time management and flexible working.