Virtual Background: New Tools of The Trade

Elizabeth is a principal with a health economics consulting firm based primarily in the northeastern part of the United States. Her current work involves leadership and project management, drawing on quantitative and qualitative research, and managing clients. When she was hired by her current employer two years ago, it was made clear that her primary base of work would be her home. During the recent months of lockdown and work-from-home, Elizabeth’s level of comfort and success, while WFH, have made me think about, not only what mindset and skillset it takes to make this shift, but also other lifestyle improvements that the shift enables.

Career success, Leadership, Team-buildingJane MouldingJune 24, 2020workingfromhome, Pandemic, Flexibility

Riding the Bull: Careers in Chaotic Times

Uncertainty makes many people anxious. Because of that, most of us go out of our way to create a sense of predictability in key areas of our lives. That is certainly the case with employment: most individuals strive to have a decent bead on their future direction.

Of course, not everyone shares the same across-the-board roster of expectations about earning a living. Some individuals view work primarily as a means of making money to meet their economic needs. They may see what they do as “a job,” and look outside of work to provide fulfillment in other dimensions of their lives. But a significant portion of today’s population expects work to provide a great deal more than a living: yes, they are seeking remuneration, but they are also looking for additional elements such as fulfillment, status, the opportunity to be creative, make a social contribution, travel, engage with stimulating people and problems and more.

Priming for Re-Entry

For so many of us who have currently made the shift to WFH from WAO I expect we are missing some aspects of our daily work, and also beginning to realize what we have gained. According to a recent GALLUP study (April 3, 2020) 3 out of 5 people would now prefer to continue working from home, whereas 41% would like to return to work. [US Workers Discovering Affinity for Remote Work, Megan Brenan.] These numbers made me wonder what it was about this arrangement that led new work-at-homers to express this preference.