Page 102 - FDI Alliance International Magazine. Spring 2021 Digital Interactive Issue

Working from Home

Balance and Boundaries

Former Washington, DC Chamber of Commerce controls set forth in an office setting and places who report an increase in productivity attribute it
President and CEO Barbara Lang used to spend team members in their home environment, for the following reasons:
up to 12 hours a day in her downtown office, where they may feel comfortable but cannot • Fewer interruptions
thriving off the energy of her staff during business necessarily control what is happening around
hours and relishing the quiet productivity in the them. This includes external noise from family • More focused time
evening. When she left the office early, it was members, pets, technology and yes, even that • Quieter work environment
usually to attend events telling DC’s story to talkative neighbor who stops by unexpectedly. • More comfortable workspace
government officials, foreign investors, business • No office politics
owners and other key influential decision-makers. “The adjustment from working in the office to
But that all changed quickly in March 2020 when working at home is not an easy one, but it can be According to Lang, as she guides her clients, this
the COVID-19 pandemic shut down most of the done in a way that it is not such a huge shock to is something employers need to keep a close eye
country. the culture of an organization,” says Lang, who on, and it comes down to one issue: Distractions.
has learned to pivot from in-person meetings “One of the downsides of working from home
“I was out at business events sometimes six or to Zoom calls so that she can still look into her are all of the distractions that make it easy to
seven nights a week, and then, just like that, not clients’ eyes. “It is vital that workers set a specific stray from work. The amount of distractions in
only did these programs just stop, but my home office space in the home along with office hours. the workplace are significantly less, because
turned into my headquarters and office,” says It’s easy for work to bleed into home life and that everyone is there to do their jobs,” says Lang.
Lang, Managing Principal and CEO of Lang hurts morale, productivity and health.” “But at home, not only are employees trying to
Strategies, a DC-based business development accomplish their work, but life is taking place
and leadership consulting firm. “That’s quite an Consider the following: According to a survey around them. Kids need help with school, the
adjustment for someone used to spending time done by Flexjobs, a website specializing in kitchen needs to be cleaned up, and it is much
at home basically to sleep.” remote working, 95 percent of the respondents easier to access food and alcohol as an escape
said their productivity had been higher or the from everything.”
Lang notes that many organizations – and the same since working from home. But when the
leaders within those entities – have faced the questions focused strictly on becoming more In addition, most office environments are configured
challenges of transitioning from an internal office productive, that number dropped to just 51 in a way that is conducive to productivity and
culture to remote work. This takes many of the percent. In addition, as part of the study, those collaboration, whether it’s individual offices, cubicles

102. FDI ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL