FIVE TACKY TIPS TO BUTTER YOUR SUPERVISOR AT WFH

During this stressful time, it is difficult keep up a good understanding between you and your supervisor. The unwritten rules might have changed the moment you all started working from home again. It might seem okay to you to take a walk in the middle of the day to clear your head, but it might not be as obvious to your supervisor, especially if they’re the old monks in your company. These seemingly small uncertainties (“Just going at the balcony to take a short break! Okay, boss?”) can become major negative remarks for you. Combating them is crucial to helping everyone on your team feel secure and supported, especially in the current climate.

Just when we started to cope with “new normal” and started to be getting back to our workplaces, COVID-19 wave has flushed us on the rise. And when the long-awaited lock down came with more and more of us are starting to work from home. Considering this rapid shift (and all our heightened stress levels), it’s crucial to avoid miscommunication when working as part of a virtual team and specially communicating with your supervisor.

Every office team here in Dhaka has its own unwritten rules especially in this lock down WFH. For instances, if I ask, “Is it okay to turn your camera off, If other 10 of your colleagues are on video?” Or, “Do you include a bunch of emojis on replying to your boss’s mail?”

Below are some tacky tips rather sahih ways for staying connected and remaining respectful to your team supervisor, especially when you’re not in the same location or, working remotely.

1.      Never Panic.

If an email makes you anxious or euphoric, wait until the next day to write back. Just calm down. Once you’ve calmed down, you’ll be able to better articulate your emotions. When you do reply, re-read your draft through the other person’s eyes. It might be easier to imagine how your reader will interpret your email if you first send it to yourself.

More on: WTF! SORRY, WFH

2.      Don’t call him/her during off hours

Why so serious! Works are not fleeing away. Let your supervisor enjoy their free time. It also applies with you. Just leave that person a text on work apps. And that’s enough of your work passions shown for the day.

3.      Tricks for new calves in the farm

it’s okay to ask lots of questions and not feel like you know everything a week into starting your new job. Being at WFH makes it harder to get answers to small questions. If you aren’t asking questions, you either aren’t doing your job as well as you could do, or you’re spending precious brainpower on worrying about how you are being perceived. it’s okay to ask questions, even if you think they are silly, or ask clarifying questions about questions you’ve already asked. 

4.      Ask for emotional support

These are tough times. We’re not always going to perform at our best. Consider making it okay to have an off day, or to take a break in the afternoon. One of the hardest things is that our days look so different, and we miss interactions with our supervisors or other team members. So, talk about your emotions and share your feelings to your supervisor. You will feel more relaxed and stress free.

5.      Avoid being an allrounder

Please, you are not Shakib al Hasan. You may wear his 75 jersey but you don’t need to be multitasker at the same time. the next time you’re on a work call (Zoom Call), close any tabs or programs that might distract you (e.g. your facebook or WhatsApp), put your phone away, and stay present. Yes, I know it’s tempting, but try to remind yourself that the WhatsApp message you just got can wait more 10 minutes, and you’ll be able to craft a better response when you’re not also on a work call.

At WFH, most miscommunication happens because you don’t have access to the non-verbal cues, including tone of voice, body language, and facial expressions, that give you valuable emotional context when you’re discussing in person. Hope, these tips can help, and give your supervisor a solid feeling of your dedication toward your work and thus even in this economic climate, let you win out with appraisal. All the best.

The writer is a creative controller at Grey Bangladesh.