Working from home used to be the domain of contractors and freelance soccer moms, but now it’s becoming the norm for more and more people in white-collar professions thanks to the COVID-19 crisis.
The good news is that this couldn’t have happened at a better time, as humanity has access to the right technological tools to ensure that businesses and customers don’t lose out due to working from home.
Lawyers are particularly spoilt with uninterrupted Internet connectivity, high-quality hardware, and file software allowing them to continue consulting with clients and hold virtual team meetings without affecting productivity.
Nevertheless, the idea of working from home can be intimidating for some and if that sounds like you, then follow these tips below on how to ensure success on your work from a home setup:
- See If You Can Work Like You’re in the Office
Make sure that you have full access to all of your case data and relevant files. That way, you can work smoothly without having to call colleagues for help in sourcing files.
Prior to executing a stay-at-home order, make sure that everyone has access to the data and files that they’re going to need while working from home.
Those operating on a cloud-based system will have an even easier time with this transition because all of your data is already available on the cloud. All you need to do is to remember your username and password to access it.
“Set blocks of time aside for you to focus on your work so that you don’t get easily distracted,” says Joshua Holt.
While taking time to fix some lunch or answer the door might seem insignificant, it can really throw off your concentration.
Figure out if you’re a night owl or a morning junkie and set your working hours around your own natural productivity cycle.
If you’ve got kids in the house, then you’ll want to get most of your focused work done before they wake up and spend the rest of the day returning phone calls and emails.
Be meticulous when it comes to tracking your time because this is how you’re going to bill clients.
You can use your laptop or computer to track your working hours through apps that allow you to punch in from your calendar.
This is the perfect time to show your clients that you’re a reliable asset, especially with so much uncertainty going around.
Keep in touch with them and don’t wait until they chase you down.
They need reassurance that you’re on top of things and it’s very important to be transparent about any changes that might be experienced due to the coronavirus crisis.
Conclusion
As you can see, it’s possible to maintain productivity even when working from home. Just be proactive, transparent, and prepared.
Being able to continue working won’t only provide your clients with a sense of continuity and security, but it’ll give you the opportunity to continue generating an income for your firm.