In Focus Commercial Credit
Which remote worker are you?
Workaholic, daydreamer, and unwilling recluse – different personalities need different strategies in the current environment
Sam Walters Director of professional services, Robert Walters
New research has highlighted three types of personality types that have emerged from the extended period of remote working. l The Workaholic – works compulsively or over the hours required, and at the cost of their sleep, family time or personal life. A workaholic in this period is someone who enjoys their work and sees it as structure or differentiation to their day, or feels compelled to do it to prove there has been no change to productivity since home working has been introduced. The biggest threat to a workaholic is burnout. l The Daydreamer - is easily distracted from tasks by activity in the home. Daydreamers find themselves in a cycle of an unfocussed and then refocussed mindset multiple times a day. The natural wandering of the mind can often mean that projects or work is delivered differently to how managers may have expected. Job satisfaction for a day dreamer can often be quite low as a result. l The Unwilling Recluse – is victim to the extreme comfortableness of the home setting. The ability to stay in the same ‘hoodie’ for days, avoid small talk with colleagues, and hide behind e-mails as your main form of communication, can lead remote workers down a slippery slope of isolation.
Personality types of these kind are very common in your normal workplace setting – and an experienced manager and organisation will have tried and tested ways on how to build structure, support, and a tailored approach to help support such individuals. From companies banning e-mails being
sent on weekends or outside office hours, to regular catch-ups with management, and planned social engagements and away days – these three personality types can be managed within a workplace under normal circumstances. The challenge we have during this period
is management from afar, and having to quickly understand what factors from remote working can expose us to negative experiences – such as burnout, low morale, or isolation.
Workaholic No coffee or lunch breaks, lack of personal time, and minimal human interaction can be a dangerous combination for workaholics heading towards burnout. As we navigate through this period and most of us have little choice but to working in our living rooms or kitchen, it is important to redefine the lines between work and home life. Tips for remote workaholics would include: l Create a dedicated workspace – setting up a dedicated zone for your working day creates a physical boundary between you and work. If you have an office at home, make sure to shut the door once you have finished for the day or, if your kitchen table has become your office desk, make sure you
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A workaholic in this period is someone who enjoys their work and sees it as structure or differentiation to their day, or feels compelled to do it to prove there has been no change to productivity since home working has been introduced
put away your laptop at the end of the day to avoid the temptation to log back on. l Get into a routine – it is not always easy to replicate the schedule you had in the office, but a little structure can make a big difference to getting your work-life balance right. Try sticking to the same start and finish times each day. Incorporating daily exercise can also help to keep you motivated and alert. l Get your priorities in order – start each day by planning your tasks for the day ahead in priority order. Incorporate when and where you will do each task, as well as considering the challenges you may face to help keep your to-do list achievable. l Take regular breaks – you do not spend every second in the office at your desk and it should not be any different at home. Take regular breaks throughout the day to make a coffee or get some air. This will reset your mind and body and keep you motivated throughout the day.
June 2020
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