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Remote Work Loneliness: How to Protect Your Mental Health When Working Remotely

Remote Working, remote-work
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Remote Work Loneliness: How to Protect Your Mental Health When Working Remotely Since the start of the pandemic, working from home has become the new normal for many employees and companies. While working outside the office has its benefits — no more long, gas-guzzling commutes, for instance — there is still one downside many employees face: remote work loneliness. Before the pandemic, it was normal to make friends around the office, crack jokes in the break room, or participate in fun, in-person team-building activities. However, those things aren't possible when you're working from home and your coworkers are scattered around the country. So, working from home can feel isolating. Fortunately, there are strategies you can implement to protect your mental health and feel less lonely as you work from home or remotely. 5 Tips to Avoid Loneliness When Working From Home I asked fellow HubSpotters and professionals across different industries for tips on avoiding work-from-home loneliness. Here is what they had to say: 1. Schedules 'get to know you' calls. Jen Bergren, Head of Operations at Remotish, says "get to know you" calls are an important part of her team's onboarding process. "One of the team's favorite tasks in our onboarding is for the new team member to schedule a short call with every other person on the team, individually, in their first two weeks for a 'get to know you' casual call," she said. "We also make sure the new team members have at least one real-time...

Flexible Schedules: The Pros, Cons, & Surprising Outcomes

Remote Working, remote-work
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Flexible Schedules: The Pros, Cons, & Surprising Outcomes I'm willing to bet we've all felt stifled by the rigid 9-to-5 work schedule — especially on our productivity both in and out of the office. For many workers, a flexible schedule is the answer. This types of schedule allows you to work when you're most productive and gives you the autonomy you need to create an ideal work-life balance, however that looks to you. Here, we'll cover what a flexible work schedule looks like and explore its pros. cons, and surprising outcomes. It's important to remember that flex hours doesn't equate to less hours. In fact, as you'll read later, employees actually clock in more hours working from home. Further, there is still structure to this type of schedule: employees must work a certain number of hours, or come up with an alternative agreement with their employer regarding office hours versus remote time. There’s plenty of science to suggest flexible work schedules are critical for happier, more productive employees and a more successful company overall. For instance, a recent study by Qualtrics found a whopping 93% of employees feel the way they work has "fundamentally and forever" changed since the pandemic, with the most favorable changes being flexible schedules. According to the same study, 43% of employees feel their work-life balance has increased over the past two years, along with their overall happiness and job satisfaction. Of course, there are pros and cons to flexible schedules, just like there are pros...

Will Marketers Return to Offices in 2021? What Companies Need to Know [Data + Expert Tips]

Remote Working, remote-work
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Will Marketers Return to Offices in 2021? What Companies Need to Know Back in 2018, I chose to work at HubSpot because I loved HubSpot's content, and its culture. Oh — and the smoothie bar, waffle Wednesdays, and ping pong tables didn't hurt, either. Office space has undeniably seen a change in recent years. Open-floor plans have become increasingly popular, as have standing desks, beer on-tap, game rooms, and even greenhouse spaces. As this decade came to a close, many of my closest friends chose jobs based, at least in part, on office vibe. And yet, it's long been said that remote work is the future. In fact, HubSpot has been touting the benefits of remote work since 2012 in its Culture Code, which states: "Work isn't a place we go, it's a thing we do." In 2020, that premonition became a reality as the pandemic forced an entire global workforce to shift to remote work practically overnight. And now, as the dust settles and employees find new, innovative ways to work productively from home, many businesses are wondering: Do we even need an office, anymore? Let's explore how marketers across the U.S. feel about remote work in 2021, and whether remote work is just a current necessity — or the new long-term reality. Will employees return to the office? To explore whether or not employees will return to the office in 2021 (if they're permitted to do so), I started by surveying 496 marketers and asked the question: If...

10 Zoom Backgrounds HubSpotters Love

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10 Zoom Backgrounds HubSpotters Love When I first started working remotely, I quickly realized that I didn't like the available backdrops in my house. First, there's the cluttered living room. Then, there's the rarely spotless kitchen. Or I could go with the yellow wall. That's when I started looking into Zoom backgrounds. I found a few funny ones, some professional ones, and even a couple of creative options. It turned out to be really fun to express myself with a Zoom background. If you're in the same predicament, look no further. Below, let's learn how to set up a Zoom background, and then we'll show you our favorite ones. 1. Open Zoom Before we dive into our favorite Zoom backgrounds, let's learn how to set one up. To start, open your Zoom app and log in. 2. Go to Zoom "Preferences" Once you're logged in, click "zoom.us" on the top left and then hit "Preferences." You can also get to this page by clicking your profile image on the top right corner, and then clicking "Settings." 3. Click "Virtual Background" When you've opened your settings, click "Virtual Background" on the left-hand side. 4. Click the "Plus" sign and "Add Image" Now, click the plus sign on the right, and click "Add Image." Voila. Now you can add any image that you have the rights to and that meets the image guidelines. Tips for Determining When to Use a Zoom Background...

The Ultimate Guide to Managing Remote Marketing Teams

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The Ultimate Guide to Managing Remote Marketing Teams Behind many great teams are great managers. Take my manager for example. Each day, she oversees a team of blog writers and editors, reports on the HubSpot Blog's progress to stakeholders, and also manages many of the logistics and processes that keep our site running smoothly. But, the blog's editorial processes and traffic strategies aren't the only things she focuses on. Most importantly, she takes time to empower each individual on our team. She mentors us as we lead projects that benefit the blog, plans team bonding activities, ensures that we're getting the tools and training we need to do our jobs, and checks in with us regularly to make sure the work we're doing is fulfilling. It sounds like she does a lot, right? And the kicker? Half of the team she manages, mentors, and empowers isn't even based in HubSpot's Cambridge office. By this point, you might know that managing a team, even isolated to one office, isn't for everyone. On any given day, you need to balance your own workload, overall team success strategies, and working with individuals within your department. To do this, you must balance being a team player and a leader. You also must be highly organized, strategic, and have a high level of emotional intelligence. In a company that's primarily in-office, a manager can directly impact the success of their team. But, this role is even more important when it oversees a fully...

14 Signs Your Remote Team is Communicating Ineffectively

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14 Signs Your Remote Team is Communicating Ineffectively Every weekend, my friends and I have online video calls to catch-up with each other. Sometimes it feels like certain people dominate the conversation and others don't feel comfortable speaking up. These types of communication issues via remote conversations are actually normal. In fact, for remote teams communication with co-workers is a challenge that remote workers face daily. Additionally, according to HubSpot's findings, non-HubSpot remote workers noted a lack of social connection (29%) and communicating with co-workers (29%) as the two biggest challenges they face being remote. When your team can't be in the same space, communication needs to become more intentional. So, how do you do that? And how do you know when your communication needs some work? Below, let's review some signs that your remote team isn't communicating as effectively as possible. 1. Your team has too many meetings. As a remote worker, I know I've had days where I jump from meeting to meeting with no time for a break. Sometimes, this can actually be a symptom of poor communication. Typically, your team shouldn't have to meet several times a week. In fact, plenty of meetings can be sent in an email. Before scheduling a meeting, think about whether that meeting will waste time. If you aren't sure, then reevaluate whether the content can be sent in an email. Additionally, keep in mind when you schedule a meeting that every person you invited needs to be there....

17 Fun (Not Cheesy) Ice Breaker Games Your Employees Will Enjoy

Remote Working, remote-work
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17 Fun (Not Cheesy) Ice Breaker Games Your Employees Will Enjoy Asking "How is everyone?" at the beginning of every meeting isn't always the best way to encourage connection and team bonding. Sometimes, you need to take it a step further with an ice breaker. The best ice breakers have the power to strengthen coworker bonds, stimulate better brainstorming sessions, and create an atmosphere of inclusivity. But it's easier said than done, and the wrong ice breaker questions can lead to awkwardness or even increased tension. To get the most value out of your team bonding moments, we've compiled a list of the best ice breaker games for the workplace. Next time you get together with your team, use one of these games instead of asking "How is everyone", and you're sure to hear some better, more insightful responses than "I'm good." Ice Breakers for Meetings 1. One Word Game The One Word ice breaker allows you to provide initial context into a meeting's topic, and get everyone in the right mindset for discussion. To play, you'll want to divide meeting participants into smaller groups. Then, tell them to think for a minute or two, and then share with their group one word that describes X. For instance, let's say you're leading a meeting on culture. Tell the groups to describe work culture, or your office culture in particular, in one word. Once they've shared with their groups, you can invite them to share their word with the entire...

HubSpot’s Management & Leadership Development Expert Shares Tips for Staying Productive When You Work From Home

Remote Working, remote-work
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HubSpot's Management & Leadership Development Expert Shares Tips for Staying Productive When You Work From Home One of the best training sessions I've attended for my career was the PeopleFuel®️ program by The Energy Project at HubSpot. Here, I learned that to be most productive at work, I needed to manage my energy, not my time. The training was led by Nick Congelosi, HubSpot's Management and Leadership Development Head. His team is responsible for overseeing global leadership development across HubSpot with workshops, certifications, and trainings like PeopleFuel®️. When I left that workshop, I felt confident that I could revitalize my work day. That's why I decided to grab a virtual coffee with Congelosi and learn all about his best tips for staying productive when you work from home. Below, let's review Congelosi's remote work productivity tips, how to stay productive during remote meetings, and best practices for running a productive remote training session. 1. Place a side table next to your desk. Have you ever worked on a cluttered desk? I know I have, and that's how I know how distracting it can be. To help you stay focused during your day, Congelosi recommends placing a side table next to your desk about an arm's length away. You can place your notebook and to-do list on this table, so whatever you're working on is the only thing on your desk. If it's your computer, only have one tab open (or however many you actually need to get that...