time management https://mkpteam.com/ en Secrets to success as a new remote employee – Part 2: You make your own success https://mkpteam.com/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-2-you-make-your-own-success <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_entity_view' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_2col_stacked' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * ds-2col-stacked--node--270.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <div data-history-node-id="270" class="node node--type-blog-post node--view-mode-rss ds-2col-stacked clearfix"> <div class="group-header"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links--inline.html.twig * links--node.html.twig * links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-display-title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-display-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item"><h2><a href="/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-2-you-make-your-own-success" hreflang="en">Secrets to success as a new remote employee – Part 2: You make your own success</a></h2> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--datetime.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-publish-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2023-02-16T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">Thursday, February 16, 2023</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-left"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-main-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/image.html.twig' --> <img srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2023-02/MKP_1200x630_Remote_Part_2_01.jpg?itok=joB1s8cP 325w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2023-02/MKP_1200x630_Remote_Part_2_01.jpg?itok=tyVn40m_ 650w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_1300x1300/public/2023-02/MKP_1200x630_Remote_Part_2_01.jpg?itok=oORLoJgm 1200w" sizes="(min-width: 1290px) 1290px, 100vw" src="/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2023-02/MKP_1200x630_Remote_Part_2_01.jpg?itok=joB1s8cP" alt="Banner with words, &quot;Secrets to success as a new remote employee – Part 2: You make your own success&quot;" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--body.html.twig * field--default--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--body.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--body.html.twig x field--text-with-summary.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><em>By Cathy Planchart, Senior Project Manager</em></p> <p><span><span><span><a>As you’ll know if you read </a><a href="/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-1-put-your-best-face-forward"><span>part 1 of this blog series</span></a>, I recently transitioned from working in my local community of Hancock County, Maine, to working remotely with MKP communications inc., a company based in New York City. For the last 30 years, I have worked in traditional, in-person office environments where I had an office or cubicle and co-workers in close physical proximity. In this environment, it was easy to get facetime (note all lower case) with my manager, interact with co-workers on both personal and professional levels and lead meetings around conference room tables where every seat was filled.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong>So, how do you build relationships with co-workers when you work remotely? How do you make yourself stand out and get recognized for your good work? </strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>I will be the first to admit that many of the ideas I share below are effective strategies for success in traditional, in-person office environments as well as remote work situations. However, as a remote employee I put more effort, focus and intention into doing these three things.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong>Building relationships with my co-workers</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>During my first week at MKP, I got some index cards and wrote each co-worker’s name on a separate card. As I learn something about them, I write it on their card. It might be their tenure with the company, their job title, where they went to college, what sports team they like, a hobby, the name of their spouse or dog, their favorite flower or food, etc. I listen during conversations and make notes. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Getting to know others on a personal level, and letting them get to know you, is how relationships are formed. In a traditional office environment, this can happen organically. In a remote setting, I feel it takes more effort. I use the information I gather to nurture and grow relationships with my co-workers and to ask questions (like, “how is your dog doing?”), which shows I take a genuine interest in them as individuals. The more you know about them, and the more they know about you, the stronger your connection will be.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong>Finding something to do when I have nothing to do</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>In any job, the workload ebbs and flows, especially in the early days as you move up the learning curve. Rather than folding the laundry, washing the dishes, or prepping the next meal (common distractions for remote employees), I try to find ways to add value to the company. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Here are four productive things I do when working from home, which help me stand out in a positive way and increase my own success and that of the company.</span></span></span></p> <ol> <li><span><span><span>I complete assignments on time or, better yet, deliver them early. The first few weeks at a new job provide the luxury of some free time on a soon-to-be crowded calendar, which allows me to focus my attention and dive into the work. This is an easy way to quickly impress my manager.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>I let my manager know when I have capacity (i.e., have nothing to do). This tactic has been very beneficial. I’ve gotten pulled into a new project, invited to participate in additional training and asked to write an entry for the company blog!</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>I volunteer when someone needs help, or something needs to be done. Taking initiative is a positive trait many employers value. By offering to help, it also shows I am a team player. </span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>I read all kinds of stuff. Acquiring knowledge about the industry, company and co-workers will always pay off, in my opinion. Therefore, I read industry news publications, dig deep into the company website including reading old blog posts, re-review project documents, poke around on the company server to see what I can learn about work done in the past and learn more about my co-workers by reading their LinkedIn profiles.</span></span></span></li> </ol> <p><span><span><span><strong>Staying “LinkedIn”</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Once my job search was over, I wanted to run, not walk, from LinkedIn. As we all know, those who are seeking employment and those networking for new business rely heavily on LinkedIn. However, once I landed my new (remote) job, I made sure to take the following actions to expand and enhance my relationships on LinkedIn.</span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span><span><span>Updated my work history to show how proud I am to be part of this new team. </span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>Connected with my new co-workers. Once connected, I can view their network and see connections we have in common. I can also learn more about them and their background by reading their profile, and they can learn more about me. </span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>“Followed” my new employer on LinkedIn (and other social media) if I didn’t already do that during the interview process. </span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>Made a point to like, share and comment on the social media generated by the company. As we know, sharing is the most valuable action. But, before I share, I make the effort to include a comment about why I feel the content has value. </span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>Took the time to post my own content on my feed, routinely. I like to choose something relevant to my new job and industry. </span></span></span></li> </ul> <p><span><span><span>Building relationships, adding value to the company and acquiring and sharing information help me as a new remote employee stand out and get recognized. I believe these same strategies to be equally effective in traditional, in-person office environments as well.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Don’t forget to check out <a href="/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-3-how-build-relationship-you-want-and-need-your">p</a><a href="/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-3-how-build-relationship-you-want-and-need-your">art 3</a> </span>of this series: How to build the relationship you want (and need) with your manager.</span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><em>MKP communications inc. is a New-York based marketing communications agency specializing in merger/change communications for the financial services industry.</em></span></span></span></p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-right"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Blog Category</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/50" hreflang="en">world of work</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/30" hreflang="en">team building</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/28" hreflang="en">time management</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/43" hreflang="en">technology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/29" hreflang="en">employee engagement</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/40" hreflang="en">current events</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-footer"> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> Thu, 16 Feb 2023 17:52:58 +0000 max 270 at https://mkpteam.com Secrets to success as a new remote employee – Part 1: Put your best "face" forward https://mkpteam.com/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-1-put-your-best-face-forward <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_entity_view' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_2col_stacked' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * ds-2col-stacked--node--269.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <div data-history-node-id="269" class="node node--type-blog-post node--view-mode-rss ds-2col-stacked clearfix"> <div class="group-header"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links--inline.html.twig * links--node.html.twig * links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-display-title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-display-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item"><h2><a href="/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-1-put-your-best-face-forward" hreflang="en">Secrets to success as a new remote employee – Part 1: Put your best &quot;face&quot; forward</a></h2> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--datetime.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-publish-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2023-02-08T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">Wednesday, February 8, 2023</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-left"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-main-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/image.html.twig' --> <img srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2023-02/MKP_1200x630_Remote_Part_1_01_0.jpg?itok=bHAEKYIe 325w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2023-02/MKP_1200x630_Remote_Part_1_01_0.jpg?itok=wIt1kxi9 650w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_1300x1300/public/2023-02/MKP_1200x630_Remote_Part_1_01_0.jpg?itok=FNpSqMVq 1200w" sizes="(min-width: 1290px) 1290px, 100vw" src="/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2023-02/MKP_1200x630_Remote_Part_1_01_0.jpg?itok=bHAEKYIe" alt="Banner with words, &quot;Part 1: Put your best face forward&quot; and image of clapper board" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--body.html.twig * field--default--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--body.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--body.html.twig x field--text-with-summary.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><em><span><span><span>By Cathy Planchart, Senior Project Manager</span></span></span></em></p> <p><span><span><span>Recently, I transitioned from working in my local community of Hancock County, Maine, to working remotely with MKP communications inc., a company based in New York City. For the last 30 years I have worked in traditional, in-person office environments where I had an office or cubicle and co-workers in close physical proximity. In this environment, it was easy to get facetime (note, all lower case) with my manager, interact with co-workers on both personal and professional levels and lead meetings around conference room tables where every seat was filled.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong>So, how do you build relationships with co-workers and your manager when you work remotely? How do you make yourself stand out and get recognized for your good work in hopes of getting a raise or a promotion? </strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>I attempt to address these questions in a series of three blog posts. (See <span><a href="/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-2-you-make-your-own-success">part 2</a></span> and <span><a href="/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-3-how-build-relationship-you-want-and-need-your">part 3</a>.)</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>MKP hosts a “daily check-in” video meeting at 10:00 AM Eastern Time, every day, Monday thru Friday via Microsoft Teams. This is a carryover from 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic when everyone was working remotely, and the company has continued having this daily meeting because of the value it consistently brings. Personally, I think it is brilliant, especially as a remote employee, and I appreciate the information exchange and enjoy the camaraderie it engenders. We are a small team of 20-25. Daily, a random handful of employees are in the NYC office and log in as a group from a conference room. Other employees log in from Connecticut, New Jersey, Nevada, Maryland, while spending a few weeks in Mexico or from their homes in New York. But everyone is on screen and face-to-face during this precious half hour, mostly with their cameras on. Everyone shows up. We engage in some personal chitchat and connect about the important work tasks on deck for the day.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>As a new remote employee, putting my best face forward on screen during a video meeting is a way to make myself stand out. Here are eight personal rules I follow:</span></span></span></p> <ol> <li><span><span><span><strong>Lights, camera, action!</strong> Before turning on my camera, I make sure my lighting is good, so I don’t look like a shadow on screen (since I am not in a witness protection program) or whitewashed due to too much light. I also position my (computer) camera at a flattering angle, which involves placing my laptop on a 9” stand so I am eye level with the camera. (Trust me, no one wants to look up my nose.)  </span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span><strong>Choose a background.</strong> Microsoft Teams and similar applications allow you to use a “fake” background behind your onscreen image. I choose to use a fake background because I feel it is more professional (rather than having co-workers look at the mess in my living room). MKP promotes using our branded background. But sometimes I put up something personal during our check in meeting, like a photo from a morning walk in the woods, to spark conversation and share something personal about myself. This helps me stand out and build a personal connection with my colleagues.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span><strong>Being on time is being early</strong>, as my college advisor used to say. I remember the days when I was the first or second person in a conference room as the team was gathering for a meeting. Those moments before the meeting were valuable for connecting with others. I feel arriving early for an online meeting provides the same benefits.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span><strong>Smile, you’re on (candid) camera.</strong> I always turn my camera on and put a smile on my face. Being able to make “eye contact” and see each other’s body language, even facial expressions, is such an important component to human communication. And I’ve learned that smiling makes you look more approachable. When is it OK to turn your camera off? When you feel yourself nodding off during a meeting. (Trust me, I learned this from personal experience, which was quite embarrassing personally, and distracting to others in the meeting.) Grabbing a bite of breakfast? That’s a good time to turn off your camera. And I’m sure there are other times when it is acceptable to turn your camera off, but try, if possible, to keep these exceptions to a minimum.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span><strong>Spend time in the dressing room. </strong>When I know I will be in a video meeting, I take the time to fix my hair and apply a bit of makeup. Personally, I am not one to wear makeup in my daily life. But with poor home lighting and onscreen viewing, a little blush and lipstick provides some “pop” to my digital appearance. I think of myself as the star walking onto a movie set.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span><strong>Make a good wardrobe choice.</strong> I take pride in my appearance and feel it is important to look professional in every interaction. Therefore, I choose to wear professional attire (at least from the waist up). I want to look my best, or, as they say, to dress for success. Most days I wear a nice shirt or blouse with an open sweater or blazer. Then I accessorize. I have chosen to focus on the necklace, as earrings tend to disappear in the “fake” background.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span><strong>Minimize food consumption.</strong> My rule is to keep on screen food/drink consumption to a minimum. No one wants to watch me putting a forkful of food into my mouth, or chewing or taking swigs from a liter-sized soda bottle. Even though I love to chew gum, I make sure to get rid of it before the camera goes on. If I need to eat or drink something during a video meeting, I do my best to be discreet about it, taking small bites or using a straw. Or, even better, going off camera for a minute while I eat or drink.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span><strong>Let your little light shine.</strong> During a video meeting, it is easy to let myself sit on the sidelines and blend into the background. But, when appropriate, I let my light shine by adding something pertinent to the discussion. Participating helps build relationships with co-workers and clients and is an opportunity for me to share my knowledge, experience and unique perspective. At our daily check in at MKP, I may join in a conversation, share something I did recently or ask a team member a question during the “chitchat” portion of the discussion. When we do move on to topics related to work, speaking up is an opportunity to give my teammates a heads-up about an upcoming deadline or draw their attention to an important change in a project.</span></span></span></li> </ol> <p><span><span><span>I am sure you can go online and find many other pointers for remote working and video meeting etiquette, like minimizing distracting home noises by simply putting yourself on mute. (There’s nothing quite like the sound of a barking dog to disrupt a meeting.) So, whether I am in a meeting with co-workers or clients, I always make sure to be camera ready and put my best face forward in every online video interaction. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Want more secrets to success as a new remote employee? Be sure to read <span><a href="/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-2-you-make-your-own-success">part 2</a></span><a> and </a></span></span></span><a href="/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-3-how-build-relationship-you-want-and-need-your"><span><span><span><span>part 3</span></span></span></span></a>.</p> <p><span><span><span><em>MKP communications inc. is a New-York based marketing communications agency specializing in merger/change communications for the financial services industry.</em></span></span></span></p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-right"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Blog Category</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/50" hreflang="en">world of work</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/30" hreflang="en">team building</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/28" hreflang="en">time management</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/43" hreflang="en">technology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/29" hreflang="en">employee engagement</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/40" hreflang="en">current events</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-footer"> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> Wed, 08 Feb 2023 16:42:19 +0000 max 269 at https://mkpteam.com MKP Embraces a Workplace Transformation https://mkpteam.com/blog/mkp-embraces-workplace-transformation <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_entity_view' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_2col_stacked' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * ds-2col-stacked--node--230.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <div data-history-node-id="230" class="node node--type-blog-post node--view-mode-rss ds-2col-stacked clearfix"> <div class="group-header"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links--inline.html.twig * links--node.html.twig * links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-display-title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-display-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item"><h2><a href="/blog/mkp-embraces-workplace-transformation" hreflang="en">MKP Embraces a Workplace Transformation</a></h2> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--datetime.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-publish-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2022-02-07T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">Monday, February 7, 2022</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-left"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-main-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/image.html.twig' --> <img srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2022-02/HybridOff_01_0.jpg?itok=MTH8S5mQ 325w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2022-02/HybridOff_01_0.jpg?itok=z_sX28o1 650w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_1300x1300/public/2022-02/HybridOff_01_0.jpg?itok=2_K_ytzA 1200w" sizes="(min-width: 1290px) 1290px, 100vw" src="/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2022-02/HybridOff_01_0.jpg?itok=MTH8S5mQ" alt="An image of a computer plugging into a house with the words, &quot;The Hybrid Office&quot;" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--body.html.twig * field--default--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--body.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--body.html.twig x field--text-with-summary.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><em>By Phil Ziff, Project Manager</em></p> <p><span><span><span>For over twenty-five years, MKP had been a company that, like many others, worked out of a central office space. While a few employees worked primarily from home, most people met daily in MKP’s New York City loft in Union Square. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>In March of 2020, as more information came out about COVID-19, CDC and government officials asked office workers to stay home to help flatten the curve. MKP complied, expecting a fully remote office to be a temporary shift lasting maybe a few months. Little did MKP, and the rest of the world, know that there would likely be long lasting changes to the meaning of going to work.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>I sat down with Hillary Kelbick, President and CEO of MKP, to discuss how the team has adapted and thrived under a remote-work model.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong>Challenges of the remote office</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Switching from daily, in-person work to remote life was challenging at first, as there are certain workplace elements that are missed when people are not together in the same space. When I asked Hillary about this, she reflected, “if you’re trying to build a creative solution and foster some ingenuity, there’s nothing that replaces being in the same room with your colleagues. Human interactions are part of what drives creativity in the office place.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>There’s an intangible quality about being present with co-workers and sensing their energy and excitement. Hillary expressed her thoughts on the camaraderie that physical presence can create. “I love my team. I love my people I’ve been committed to, it’s like a family. The family hasn’t seen each other.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong>Making it work through new traditions</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Without the ability to feed off each other’s energy in person, how does an office manage to stay connected? MKP created a new meeting that still takes place to this day, called Daily Check-In. The whole MKP team meets every day at 10am on Microsoft Teams to connect and set expectations for the day. This virtual standing meeting became an instant success. Hillary shared, “There is a lot of good energy around this meeting. It helps everyone stay on track, while fostering a strong sense of connection among the team.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>One of the factors that helped Daily Check-In gain in popularity was the opportunity for the team to come together and share news about their weekend or connect on “water cooler” conversations. <span>Being on camera motivated many of the team to up their game in terms of clothing, jewelry, make-up, etc. – as if they were actually in the office.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>The Employee Engagement (“EE”) team was a big help. The team was founded shortly before COVID, and was responsible for planning company activities, like office happy hours, lunches and other social events and celebrations. Once the office shifted to a fully remote environment, Hillary credited the EE team for playing a major role in keeping the larger group connected.  She said, “The Employee Engagement team stepped up activity in a huge and meaningful way and it became part of the lifeblood of the company.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong>The perks of being a homebody</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Remote work does have perks that grant employees more flexibility in their days. For starters, removing the daily commute eliminates concerns about traffic, car trouble, or late trains. This extra time can be redirected toward work projects or completing personal errands. As Hillary put it, “If you want to do your laundry, cook a meal, take your dog for a walk, meditate, or take a workout class in the middle of the day, you have more flexibility. You can manage your time more efficiently and effectively from your own home, and for some people, that results in higher productivity.” Employees can still work on major projects and attend client meetings from their homes, and it’s easier to dig into deep work without the interruptions or distractions that sometimes come in an office environment. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong>The drawbacks of disconnection</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“Humans need connection, real connection, and there’s only so far Zoom and Microsoft Teams will go in creating this,” Hillary lamented. When tackling creative problem solving or brainstorming, there’s a certain spark that exists when colleagues are in the same room. The energy that comes from being present, sharing snacks and throwing ideas on a whiteboard is notably absent when collaborators are physically distant. Collaborative creative work is still best done in face-to-face.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>While Zoom meetings are certainly useful, it’s easier for employees to multitask, and you don’t necessarily get someone’s full attention. Meetings used to be a respite from screen time, and now screens are required to meet. There’s a certain level of Zoom-fatigue that occurs, and people tend to zone out or get distracted by emails or texts—which is much less likely to happen when meeting in person. Despite these drawbacks, however, work still gets done and productivity levels tend to be higher overall.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong>The future of work: a hybrid office</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>The term “hybrid office,” meaning one where employees split time between in-person and remote work, has become increasingly popular. As the world is far from finished with navigating the dangers and risks associated with the coronavirus, companies like MKP need to adapt to this new reality. The challenges brought about by this moment in time have opened the door to reimagining the modern workspace. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Hillary is using this as an opportunity to consider a redesign to the office space, replacing cubicles with communal tables, creating a more open, collaborative environment for those who choose to come to the office to work. Employees will have the option to continue to work remotely, returning to the office on occasion for in-person connection. She hopes that employees will embrace this hybrid model at MKP moving forward. “You don’t have to be in person with every colleague every day, but humans feed on each other’s energy and the opportunity to collaborate is critical to business success.”</span></span></span></p> <p><em>MKP communications inc. is a New York City-based communications company specializing in financial services marketing and merger/change communication.</em></p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-right"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Blog Category</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/40" hreflang="en">current events</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/29" hreflang="en">employee engagement</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/43" hreflang="en">technology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/28" hreflang="en">time management</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/50" hreflang="en">world of work</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-footer"> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> Mon, 07 Feb 2022 13:19:14 +0000 max 230 at https://mkpteam.com Revisiting Our 20/20 Vision: Why Our First Blog of 2020 Was More Visionary Than We Ever Realized https://mkpteam.com/blog/revisiting-our-2020-vision-why-our-first-blog-2020-was-more-visionary-we-ever-realized <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_entity_view' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_2col_stacked' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * ds-2col-stacked--node--182.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <div data-history-node-id="182" class="node node--type-blog-post node--view-mode-rss ds-2col-stacked clearfix"> <div class="group-header"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links--inline.html.twig * links--node.html.twig * links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-display-title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-display-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item"><h2><a href="/blog/revisiting-our-2020-vision-why-our-first-blog-2020-was-more-visionary-we-ever-realized" hreflang="en">Revisiting Our 20/20 Vision: Why Our First Blog of 2020 Was More Visionary Than We Ever Realized</a></h2> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--datetime.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-publish-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2020-12-28T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">Monday, December 28, 2020</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-left"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--body.html.twig * field--default--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--body.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--body.html.twig x field--text-with-summary.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><span><span><em>By Maxwell Chalkin, Chief Digital Officer and Senior Project Manager</em></span></span></p> <p><span><span>Looking back to the start of 2020, we had no idea what this year would bring. (And, boy, was it a doozy!)</span></span></p> <p><span><span>Strangely enough, way back on New Year’s Day, 2020, <a href="https://mkpteam.com/blog/2020-vision">we published a blog</a> that proved to be eerily prescient and foreboding. The blog was filled with reflections on how to think beyond short-lived new year’s resolutions and identify a clear “20/20” vision for living and working more mindfully.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>Some of the reflections we included were suggestions to:</span></span></p> <ul> <li><span><span>Quietly meditate and designate time to think or to clear your mind.</span></span></li> <li><span><span>Simplify by eliminating stuff—i.e. donate clothes and clean up and clear out old belongings.</span></span></li> <li><span><span>Focus on strengthening relationships with colleagues, friends and family members.</span></span></li> <li><span><span>Be present in the moment and find gratitude in present circumstances.</span></span></li> </ul> <p><span><span>We also articulated our 20/20 vision for our company, committing to be a true partner to our clients, to share wisdom and experience with them, and to listen more, ask questions and be proactive and openminded. We pledged to redouble our efforts to collaborate effectively with our MKP colleagues: “The MKP team is more powerful,” we wrote, “when we work together throughout the process of defining and achieving our vision.”</span></span></p> <p><span><span>While we had no idea what 2020 would bring, the introspection included in our 2020 Vision proved to be more prophetic, and more pragmatic, than we could ever have imagined. Our hometown became the early “ground zero” of an all-consuming national pandemic emergency, anti-racist protests swept across our country at a scale never before seen and, as the year draws to a close, the dire consequences of COVID-19 continue to ravage our public health and our economy.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>The vision we shared—a vision in which our company and clients partnered and collaborated better—was crucial and allowed us to meet the moment. A new working-from-home reality meant we needed to be even more attentive to our clients’ needs and challenges, and we had to learn to communicate differently and more effectively than ever.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>Then there were our musings to “Take the time to clear your mind and just think about yourself [and] your feelings”—a plea for calm and contemplation that came in handy during a time when even the most mundane tasks could be overwhelming. Our suggestions to “clear away ‘stuff’” and “eliminate distractions” also proved to be helpful during a time in which so many of us were living, working and spending an unprecedented amount of time at home among our “stuff.” We also wrote, “Be a good friend. Reach out, connect, listen, be supportive, and offer advice”: recommendations that ultimately proved to be sorely needed in a year like 2020.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>Perhaps the most prophetic excerpt of the blog we published on that first day of 2020 was this one: “Seek joy wherever it may come from and be happy for what you have. Try not to dwell on ‘if only’ or ‘poor me.’ Always find your glass half full.” Looking back—and looking ahead to our collective recovery from this supremely challenging year—perhaps this is the most important lesson 2020 had to teach us: Whatever is going on around us, may we always be grateful for the good in our lives and in the world, and may that goodness inspire us to ever greater heights.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>From the MKP team to you and yours, we send our warmest wishes for a happier and healthier 2021.</span></span></p> <p><span><span><em>MKP communications inc. is a New York City-based communications company specializing in financial services marketing and merger/change communication.</em></span></span></p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-right"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Blog Category</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/26" hreflang="en">fun</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/29" hreflang="en">employee engagement</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/40" hreflang="en">current events</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/28" hreflang="en">time management</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-footer"> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> Fri, 18 Dec 2020 20:28:53 +0000 max 182 at https://mkpteam.com 2020 Vision https://mkpteam.com/blog/2020-vision <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_entity_view' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_2col_stacked' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * ds-2col-stacked--node--161.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <div data-history-node-id="161" class="node node--type-blog-post node--view-mode-rss ds-2col-stacked clearfix"> <div class="group-header"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links--inline.html.twig * links--node.html.twig * links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-display-title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-display-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item"><h2><a href="/blog/2020-vision" hreflang="en">2020 Vision</a></h2> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--datetime.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-publish-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2020-01-01T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">Wednesday, January 1, 2020</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-left"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--body.html.twig * field--default--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--body.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--body.html.twig x field--text-with-summary.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><em><span><span><span>By Pamela Reich, Director of Communications Strategy, and Hillary Kelbick, President &amp; CEO</span></span></span></em></p> <p><span><span><span>The start of a new year… a new decade… and the pressure to set resolutions kicks in, yet again. This time we’re really going to eat better, exercise more, manage our money better, work smarter, be in better touch with friends and family. Sure, these are noble goals – things we <em>should </em>do, important goals for the new year, but <em>vision </em>is something very different. For ourselves, it’s the way we look at our lives, how we see our place in the world, and how we want to be seen. For our company, our vision is also about our future, our path, our growth, and our success. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>And if 20/20 is the ideal measure of vision, the year 2020 is the perfect time to identify the 20/20 vision we hope to achieve.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>In this usage, vision is defined as “the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom” (Lexico/Oxford). So as we enter this new year, let’s focus not just on a long-term vision for the future, but tangible steps we can take as individuals, and as a company, to live better, be better, and do better, starting fresh right now. </span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span><span><span>Set a designated “think time” for yourself every day. Be away from the screens. Be away from others. Be away from distractions. Take a walk, sit quietly in a dark room, excuse yourself from your day-to-day activities – even if it’s for just five or 10 minutes. Take the time to clear your mind and just think… about yourself, your feelings, and your vision.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>Clear away “stuff.” To think clearly, we should do our best to eliminate distractions like piles of papers (calling out to be filed, read, or tossed), excess clothes we never wear (donate, donate, donate), old toys and books (a few mementos are fine, but not a library-full), old project files, et cetera. Digital storage is a great alternative! </span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>Be a good friend. Reach out, connect, listen, be supportive, and offer advice. Strong personal relationships are the bedrock of a healthy soul, and a healthy business. </span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>Be there. Keep your eyes and ears open. Absorb everything around you and react. Being present means you are aware and available to others around you. And that holds true in business as well as in our personal lives.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>Seek joy wherever it may come from and be happy for what you have. Try not to dwell on the “if onlys” or the “poor mes.” Always find your glass half full.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p><span><span><span>At MKP, we are committed to making our second 25 years even better than the first, and we can only do that by working hard to bring our vision into 20/20 focus. We’re redoubling our commitments to:</span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span><span><span>Be a true partner. Show our clients that our wisdom and experience is there to benefit <em>them</em>. And it’s why they should continue to rely on us.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>Listen more. Ask questions. Be proactive. Dig deep. That’s how we will add value and provide clarity to help our clients achieve their 20/20 visions. </span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>Anticipate and respond to the needs of our clients (and their customers) with smart strategies, using all available channels and resources to deliver the message.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>Get unstuck. Instead of relying on what may have worked in the past, be openminded. Let the juices flow and open new doors to develop creative solutions that spark better communications. </span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>Collaborate with our colleagues. The MKP team is more powerful when we work together throughout the process of defining and achieving our vision.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p><span><span><span>So use your imagination… do what you can to feel satisfied, content, and fulfilled. Our individual and collective vision will begin to take shape and we will be ready to kick off the new decade with a renewed energy and optimism.</span></span></span></p> <p><em>MKP communications inc. is a New York City-based communications company that delivers spot-on strategy, smart, fresh creative, and flawless execution, exclusively for financial services clients.</em></p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-right"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Blog Category</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/28" hreflang="en">time management</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/22" hreflang="en">brand</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/26" hreflang="en">fun</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-footer"> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> Mon, 30 Dec 2019 21:51:40 +0000 max 161 at https://mkpteam.com The 24-hour Day – 6 Tips for Maintaining Work / Life Balance When You Are Always On https://mkpteam.com/blog/24-hour-day-6-tips-maintaining-work-life-balance-when-you-are-always <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_entity_view' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_2col_stacked' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * ds-2col-stacked--node--140.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <div data-history-node-id="140" class="node node--type-blog-post node--view-mode-rss ds-2col-stacked clearfix"> <div class="group-header"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links--inline.html.twig * links--node.html.twig * links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-display-title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-display-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item"><h2><a href="/blog/24-hour-day-6-tips-maintaining-work-life-balance-when-you-are-always" hreflang="en">The 24-hour Day – 6 Tips for Maintaining Work / Life Balance When You Are Always On</a></h2> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--datetime.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-publish-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2017-07-20T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">Thursday, July 20, 2017</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-left"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-main-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/image.html.twig' --> <img srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2019-10/24HR_0720a.png?itok=MTSnjvQ5 325w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2019-10/24HR_0720a.png?itok=HxFYsJoQ 650w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_1300x1300/public/2019-10/24HR_0720a.png?itok=bJVvB5pP 1300w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_2600x2600/public/2019-10/24HR_0720a.png?itok=l-IiQPs6 1400w" sizes="(min-width: 1290px) 1290px, 100vw" src="/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2019-10/24HR_0720a.png?itok=MTSnjvQ5" alt="24-hr clock" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--body.html.twig * field--default--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--body.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--body.html.twig x field--text-with-summary.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>A few decades ago, Dolly Parton wrote a famous song about the challenges of working 9 to 5. Little did she know what was coming! In today’s world of smart phones, texts and instant messaging apps, it seems like we are always connected to the workplace. 24/7 is the new normal, and for many of us, staying connected is part of the job description. Workin’ 9 to 5? If only!</p> <p>But there are some things we can all do to maintain a better balance in a day that never ends. It takes a little planning and commitment, but you’ll improve both your work life and your home life if you follow these guidelines:</p> <ol> <li>Schedule your day and, as much as possible, keep to the schedule. A prioritized “to do” list will help. If a new “priority” is introduced, spend a few minutes assessing the effort needed, the corresponding timeframe and then work it into your schedule. Unless it is an emergency, don’t let it disrupt your schedule.</li> <li>Avoid multi-tasking – focus on completing one task or project and move on to the next. In the long run, the final product will be of better quality (100% focus) and you will accomplish just as much. Research out of <a href="http://news.stanford.edu/2009/08/24/multitask-research-study-082409/">Stanford University</a> and elsewhere shows that multi-tasking is less productive than doing one thing at a time.</li> <li>Allow for down time – work for 50 focused minutes and then give yourself 10 minutes to play. This is the time for checking Facebook, Pinterest and responding to personal emails, texts, etc. This strategy is applicable to both the home and office. Remember, the goal is balance. You don’t have to be on the go, every second of the day.</li> <li>If you have work that needs to be done outside of work hours, schedule time for it and stick to the schedule. If you need to work in the evening, or on a weekend, set aside a block of time to get your work done and when you have completed your work, or the time is up, wrap it up.</li> <li>Don’t let your devices intrude more than you need to. Don’t bring your phone or tablet to the table or to bed with you. If you do, it should be the exception and not the rule. In the long run, you will sleep better and stay more connected to family.</li> <li>Don’t be an enabler – if your kid forgets their lunch or misses the bus, let them know that they have one free pass and then help them solve their problem. Any more than that, and they should have to come up with a solution themselves. The same applies to the office – you should be willing and ready to help your colleagues, but you shouldn’t be the solution for every challenge your colleagues might face.</li> </ol> <p>Balancing your career and family so that you can manage both successfully is a challenge and hopefully using some of the tips outlined above will make it a little easier!</p> <p><em><a href="http://mkpteam.com/">MKP communications inc.</a> is a New York City based communications company that delivers spot-on strategy, smart, fresh creative, combined with flawless execution for financial services clients.</em></p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-right"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Blog Category</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/27" hreflang="en">marketing</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/28" hreflang="en">time management</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-footer"> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> Wed, 30 Oct 2019 21:36:29 +0000 max 140 at https://mkpteam.com