There is nothing better than knowing you can just work from a home office or the dining table instead of commuting. You can be more productive in your own surroundings and that can lead to much better output while you work. The problem only really arises when you have to get involved in a video meeting or a conference, and you have those home distractions pulling you down.
Remote and hybrid working is the new order of things and you have to figure out ways to make it all work for you. There are so many different distractions out there when you work from home but soundproofing headphones and technology from Decibel can help you to drown it all out. You want your meetings to go well and you want them to end with the results that you wanted, right? Well, the key to making that happen is knowing how to do those meetings while you work from home. So, with that in mind, here’s how you can have productive meetings from your home office without those pesky distractions getting in the way.
- Think about your current surroundings. What is the lighting like? Are you being subjected to kids banging on the door? Check the noise and surroundings before you embark on any meetings because just as music is recorded in sound proof booths, you need to have as muted a surround as possible. You can use the right noise canceling headphones to drown out the noise through the mic that may be in the background, but the smaller the room the better. If you can create a muted space with soft furnishings, use good noise canceling headphones and really dial down into shutting the door – you’re golden.
- Talk to other house members. If you have a partner or kids at home – or even housemates – you need to let them know when you need privacy. Add a sign and even a lock on the door that you’ll be hosting meetings in so that no one comes in while you’re in the middle of an important call. You want to ensure that you are able to hold your meetings in an appropriate space and that means asking others to be respectful so that you can do that.
- Unplug, switch off, say no. Turn off the phone volume, unplug or mute the landline if you have one and make yourself unavailable on other calling channels. It’s super easy to get distracted and yet you can avoid it. You can avoid temptation so that your meeting is a successful one and as long as you have the right equipment and technology, you can do that. It’s a good idea to invest in soundproofing for the office itself, too.
You must avoid the temptation to multitask. Yes, you’re on your computer. Yes, it is possible to answer emails at the same time. But no, you shouldn’t. Note-taking in relation to the meeting is allowed, but make sure you turn off your microphone if you’re going to type your notes.
