Improve your workplace productivity, wherever you are

It’s no surprise that a large majority of employers (74%) in the finance sector currently offer their employees hybrid working, as revealed in our UK 2023 Salary and Recruiting Trends guide. On top of this, a flexible approach, where professionals can decide how many days a week they spend in the office, could tempt almost two thirds (63%) of credit professionals to change jobs.

However, with this sought-after freedom comes responsibility to remain productive and achieve positive results regardless of where you’re working. Ultimately, with hybrid work now a reality for most, and the possibility of fully remote roles on the rise, now is a great time to reflect on how to work effectively wherever you are.

Here’s my four top tips to get going from both an office-based and remote setting:
 

Create a to-do list

Especially when it comes to credit management, being organised allows you to perform your critical role and is a key to success. Writing a to-do list is a trusty method, effective for both office-based and remote working, not to mention the satisfaction of ticking off what you’ve accomplished! Daily task lists help you to keep track of priorities and structurally frame the day ahead.

If you lose focus working from home or feel detached from your professional purpose in a remote setting, listing what you need to get done can act as great guidance.

Similarly, it’s easy to become distracted by a busy office, where more work may come your way, so referring to a to-list can ground you in your current responsibilities and allow you to make a judgement on your realistic work capacity for the day.
 

Take regular breaks

Productivity is not the result of being glued to your screen; it’s important to take short but regular breaks from your work in order to maintain concentration and performance throughout the day. To monitor this, you could set alarms or reminders to step away from your professional responsibilities, whether you’re in the office or working remotely.

Since attention to detail is crucial for roles within credit management, taking breaks is important to ensure you remain focused, meaning you’ll be less likely to make mistakes.

Social breaks are also beneficial for boosting morale; set aside time for a coffee with your colleagues if you’re in the office or call a friend for a catch-up when working from home. Going for a walk is also effective for blowing off the cobwebs, allowing you to return to work refreshed and potentially inspired.
 

Communicate mindfully

Communicating well with your colleagues and supporting one another can help create a sense of belonging and an openness to ask and answer questions can certainly facilitate career progression. This kind of positive environment lays the foundation for employee engagement.

Whilst credit professionals benefit from being independent thinkers, able to make quick and confident decisions, it is also a people-oriented industry which requires active listening and great communication skills. When working remotely, regular communication through a virtual platform such as Microsoft Teams can enable you to feel connected from afar and still reap the benefits of interacting with your teammates.

Utilise the social aspect of working in the office to speak to your colleagues face-to-face; in the same breath, have boundaries to avoid being distracted by others in the workplace, especially when you have work to do that requires extra concentration. You could put headphones on or politely express to your colleagues that you need to work uninterrupted at that time.
 

Prioritise your set-up

A suitable set-up is essential and ought to be prioritised regardless of where you’re working. If you are able to, sit on a comfortable chair, with your screen at eye-level, to avoid straining your back or neck. Natural lighting, whilst not always possible, is preferable and can even improve your mood and energy levels. Similarly, fresh air helps you think more clearly and has the power to reduce stress.

An organised workstation is thought to translate to feeling more organised workwise. As well as this, having some framed words of wisdom nearby, or saved as your desktop background, is a nice way to spark motivation and self-belief. Ultimately, working in a physically comfortable and pleasant setting will positively impact your productivity levels.
 

Final thoughts

Whilst flexibility in terms of where we work has become the new norm, it’s not without its challenges, and fluctuating between office-based and remote work will have proved unsettling for some professionals. However, having these tools at your fingertips should help you to stay focused in the office and maximise productivity in a remote setting, so you can thrive on your credit career path wherever you are.

 As featured in the CICM Magazine.