MEGAN FOSTER, HAYDEN RAHN, CAITLYN WESTFALL, TAVIANNA WILLIAMS, & SCOTT SMITH It is no secret the fraternity/sorority industry is shifting and adapting in many ways, particularly when it comes to the ways we approach our work and manage our staff. How do we increase efficiency and productivity? How do we recruit and retain quality staff? How can our organization think differently? These are questions managers face regularly when making strategic decisions about staffing structures. For many organizations, where and how we do our work continues to evolve. This is increasingly resulting in employees working remotely. This development impacts our organizations and presents unique benefits and challenges the following viewpoints seek to explore. As a growing trend, we believe it will be helpful to learn from professionals who have seen success working remotely, managing remote staff, or have recently transitioned to a remote position. We asked these individuals to share advice, tips, and other pieces of wisdom they have learned to help others consider if working remotely is something they are interested in, to consider when hiring remote staff, and to think about how to better train, connect, and manage current remote employees.
Caitlyn Westfall
Assistant Director of Education & Leadership Sigma Sigma Sigma National Sorority
Home Office: St. Louis, MO Main Office: Woodstock, VA After working remotely for just over a year, I have become a strong advocate for remote work. Not only is it a great way for organizations to demonstrate trust in employees, but it also gives employees flexibility over where and how they work. As educators, we recognize not everyone has the same work style; when we expect all employees to work a “traditional� eight to five office job, we cannot expect to achieve optimal performance. A few essential tips helped me adjust from working on a campus to working remotely for an organization. First, take advantage of technology. Sigma Sigma Sigma utilizes Microsoft Teams for file sharing/storing, collaboration, and quick online chats. For times when a face-to-face conversation is best, Zoom is our go-to tool. I also suggest purchasing a planner that helps map out the day down to the hour. A planner like this has been crucial in helping me transition from an office role to a remote one. Moving to the world of remote work was an adjustment but my mental health, happiness, and productivity have improved enormously because of it.
Hayden Rahn
Director of Expansion & Development Delta Upsilon
Home Office: Temecula, CA Main Office: Indianapolis, IN Working remotely from Southern California produced a handful of dynamics I needed to learn how to navigate. One challenge I have experienced is learning how to work across time zones. I work three hours behind most of my coworkers, manage chapters and expansion projects across the country, and communicate with stakeholders who often assume I work in Indianapolis. As a result of this, I have learned to be successful, I must be diligent about planning my week and communicating my availability. I also rely heavily on my work calendar to ensure no meetings overlap; this has taught me to be more adaptable when planning my work day. Long travel days have also proven to be challenging, but I navigate these by being diligent in my planning and communication as well as remaining adaptable while traveling. Ultimately, I would not be as successful in working remotely if I had not learned how to plan efficiently, communicate effectively, and understand how to be adaptable. 31 PERSPECTIVES Issue #3
