At Roadmap, we have a long history of working remotely. Hopping online from our home offices isn’t new to us. Our team members are responsible for bringing their best to the Roadmap table – which means we attach value to two things. First and foremost: collaboration. Working together is paramount. Second: results. What have our people committed to, and have they lived up to their promises?
So far, so good. But this is a new era. Even for us. We have never worked from home for two months straight. So, let’s have a quick look at what that’s done to us, both in terms of productivity and – well, sanity!
Going nuts or getting productive: the right spirit
Some of us live alone. Others, like me, have three young children running around the house. And we have a few team members who live in teeny-tiny apartments (think upgraded prison cells) that aren’t the most ideal home offices.
I’m not going to lie. I’ve been having a hard time. Being a social animal, I need to surround myself with people. I have to see them and talk to them to get the most out of collaborations. And I’ll admit I miss that handshake more than ever. So, I don’t exactly thrive under these circumstances! I have spent some serious quality time with my family in the past two months, but professionally, my productivity has been low. I felt disengaged from my company and the people who work at Roadmap.
My co-founder Koen Bavinck, on the other hand, is the textbook example of how to make things work in this era of self-isolation. Every day, he creates lists, jotting down what he wants to accomplish. He gets up early to walk his dog and goes on evening hikes with his family and friends. And he’s shown the same level of dedication, diligence, and productivity when working with the Roadmap team and our customers. It’s the right spirit to get those 10,000 steps a day, to connect with people, and to show that you care.
Time for a (virtual) walk
Here’s my personal shout-out to Koen: thanks for going on a walk with me yesterday. I appreciate it more than I can say.
Do you want to take a corona-proof, 100% virtual walk with Koen or someone else at Roadmap? Don’t hesitate to contact us. We promise we’ll make you forget there’s a screen between us. We won’t be in the same room, but we’ll be close enough to make a real connection.
Markus Emmer
