For most people, home office is usually the exception, even if the job permits. But now that we have to keep our distance in order to cut off the path of a virus together, we will only work in our home office if it is possible in any way. This has both advantages and disadvantages, is sometimes sad, sometimes funny – and mostly feels like a large-scale psychological experiment in which you can gather all kinds of insights about yourself and your colleagues … One of our interim results so far : There are obviously different types of home offices that always lie dormant in us, even when we are in the office. Whether they are encoded in our DNA, educated or related to the zodiac sign will have to be investigated in the future. In any case, the following types of home office have already been empirically proven (i.e. we have already observed them).
6 types of home office that we would never have known without Corona
1. The well organized
You can recognize the well-organized, for example, by the fact that they use the status setting "Do not disturb". This guy sits showered and styled at the desk in front of her laptop and has planned his working day in the home office very carefully – start at 8 a.m., work concentrated on until 8.55 a.m. (status: "Do not disturb"), chat with colleagues until 9 a.m. and communicate (status: "available") etc. etc. In appointments the organized person is always dialed in on time, her settings (micro, camera …) are always as they should be. During her lunch break from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., the organized woman closes the laptop and leaves her desk to have a meal, go outside for a moment, shop, etc. Controlling the situation as much as possible gives this guy a sense of security and support.
2. The connoisseur
The connoisseur can be recognized by the fact that if you suddenly address her in a confi or call her, she often has to swallow before she answers – or speaks with her mouth full. This guy uses the opportunity in the home office to be able to snack without disturbing others. Paprika, apple, carrot, chocolate, popcorn, the connoisseur always has something to chew at her workplace. This in turn can hike depending on the time of day and weather, because the connoisseur prefers to sit in the sun while working. It is important for this type of home office to make this situation as nice and pleasant as possible.
3. The invisible
The hallmark of the invisible is the switched off or "not working" camera. Seen objectively, the invisible has nothing to hide, but her colleagues hardly ever see her. This guy just doesn't like to step in front of the camera and is generally skeptical about online meetings and Co. Is one really among himself? Are the data guaranteed to be secure? The invisible is happy to be able to continue her job thanks to modern technologies in the home office, but is limited to the necessary tools and channels. In this way, she makes the best of this situation for herself while learning to appreciate the direct communication with her colleagues in the office more and more every day.
4. The tousled
Unpainted, without a bra and in jogging or underpants – the disheveled can't see at all to style himself in the home office. However, most of the time she stands by it: In video confis, she shows herself confidently in a shaggy look. Often, the disheveled enjoy to the full the freedoms that come from working in the home office. Taking a laptop with you to the toilet, adjusting working hours to your natural rhythm, vacuuming the living room in between, making yourself comfortable in front of the TV during certain activities that require little concentration – certainly not working for everyone, but this type inspires the creative chaos he finds in his Home office surrounds. The disheveled take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity to finally be able to design their everyday life relaxed and individual, and is above average productive.
5. The mom
The mom is not exactly characterized by constant availability, but is extremely popular with her colleagues – especially if she brings her children as guests in video conferences or children's voices can be heard from her microphone. The mom type is currently accomplishing absolutely incredible! How he looks after his children, does his job and deals with the situation himself is incomprehensible. Mommies probably have a superhero gene or something like that, which would also explain how they survive without sleep for the first few years after the birth of their child. In fact, the mom type seems to have the strength to take responsibility, to be challenged and to take care of others.
6. The communicative
The communicative type holds the team together in the home office and creates proximity despite spatial distance. In the morning he toasts the "good morning wishes" in the group chat, asks for the well-being in between and shares funny anecdotes and thoughts. Although communication is also the main reason why you should definitely turn off the sound on the work equipment if you want to work calmly and with concentration, but without it everyday life in the home office would be much more lonely and dreary. The communicative type draws energy and optimism from the exchange with his colleagues, and also builds up his role as a motivator.