The Edge for February 2023
We asked N.J. Chamber of Commerce members to talk about the tools that make them more productive at the office or in their home office. Check out what they said below.
I Take (a Picture of) My Kids to the Office
When I am in the office, the most important tool I have is a picture of my two kids! In September 2021, our firm began using a reservation system for seating in cubicles and offices, so I carry this picture back and forth. It makes me smile and feel comforted since family makes the world go round! When I work at my home office, generally one day a week, my most important tool is a scented candle. I light it in the morning and it is calming and a special perk.
– Diane Wasser, Partner, Audit & Assurance, EisnerAmper LLP, Partner, Eisner Advisory Group LLC
Weekly Monday Meetings Get Everyone on the Same Page
Our weekly Monday meetings are important to me. After all, good productivity requires good communication. Our agency starts each Monday morning with a stakeholder meeting where we review that week’s priorities. It insures that all of our leaders are on the same page regarding what is needed for our clients and for our team. It’s a great way to align, check in on how everyone is doing and kick off the week. Our agency also utilizes Microsoft Teams, which helps us stay on the granular level of internal communication throughout the day in our ‘work from anywhere’ hybrid model.
– Rachel Schulties, COO, Marketsmith, Inc.
My List of Things to do is High Tech and Shareable
My role as COO requires me to think ahead. I get into the zone by breaking my weekly/monthly lists into smaller lists of critical priorities and items to be considered later. I’ve always been a whiteboard/notepad person when it comes to staying organized. When the pandemic and remote work limited my whiteboard access, I shifted to notepads and notebooks – and have recently made the jump to spreadsheets. This latest organizational evolution has the benefit of easily sharing my thoughts with my team.
– Lori Acker, Senior Vice President, COO/Operational Transformation, Delta Dental of New Jersey and Connecticut
In-Person Collaboration Works Best for Me
One of the lessons I learned from the pandemic is the importance of in-person collaboration. While tools such as Microsoft Teams or Zoom are useful, the practice of law works better for me when I can connect in person with my colleagues. I believe that the ability to talk through issues in person leads to better work product for clients. Moreover, mentoring junior attorneys is an important part of what we do, and that is far more effective when done in person. I am excited about our firm’s move to a new office because we added significantly more collaboration space, which should bring a renewed energy to our practice.
– Dennis M. Toft, Member of the Firm, Chair, Environmental Law Group, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC
