Lisa Backes, managing director and board member of Adepa Asset Management, shared her home workspace with Delano late last week.
AG: Prior to the covid-19 restrictions, did you already telecommute and, if so, how often?
LB: Before the covid-19 restrictions, I was mainly working out of our office in Munsbach even though I always had the possibility to partly work from home. As managing director, it was always essential to me to be close to my colleagues. For me, spending time together in the office makes the working days (even) more joyful.
When did you start telecommuting as a covid-19 precaution?
Adepa as a company activated the [business continuity plan] in Luxembourg on the 12th of March and most of the colleagues started working from home on the 13th. At the same moment BCP was activated in our offices in Madrid and Bilbao, while our colleagues in Milan had already been [for] 3 weeks in full home office status.
What was your telecommuting workspace previously? Or was it always your “home office”?
So far, I didn’t have a designated home office space at home, it was more unspecified, once in the living room, once in the dining room. Now, working each day from home, it was essential to have an “office”, a place where you are undisturbed and which allows a certain routine, therefore I transformed my patio into my office.
What do you like about your telecommuting workspace?
I like the bright light, as well as the quiet, and that I can see into nature through the big windows. Another plus is that I can go directly out into my garden from there.
What would you change?
The only thing which I will do in the future is to challenge the decision makers here in Germany to improve internet connectivity.
Is there a “personal touch” to your home workspace?
Of course, as it is my home all things that surround me are personal. However, the most personal touch I would say is my garden, which is directly outside of my patio. The possibility to look outside is very pleasant.
Lisa Backes’s home workspace. Photo provided by Lisa Backes
What are your most widely used telecommuting tools or applications?
I use VPN access to the Adepa drives. As we in Adepa are an international company, we are used to videoconferences which we work with very frequently, for conferencing on business matters with staff and clients but also to have personal chats with our colleagues in the offices in Spain, Italy or Chile. Furthermore, Whatsapp also helps us to keep in touch.
How do you make telecommuting work for you?
For me, the personal contact with my colleagues and to our clients is very relevant. Besides business calls and videoconferences on business matters, I try to be in regular contact with them.
Have you developed any new habits or routines?
I have realised that the day is more organised for me and less spontaneous. Many short conversations and the spontaneous exchange with others simply disappears. I think it is important to take time for the interpersonal exchange and to plan for it.
After the covid-19 restrictions are lifted, do you plan to keep telecommuting sometimes?
I am sure what we are today experiencing will change the way how we work after the crisis and new ways must be thought of. The challenge will be to combine these new insights with the need for social interaction between companies and teams.