Each fortnight the team nominates their pick for our ethos award. Winners are announced at our fortnightly team meeting and once a month we celebrate the winners here on the blog!
Today, we are celebrating Lisa, Miroslav and Michelle for their ‘dependability’ and ability to work ‘independently together’, two of our core values.
Our Values
We have asked this month’s culture heroes a few questions about being awarded, their tips on being dependable and working ‘independently together’, plus we got their top tips for working from home, something most of us could use right now.
Lisa
We are celebrating Lisa for being dependable, she is widely known across the team as being one of our most reliable colleagues. Lisa is one of our incredible Paid Media Specialists and our resident Google Shopping expert. Today she is sharing her tips for being dependable in the workplace and her best work from home tips.
What is your best advice for being dependable in the workplace (to the point of being recognised for this superpower)?
In being a dependable member of the team, I’m a big believer in communicating well with my teammates and also with clients. It’s important to be clear on timelines e.g. when certain deadlines can be reached or if there’s further information/investigation needed (and to be clear on the adjusted time-frames). Being available and ready to help is key.
Any tips for keeping yourself focussed and delivering great results while working from home?
A good ol’ fashioned list usually does the trick for me. Other key factors that help include: having a dedicated workspace & planning out my day, while also allowing time for urgent campaign changes or client requests. It’s also important to have breaks from the screen every 60-90 mins. Exercise & fresh air is vital.
Could you briefly describe your main tasks and responsibilities?
I liaise with our Account Managers to help run successful Google Ads campaigns for our clients. These Campaigns can span Search, Display, Video, Shopping etc. The work can change day-to-day but can involve campaign audits, keyword analysis, ad writing/ad uploads, budget analysis, reports and optimising campaigns to bring in quality leads and conversions from relevant audiences.
How do you manage to juggle so many responsibilities and deadlines?
I make sure to prioritise tasks, keep an eye on the time, use a different notebook for each client and also highlight important emails so they don’t get lost! Having a strong team culture is really important, even though we work remotely, there’s always an expert I can run tricky questions past!
Miroslav
Miroslav is being recognised today for his ability to work ‘independently together’, meaning Miroslav is independent in his work but always goes above and beyond to deliver as part of his team. As one of our dedicated SEO Specialists, Miroslav often focusses on technical SEO and is truly passionate about strategy work for our clients.
What is your best advice for working “independently together” in the workplace (to the point of being recognised for this superpower)?
My best advice for working independently together is to always and in advance get 100% clear on what your tasks are, including the specific deliverables, deadlines, etc. Because we’re a distributed company with everybody working remotely, often in very different time zones and with very tight deadlines, there might not be enough opportunities for extra handover meetings or clarifications. Therefore, be prepared with questions and always aim for a full alignment during the first meeting. This not only saves everybody’s time but also ensures that the work can be delivered on time and in the required quality.
Any tips for keeping yourself focussed and delivering great results while working from home?
I have been working from home for over 20 years, now. So, I already have some practice. Unfortunately, I am yet to discover a “magic button” for keeping oneself focused and delivering great results. Everybody’s situation will probably be different. For example, I have 3 teenage kids. During the school year, I try to do as much work while they are at school because, most afternoons, I drive them to and from their different sport activities and other engagements.
When the morning hours are not enough, I work late into the night. Because of my time zone, I also often get up early in the morning to attend 6 AM team and client calls. All of this requires internal discipline because there is nobody else to push you to deliver, other than yourself.
Could you briefly describe your main tasks and responsibilities?
My role in IMWT is that of an SEO Specialist. I carry out multiple activities for clients in order to improve their performance in the search engines. Each client is different and requires a different approach. One of my responsibilities is to advise on the best SEO strategy and tactics. I also do a lot of work related to technical SEO.
How do you manage to juggle so many responsibilities and deadlines?
For me, the ability to juggle different responsibilities and deadlines comes down to correctly managing your time. First, I need to be aware of all my existing commitments, including personal time, family time, hobbies and sports. Next, I need to be aware of how much time my work tasks require and when they are due.
Finally, I also need to know of any dependencies, specifically, when the commencement of work on my tasks depends on other tasks being completed, or when other tasks need to wait for my tasks to be completed. This gives me an idea of how much flexibility there is within a given time frame.
The first “secret” is to be able to know the above. The second “secret” is the ability to say NO to a task that doesn’t fit your timeline, and your ability to work with your Pod Leaders (Account Managers) to re-shuffle your tasks, as needed.
Michelle
Michelle is one of our dedicated Pod Leaders (AKA Account Managers). Today she is being celebrated for her dependability. Michelle always goes above and beyond for the internal team and her clients. She is a master at communication and ensuring projects are delivered on time.
What is your best advice for being dependable in the workplace (to the point of being recognised for this superpower)?
My best advice for being dependable is to honour your commitments and by being reliable. If you say you are going to do something, do it. Being dependable builds trust in the relationship with your clients and holds yourself accountable for your actions.
Any tips for keeping yourself focussed and delivering great results while working from home?
Dealing with being focused while working remotely means not being distracted, being details orientated, focused and knowing that during specific hours you’re working, nothing else.
Could you briefly describe your main tasks and responsibilities?
As a Senior Account Manager my key responsibilities are:
- Managing relationships with clients
- Making sure the scope of work is delivered on time and within budget
- Managing the internal team to make sure we deliver and hit our targets every month
- Always checking areas where we can make a difference with our clients and provide tailored optimisation strategies for their specific needs
- Make sure that our team adapts to change as required
- Making sure we are as agile as we can be
- Proactively looking at any potential risks or threats that each client might encounter and make them aware while suggesting solutions to their problems
How do you manage to juggle so many responsibilities and deadlines?
Write a priority list and make sure it’s all done in a timely manner.
