How to Adapt and Thrive Working Remotely with Debbie Lundberg

Danielle Cobo  0:02  
Hey everyone. Welcome to another episode of dream job with Danielle Cobo. I am excited to have my guest today. My guest is Debbie Lundberg, and she is a TEDx speaker, Best Selling Author of including remote work Rockstar, leading without losing your femininity and reversing syllabification in America. She is a performance coach, motivational speaker, corporate trainer, certified image consultant, which if you can see her on camera right now, you'll see why she's absolutely beautiful. She's also a year round golfer, living kidney donor and active kidney advocate. Thank you so much for joining us today. 

Debbie Lundberg  0:45  
You're welcome, Danielle. Thanks for having me in. In it was exciting. You said that about the kidney choice. It's a kindness advocate. So we like it kidney kindness, they all go together. Yes, that's right kindness act of it. So tell us you know, you've had such an incredible career journey. And you are a highly recognized speaker on leadership development and remote working and being an advocate for being a performance and having ultimate performance. Tell us a little bit about your career journey. 

Absolutely, Danielle, it. While it may sound like a really long journey, it's a really quick story with a few paths that led me here today. So I'm grateful to be here. Believe it or not, even an undergrad at the University of Michigan, I was really torn between a business focus in teaching. And I'm not ashamed to admit that business went out for the potential that I realized of lifestyle and I I really value and appreciate teachers. And I admit that, that that that allure of business pulled me that way. And yet teaching and training and development were never far from my heart and soul. So it's not really surprising that even though I had a 14 year career in the auto industry, and then gently trained with a world renowned training organization, everywhere I lived throughout the US, coming together with presenting powerfully over 15 years ago, and really having the opportunity to take all that wonderful experience, and then bring my my ideas, my my books in that learning and, and bringing it to individuals and organizations. It just really came together so that the business side and the teaching and the development, married beautifully. And I couldn't be happier that I get to do this. 

Danielle Cobo  2:35  
Oh, yeah. I mean, that's really the perfect combination that you get to do both. Yeah, but you I always say it's incredible experience when you're able to create your dream job. And really, you've got it. So our life has changed pretty drastically, I would say over the past couple years through this pandemic, and really navigating through this. And a lot of us have transition from either going into an office or even if you've worked remotely for years, we're not going to our national sales meetings live and things like that. So what does it mean to be a remote work, Rockstar? 

Debbie Lundberg  3:16  
Well, often, sadly, people thought remote work was like getting away with something like you, oh, you get to work remotely, or you're doing you're doing that we and really the pandemic allowed us to see that it's a viable option to work remotely to be productive. I will tell you though, Danielle, and for your listeners, remote workers are in remote work rockstars in particular, are made not born. And what that means is, it's not necessarily a natural way for many people to engage at first it seems fun, or at first it seemed like a minor inconvenience whichever side of that, that that perspective, people were on it to be a remote work Rockstar really means that you are not only embracing the fact that number one it is not work from home. And I know a lot of people will not be happy that I say that. But I can certainly share the logic behind it. And also that you dedicate some space and you really think about you're working when you're working and you're not working when you're away from your work so that you don't get them blending so much that you reach burnout. And so the difference in a remote work burnout and a remote work Rockstar is really knowing respecting honoring the boundaries that you put in place. And I'm not saying it's easy. I will tell you some simple tips if you want those.

Danielle Cobo  4:42  
Absolutely because you know what, I've always worked remotely. I've always been in sales and so I've never I've never gotten into an office nothing I think about I've never gotten into my office my entire career. And but yeah, it's really easy to blend, working from home and then being at home. It's easy to check your email throughout the day. It's hard.

I think one of the hardest challenges when you work remotely is truly shutting it off. Because it's not as though you physically leave an office to say, okay, my computer staying there, or my work phone staying there. So I'd love to hear your tips. What are some tips that you have for people or working remotely? 

Debbie Lundberg  5:19  
Yeah, absolutely. So so that is part of the reason the number one tip is is what you're doing, call it working remotely. Because when we say work from home, where even verbally blending home and work, and what we're starting to do is either reinforce these unfortunate biases that people had from the past, oh, if you're at home, you're not really working, which isn't true. Or to ourselves, we're saying, My home is my work, and my work is my home. So when we say remote work, or working distance working, or hybrid, if you do it sometimes, and today I'm working remotely, it really is a small and powerful change to that dynamic of how we perceive it. COVID-19, lockdown sent more people remote than ever. And even in March of 2021, when when we were a year into the pandemic, nearly six and 10 working adults in America, we're still working remotely. So we know that so many people are interested in it. Now not everyone loves it. And I get that because when I speak on it something we're like, I don't like it. So there are some benefits, certainly on the environment on stress levels for some people, for others, it's not. So if we think about tips and tools for how to work remotely. Number one is is what I shared about calling it remote work. Secondly, is really get set up remotely, you hinted toward that about we're not leaving an office. And yet we can create that environment. I mean, I work with people in some states and some cities where their entire apartment is 420 square feet, and it's a lovely place where they are. And they'll say, quote, unquote, I can't Deb and I'll say you can. And what you want to do is if there's a door shut it, if there's not a door, then close everything down, if there's not a closed down, per se, put a put a blanket a box, a sheet, something over it. And if you have kids, let them be involved in the way that you have a sign that you're in a meeting or that you make that box over your computer. So they understand and it's not like That's strange. So set that boundary of the turning it off. 

Much like you I worked most of my career not in my executive role in my regional management role, but the majority of my career remotely. And by doing things incorrectly, I learned a lot of ways to do it properly, and then get set up remotely don't You don't want that laptop on your on your lap or in your bed? Goodness, Forbid, no, no, no, thinking it's consistently temporary, where we are blending the words remote with temporary and in remote can be permanent or temporary. And yet, we are most productive when we are in a good environment. So I have a whole list of those and and I'm certainly happy to send you links to articles where where I list those. One of them though, is a really comfortable chair, good lighting, and, and, and hydration close to you so that you're feeling good about the environment that you're in as opposed to that temporary mindset. And also set those expectations I I hinted toward that that every day if there's somebody else in your home where you are remotely or in in and that is in your home, you might say to have you said that work from home? Well, it's a home, you're working remotely. And you can have a quick power out if it's your spouse, or partner or friend or parents or children and say here's what's happening today. And these are the hours and this sign will be out and then reappear and take your breaks like you would in an office environment. And what that does is it takes away that sense of the Zoom gloom and the the that weight on you. So honoring yourself with the timing and the movement in the breaks is very important too. So I could go on and on. The last one I'll say is really master your mindset, which can sound a little woohoo. But really think about that. You're grateful for where you are for the work you have and position yourself instead of getting through it. Think about doing and being your best because that's what you have that day. And I get that sometimes people roll their eyes a little bit. Remember if you if you are grateful that you can work remotely and that you do have the work to do and that you're doing Your best because you are one of the best that that set yourself up for success.

Danielle Cobo  10:07  
Yes, it's interesting, you talk about creating your space. And I think about I'm like looking around at my office and one of the first things I do, when I move, I've moved 23 times and in in my lifetime, so so far at least. And the first thing I do is I set up my office, I you know, I like to have my dual screen monitors, I always say it's, it's like Central Command, my office, got to have a comfy chair. And also creating a space that looks nice, you know, having a decorative, incorporating some live plans to just bring it life. And also, it's interesting, I have four year old twins. And so it's really easy for them to like knock at the door. And so I have curtains blocking it, so they can't see in because their windows. And then there's times where my kids kind of do come in because maybe they're maybe they are I'm working late or something along those something happens, right nanny has to leave early, but I have specific toys in my room that they only get to play with when they're in my office. So it's kind of like something special. Yeah, but just creating that little workspace that's separate from your house. And also, like you said, shutting the door, definitely a big advocate of that. And some people, if what you can use is your kitchen table, then during that time, don't eat at that table during the work hours, or move everything and move it back. And people say well, that's a pain. Well, that physical moving of it. And and respecting the space for the dining experience. And then moving it back does give you relief from that work being present in everything you do. And so until you do it and create that habit, you won't realize the benefits, it'll seem like added effort when in fact, it's added relief. I want to add to that, too. It's also when you're talking about removing you know that space and sending it different areas. I also want to add having a transitional period. Because if you go straight from in, you know straight from your home office, and then you go straight into cooking dinner and taking care of the kids, whatever is going on in the home environment. It can feel like chaos, sometimes you can just feel rushed, like you're going from one step to the next. So one of the things that I do is, I have an hour transitional period, my kids and I go on a walk every single day. So it's getting outside getting fresh air gives me an opportunity to kind of brain dump all the stuff that happened at work, and transitions my mind into enjoying family time. Mm hmm. Very smart. We do similar my husband, I play with our dogs in the room that we don't do any work. There's no television, there's nothing in it, it really becomes that that transitional space. You're right. So where do you see remote work evolving in the future? Because I from what we're seeing and the feedback that we're hearing from people is they like the option like a lot of people are really starting to enjoy working remotely or at least have the option to do it. So where do you see it going in the future?

Debbie Lundberg  13:19  
Well, in the future, we will have remote work options that are not as much of an exception, they're more the rule. So in 2022, when we're recording this 16% of companies in the world are 100% remote. And the 44% still don't quote unquote, allow remote work. Now I get that if you're a pharmacist if you are on the line. I mean, there are certain things, of course that that are really human labor intensive. So it's not that we would ever anticipate 100%. But what you'll what you'll see is upwards of 70 to 80, depending on what surveys you look at, have workers say that they feel they're more most productive when working from home. So the future is that. Remember, if you are in a position to offer remote work, it is not necessarily a reward anymore. That seems like what would happen in the past, certainly before 2010. And then, as we noticed in the last 10 years, the last 12 years, there was more toward remote work. And likely in the next three or four that realistically you'll see up to 30% 40% even in the United States who are offering at least some if not all, if possible of remote options. What's happening Danielle is companies are are starting to trust more and when I say companies, I mean companies are made up of people. So people are trusting that work is getting done. We've seen the success through sometimes the perception of the forced remote work, that productivity can happen Now, the caveat is a lot of people were tremendously productive during the pandemic, because of that perception, it was going to be limited. So people started piling on and proving themselves, it's not a pace that is maintainable for a really healthy and health minded and human being in in good health. So the transition of a lot of remote work is also adjusting those expectations, not starting at 630 in that timezone and ending at eight o'clock every day, because, number one, there are other options out there for remote work. And number two, it is it doesn't serve us as an empathetic leadership style. So remote work will continue as an option where it is remote work will be a reason people leave organizations or join other organizations, depending on which side they're on. And we'll see that remote work will be about efficiency instead of hours. 

Danielle Cobo  16:00  
I like how you talked about setting the time limit on the hours too, because it's, it's really, especially if you're working in multiple time zones, it's easy, just kind of extend and go go. And the reality is, is works always gonna be there, there's nothing you're gonna accomplish everything that day. So as long as you know, you really wake up in the morning and I always say there's a book called keep the frog, right, identify the one thing you don't want to do do it right away, figure out what are the three productive things you're going to do that day focus on that. And then one of the things I do is I have a timer. So I look at my clock, I know if I'm going to end my day by a certain hour. And I put a timestamp on it or I put a timestamp on some of my tasks, it helps me stay focused in those areas so that I get it done and not get distracted by other things that are going on because it can sometimes distracting working remotely. 

Debbie Lundberg  16:55  
It can I mean, when you look at remote work and statistics about how people feel about it, loneliness, not being able to unplug and the lack of collaboration are some of the biggest struggles that people have with working remotely. So when we set those boundaries or those parameters, if you don't like that, or those guidelines for how to really embrace remote work, I tell people live live by your calendar to empower you not restrict you. So I set everything in my calendar at the beginning of the day, put in a lot of a lot of I mean up to 1012 alarms. And that may seem alarming, no pun intended. But the reality is, when that goes off two minutes before the time I'm with you, if I'm working on a task, then I complete that and I'm prepared or five minutes before so that I can take a stretch and get some water, then if we are not really appreciating and respecting our time who's going to.

Danielle Cobo  17:57  
Yeah, I like how you put times on that. And one of the things I've learned too, is creating space within your calendar and scheduling time with for yourself. So I call my moments of clarity, because one of the mistakes I've made throughout my career is putting too many things on my calendar at once. And so I've actually set parameters where you know, if somebody goes to schedule a time with me, there's buffers of an hour in between each person so it's get a snack or the restroom, get your water, you know, and kind of just give your mind a clarity moment. If we're go, go, go go go all the time. It really doesn't serve us in our effectiveness. 

Debbie Lundberg  18:35  
It doesn't, it really doesn't. And people think oh, I'm so good at it and look how great I am. The other the other part that some people find really surprising is a nap can be tremendously powerful. A walk can be great and I've had clients say if I get told to take another walk, I'm going to screen the other at the other end sometimes it's rest your body and your mind and sometimes it's move your body in your mind and get out of that environment. Those those quick this quick naps I mean other experts on remote work, we collaborate and, and a lot of us agreed that that 15 minute nap that you've scheduled for yourself, you're not sneaking it, there's nothing wrong with it that is reinvigorating yourself. If you were in an office, you might go talk for 10 minutes with a colleague or go down to the cafeteria and get a soda or water or something and you don't realize that you spend that amount of time so afford yourself that without guilt or explanation. prioritize it. 

Danielle Cobo  19:38  
Yes, it's interesting. You're talking about naps and taking breaks and walking. So one of the things is there a way to do both and right there's some times where you go for a walk to just kind of clear your mind and things like that. Another time might be doing some of your calls. While you're going for a walk, because the benefit of that is, it's easy when you're doing calls on the phone, you get distracted by emails popping up or, or, you know, searching the web, things like that. But maybe sometimes taking your calls, if you're gonna have a one on one call with somebody or a conference call, putting earplugs in and enjoying a walk while you do it, and how you can focus more, it's about working smarter, not harder. You know, what can you do? You're both and so, last question. I feel like I can talk to you for hours because you just have so many great nuggets. You are an emotional intelligence trainer. Okay, you talk about emotional intelligence. So what is EQ emotional talents? And how does it influence our decisions specifically with adapting to the new ways that we're doing business and working remotely? Yes, well, EQ emotional quotient is a lot of times people. 

Debbie Lundberg  20:54  
So what exactly is that, right? So we hear emotional intelligence is often ei EQ, and I'm certified in EQI, 2.0. And what that is, is the emotional quotient is how do we compare against others not with how emotional we are like I do like to tell people this is not about how emotional we are, it's about how we are able to identify and relate to emotional states and emotional circumstances within ourselves in particular, and then the relatability to others. So that's the idea. So a score on an emotional quotient or EQ, test, so to speak, which I tell people, it's not really testing you, it's more of a survey or the way that that you've scale where you are right now, that's a data point, the application is your emotional intelligence itself. So the beauty of it is our IQ, that quotient of our intellect is really set, usually by 17, or 18 years old. And unless we unfortunately have some sort of brain trauma, it doesn't change. It doesn't typically grow much, though, after that point, where the wonderful news is emotional quotient that can grow by the application of emotional intelligence throughout our lives used to be thought that around 40, it stopped and around 50. Really, there's a lot of theorists now who believe that as long as we are working toward it, and this adaptability, as you were saying, then we are able to positively grow that emotional intelligence. So we look at self perception, self expression, our interpersonal abilities, decision making, and stress management, Danielle, and those five areas are all around and within us. And so as we really look at that, like if we say, if my self perception, if I really have respect and self regard for myself, I know my strengths, and I'm aware of my emotions, then I'm adaptable, because I may choose to remove myself, I may choose to speak up. And that self expression in our emotional expressions are assertiveness than our independence, am I able to stand on my own and express my thoughts without it being detrimental if others don't agree? So that aspect of adaptability is saying, It's okay, if others don't agree. And if I'm on a team, or the leader of a team, I'm going to move forward with what that consensus decision was and not sabotage it behind the scenes or after the fact like, what wasn't my decision. So it's, it's really moving forward. And on an interpersonal level, it's developing those relationships, and knowing that they may be strong at points and not as strong or as important and really still valuing the way those impact us. So that decision making in this adaptable world, especially remotely, knowing that it's important to realize your presence may not be as acknowledged and still making your contribution without overdoing it. Which leads well to stress management, that if we are flexible, and have a stress tolerance, and we have a belief in our optimism, that even though we know everything won't go perfectly, we know that we can get through and with learning, then that proves adaptable as well. So if we really think about all of those aspects as emotional intelligence, we come to any situation with a self esteem with an empathy and with a willingness to listen and learn. That will drive us toward the change that is either put on us like the pandemic or that we want to make happen because of where we are in our careers or our businesses. 

Danielle Cobo  24:47  
And not something I've experienced firsthand, doing reading the book, doing the exercises. I've had my first assessment. I did a lot of the exercises and was able to increase my score, because it's a matter of learning and putting it in action as well. So I've experienced it firsthand. That is possible. Wonderful. Good for you. Yeah. So. So what are the I mean, there's so many valuable things that you've shared with us today. What are three takeaways you want our listeners to take away from our conversation? 

Debbie Lundberg  25:20  
Yes, well, since since you are so so open to all of the ideas and remote, I'll share three ideas that we didn't talk a lot about. And that will give a bit of a bonus for for everybody to take away. Number one, battle past busy. Don't ask people if they're busy. Don't say that you're busy. Don't encourage busyness, focus instead on capacity, and productivity. Remember, no is a complete sentence. And there's no award for being the busiest. So if you get rid of busy, you allow the conversations to really be productive. That's number one. Number two, strive to be your best not to compete with others or to be right or to get your way. Really decide what's the best for people in situations. And when you want the best outcome, you can be your best because you're that's your ultimate goal. And number three, be kind of in other words, know yourself, that's the K I include others sincerely. And I say nudge past nice and really have that conversation that's real. India's do something bigger than yourself, because we don't have enough kindness in the world. And kindness doesn't mean we're soft, or that we don't step up, it means that we're kind to ourselves and others. So those are the three I'd leave you with. 

Danielle Cobo  26:37  
Oh, my goodness, so much to take away from today. Well, I will include in the show notes, I will include the links to all of Debbie's books, as well as some of the books that we describe. It sounds like she's going to be leaving us with some studies as well that she spoke to. So thank you so much, Debbie, for joining us today. We really appreciate it. You're welcome Daniel, what a pleasure. I love listening to your other guests. And I've learned so much along the way. So I appreciate being included. Thank you. Well, thank you for tuning into today's episode. You know, if you enjoyed today's episode, please write a review, comment and share with others as well this this podcast is really designed designed to empower women to have a thriving career and abundant life and each week. I bring on guests to empower you with those tools to do it. So thank you for joining in and create an intentional day.