Remote Career Development: Lauren Howe Of The Social Block On How To Advance and Enhance Your Career When You Are Working Remotely

Communication: If a supervisor or other critical team member is not responsive, it is not as simple as walking to their desk or knocking on an office door. Maintaining great communication practices at work is essential for the success of the remote workplace.

Career development is the ongoing process of choosing, improving, developing, and advancing your career. This involves learning, making decisions, collaboration with others and knowing yourself well enough to be able to continually assess your strengths and weaknesses. This can be challenging enough when you work in an office, but what if you work remotely? How does remote work affect your career development? How do you nurture and advance your career when you are working from home and away from other colleagues? How can you help your employees do this? To address these questions, we started an interview series called “How To Advance and Enhance Your Career When You Are Working Remotely”. As a part of this interview series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lauren Howe.

Lauren Howe is an experienced digital marketing professional and is the Founder of The Social Block. The Social Block is a digital marketing agency offering marketing, social media and SEO services.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. What is your “backstory”?

I grew up in Minnesota and pursued my higher education at Winona State University. During my childhood, I developed a love for reading, art, and creative writing, interests that continue to serve me well in my professional life.

Afterwards, I relocated to Los Angeles for a number of years before eventually settling in Colorado. These relocations have broadened my perspectives and enriched my creative sensibilities, contributing significantly to my professional growth. My diverse experiences have played a pivotal role in shaping my career trajectory, instilling in me a strong commitment to creativity and innovation.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?

Among the highlights of my career was the launch of The Social Block, a digital marketing agency based in Denver. Founding and building The Social Block provided me with a unique opportunity to apply and further develop my diverse skill set in marketing and communications. Through collaborating with a diverse clientele, I’ve had the privilege of expanding my marketing capabilities and gaining invaluable insights into various industries and market dynamics.

It allowed me to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing while fostering meaningful relationships with clients and partners. Each project presented its own set of opportunities and obstacles, driving continuous learning and growth that have shaped my professional trajectory in profound ways.

As I reflect on this experience, I am reminded of the power of innovation, resilience, and collaboration in achieving success in today’s dynamic business environment. The journey with The Social Block has been an exciting adventure, and I look forward to many more exciting opportunities to come.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

It won’t come as a surprise to marketers that a typo is among the biggest mistakes that we have made. While the typo was fortunately a humorous mistake rather than an inappropriate one, it will still not intentional. We learned that we needed to button up our internal content reviews and our approval process prior to publishing any content. Now, we always have multiple eyes on any content before making its way to a client.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

A life quote that I love is this: “In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: It goes on.”

This quote reminds me of the importance of staying ahead of the curve. Things move quickly when it comes to marketing and social media.

Additionally, it reminds me of the importance of taking time to appreciate your relationships, and making the most of your freetime. In a fast-paced industry, work-life balance is critical. In the words of Ferris Bueller, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

What advice would you give to other business leaders to help their employees thrive and avoid burnout?

Burnout is very common in remote environments, where you may have limited points of contact with your employees throughout the week. It is extremely important to keep your finger on the pulse of your business by staying in the loop about employee satisfaction.

Burnout can be reduced by allowing your team to prioritize a healthy work-life balance. If your employees are often working late, working over vacations, holidays, or daily breaks, you should look at redistributing the workload or hiring more people.

Additionally,, a little appreciation can go a long way. Working in environments where employees are dealing with micromanagement, are constantly questioned, and do not feel comfortable advocating for themselves is a surefire way to raise employee turnover.

Ok, let’s jump to the core of our interview. Working remotely can be very different than working with a team that is in front of you. This provides great opportunities but it can also create unique challenges. To begin, can you articulate for our readers a few of the main benefits and opportunities of working remotely?

There are many benefits to working remotely! Working remotely allows employees to complete their work in an environment specifically curated for their productivity. When employees feel comfortable in their workspace, they are likely to see higher productivity rates.

Remote work also allows employees to cut out time that would be otherwise spent on commuting. This time can be used for an energizing morning routine, being more active, taking care of other responsibilities, or spending time with pets and loved ones. Cutting out a commute alone is a massive benefit to many employees.

While the pros to remote work heavily outweigh the cons, there are a few opportunities that come with the territory. With differing leadership styles, it may be difficult for some leaders to adjust to less oversight throughout the day. Remote work can also eliminate “water cooler talk,” which can help teams feel closer.

Overall, the issues that arise with remote work can be easily addressed through scheduled meetings and company activities throughout the year.

Can you articulate for our readers what the five main challenges are regarding working remotely?

1. Prioritizing taking breaks
2. Staying organized
3. Networking with others
4. Access to the necessary technology
5. Maintaining consistent communication

Based on your experience, what can one do to address or redress each of those challenges? Can you give a story or example for each?

1. Taking breaks: When working remotely, it can be a challenge to take the appropriate breaks. This is especially true when days get busy, or workload may have you working late. Remember that taking breaks is your right, and is essential to avoiding burnout. Just like those in an office have a dedicated lunch break, build your breaks into your calendar and stick to them.
2. Staying organized: When you are the only one looking at your desk, it can be all too easy to let things get a little disorganized. Having your desk and computer organized will help you work efficiently, and reduce the likelihood of missing projects or details down the road.
3. Networking: It’s true that networking is a lot easier face-to-face. Be sure to attend local networking events and to reach out to colleagues you may not work with regularly. Connecting with others on LinkedIn is a great way to maintain connections and grow your network.
4. Technology: The wifi and technology you have access to can all impact your day-to-day work. Make sure you have a reliable internet connection and all programs needed for your success. If you are in an area with poor internet connectivity, remote work may not be the best option for you.
5. Communication: If a supervisor or other critical team member is not responsive, it is not as simple as walking to their desk or knocking on an office door. Maintaining great communication practices at work is essential for the success of the remote workplace.

Let’s talk about Career Development. Can you share a few ideas about how you can nurture and advance your career when you are working from home and away from other colleagues?

Even though you are remote, you can still connect with your colleagues and grow your network. I always recommend attending local networking events or meetups to build your local connections.

Can you share a few ideas about how employers or managers can help their teams with career development?

Employers and managers can support their teams’ career development by fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth within the organization. Providing opportunities for skill development through training programs, workshops, and certifications enables employees to expand their knowledge and capabilities. Encouraging open communication and regular feedback sessions allows managers to understand each team member’s career goals and aspirations, tailoring development plans to their individual needs. Additionally, offering mentorship programs or pairing employees with seasoned professionals fosters mentorship and knowledge sharing, facilitating career advancement. Recognizing and rewarding achievements and milestones improves motivation and commitment to professional development. Creating a supportive and inclusive work environment where employees feel valued and empowered to pursue their career aspirations is essential for long-term engagement and retention.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

If I were to inspire a movement tied to marketing, it would be about promoting more empathetic marketing practices. This movement would encourage businesses to prioritize understanding and connecting with their customers on a deeper level, beyond just transactions. By empathizing with customers’ needs, challenges, and aspirations, marketers can create more meaningful and authentic interactions that resonate with their target audience. This approach not only builds stronger relationships and brand loyalty but also contributes to a more empathetic and compassionate business culture overall.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

Visit us online at www.thesocialblock.com or www.linkedin.com/company/the-social-block/.

Thank you for these great insights! We wish you continued success