01732 759725 18 WORKPLACE Carla Barker, Northern Cluster Marketing Manager at Kodak Alaris, picks the tools she uses every day and couldn’t do her job without I couldn’t do my job without... Also, I’m very particular about the mug too. I don’t like china cups; I don’t like thick ones and I don’t like mugs that are so small you only get one mouthful of tea. I like my tall, simple Starbucks mug. Enough tea to keep me going for a while, and the perfect size for two sugars and a dash of milk. e Laughter I’ve done hybrid working for years now, and although I love the flexibility it gives me, sometimes it can be isolating, and lonely. I’m definitely a people person and feel that I connect with a vast mix of people, but sometimes when I go a few days without really speaking to anyone in person or even on a video call, I can get a little deflated. The best way to cure that is laughter. Whether it’s the jokes I have with my manager, the funny comments from my team, or even just watching some rubbish video on social media, I feel that laughter keeps me lifted and pushes me through the tough times. r Support from others For me, this is essential in doing my job. Knowing people are there to guide you, to share ideas and opinions, to openly feedback and to have your back when you need them to, is so important to me. I’ve worked in great teams, and I’ve also worked in toxic teams – and by far the best experiences I’ve had and where I’ve achieved the most is where I’ve felt like I’ve been supported and empowered to do my job. q A classic black BIC biro I must have tried hundreds of pens over the years. Fancy ones, free ones, ‘accidentally picked up’ ones – but for me, nothing beats the classic black BIC biro. Smooth, lightweight, cost-effective and always reliable, (which is essential when you scribble as many notes as I do!). Also, nobody wants to nick them! w A cup of tea (in a particular mug) I am a creature of habit (mainly) – and after I do the nursery run, I go home and put the kettle on. It’s not that I couldn’t start my day without caffeine (although it certainly helps), but I just find it gives me that five minutes of breathing space before I turn my laptop on and get into work-mode. t The occasional lunchtime nap I’m a working mum of a two-and-ahalf-year-old. Sometimes I need a nap. Personally, I feel refreshed and ready to take on my next task, but I know this doesn’t work for everyone. I’m also fortunate enough to be able to fall asleep pretty much anywhere. So, if I’ve had a tough night, I don’t feel 100%, or I’ve taken time out for a breather – I find that sometimes that little 20 minutes (sometimes 45, I’m not going to lie) are the difference between a challenging day and a productive one. y A small, lightweight laptop I have enough stuff in my work bag already without having to carry around a huge, heavy laptop with me every day. Also, being petite means that these big laptops actually make things harder. The keys are further apart, the mouse pad is the size of my hand, and the screen is so big I feel like I’m using two screens. I also can’t stand standalone keyboards, don’t ask me why, but I just don’t get on with them – so the laptop keypad is a big deal. I typically work on a Microsoft Surface Pro, but my work laptop is a 13” Dell, and I love it. Carla Barker
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDUxNDM=