Remote work and working from home are gaining traction in the mainstream workforce due to the recent international crisis’.  Previously this work style was labelled as unconventional. Still, due to the recent shove over the cliff, work and the way it is managed had to be reimagined for business to stay afloat. 

Now, it looks like remote working is going to be the new normal for many people worldwide.

There is still an optics problem with remote work.  Some businesses and sectors see the remote worker as lazy.  When, in fact, there is evidence to prove that productivity increases, along with company profits, when workers go remote.

Despite these findings, remote workers may still face stigma associated with working from home.  Although some employers understand the benefits, some may even feel they need to micromanage to ensure you perform adequately. 

If you are, or about to start working remotely, you may need a few ideas to help your employer notice your valuable contribution.  Here are some tips to help smooth that transition.

Track Everything

While it isn’t feasible to continually check in to prove yourself – because that would be wasting your time – it is a good idea to have a record of your work.  It allows you to show a quantifiable value of the hours you spend.  There are many ways to do this.  Your team may have a platform such as Slack they use or apps such as Toggl.

Utilise the Position

As a remote worker, you have a unique position to analyse how your company works.  Because you are not physically present for face-to-face conversations, you can find the weak points in the communication chains. 

You also have the opportunity to discover streamlined processes to reduce the clarification needed for the remote worker.  Helping the organisation improve workplace efficiency.

When you are a remote worker from a different time zone, you can use the company’s typical downtime to your advantage.  If there is a looming deadline that needs to be rushed, your different schedule can feel like extra hours.  This helps the team perceive someone is working ‘around the clock’ on the critical projects.

Communicate……constantly

For you to do your job to the best of your ability, you need to be able to contact management and other team members for clarification, meetings and necessary collaboration.  And this contact needs to be open and honest.

Utilising messaging tools like Slack can avoid the slowness of email when you need quick clarification.  But remember, email has its purposes.  Often to make sure longer documents and critical reviews or projects are not missed.  In addition, having a way to join team meetings through video conferencing such as Zoom is essential.  Weekly or even daily conversations with your supervisors should be scheduled into your calendar.

Know Your Worth to the Company

You may be the ideal remote worker and a productive member of your team, but you need to know your worth.  Sometimes your manager or supervisor is not ready to accept your abilities.  They may underutilise you by overwhelming you with meaningless projects or not giving you adequate work.  You must take a stand.

It may necessitate a little extra effort to push past their resistance and come to an understanding that benefits both you and the company.  Remember, some sectors still see this type of work as having inherent special privileges, even though it may not be a true reflection of the situation.

The tips above can help manage the shift to remote working. At the end of the day, though, you will need to figure out a schedule and arrangement that suits you, as it is definitely not a traditional, one size fits all approach to work.

Do you have any experience as a remote worker?  What remote worker tips have you learnt that you would like to pass on to others? Let us know.

Categories: Remote Work

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