Working from home or from a remote location is becoming a trend and it is here to stay. A vast majority of companies have started adopting remote work. According to remote work statistics, remote workers are not only more productive but they are also happier and satisfied. As a remote worker, you have a lot of flexibility and creative freedom.
Remote work also means you have to be very responsible and prove yourself as a worthy remote worker. You should also know when to unplug as most remote workers struggle when it comes to turning off their computers while working remotely. Working remotely is becoming more and more common these days, but it also poses unique challenges to managers, who can’t always see what their employees are working on.
In this article, AntiDos will highlight seven ways you can use to prove yourself as an asset during remote work.
7 Ways To Prove Yourself As Remote Worker
Here are seven ways you can use it to make an impact even while working remotely.
1. Prioritize Relationship Building
When you are working in a traditional office environment, it is much easier to build a rapport. Sadly, this is not the case while working from home. Focus on building new personal and professional relationships and improving existing relationships. Even though this might be easier said than done while working remotely, the effort you put into relationship building will pay rich dividends in the long run. Business leaders should also spend more time in understanding the needs of their teams in order to manage them effectively.
2. Be Present
Just because your team is working remotely does not mean that you should stay disconnected with them. Avoid making them feel isolated and lonely as it can have a negative impact on their productivity. Make sure you are always there and try to be as responsive as possible. This will make it easy for your remote workers to communicate with you. The more accessible you are as a leader, the better it will be for your remote workers as they can easily share everything with you.
Clearly communicate working hours and meeting times so you can set boundaries and prevent your remote workers from burnout and work related stress. Yes, you will get tons of emails and notifications when you make yourself accessible but responding to these emails and notifications can enable your remote team to produce best results.
When you are hard to reach as a leader due to excessive layers of organization hierarchy, your employees’ voices never reach you and get drowned. This can demotivate them and leave a bad taste in their mouths. They feel undervalued and demoralized. As a manager or team lead, you don’t want your remote workers to feel like that because it can have a negative impact on their productivity.
3. Conduct Stand Up Meetings Virtually
Stand up meetings are an integral part of a routine work day. Since some of your employees are working from home while others are working in a traditional office environment, it is important to find an alternative to stand up meetings. The best way to replace in person stand up meetings is to conduct it virtually by using communication and video conferencing tools. It will not only make it convenient for all the team members to participate but also help you discuss core objectives as well as accountability.
4. Highlight The Strengths of Remote Workers
When you are working in an office, managers set different expectations as compared to remote workers. Meeting such expectations in a remote environment is not easy. You need to be able to work independently as a remote worker. Your objective should be to showcase your talents and skills so others know what type of employee you are. You need to be able to overcome some of the challenges that might come your way. Navigating through remote work challenges might seem like a daunting task at first but it is crucial to succeed as a remote worker.
5. Go The Extra Mile
What really set you apart from other remote workers? That is the question your managers will ask you. You need to have something in your arsenal that proves that you are different. When you go the extra mile while working remotely, it sends a clear message that you are serious and willing to contribute to the greater good of the organziation. This will create a positive image about you in the mind of your managers and they will start trusting you more. Soon, you will get new roles and more responsibilities just because of this trust and credibility you have built by going the extra mile while working remotely.
6.Virtual Networking
Just like stand up meetings, another thing you will miss while working remotely will be networking opportunities. This does not mean that you should be unaware of what’s going on in the company and work in isolation as a remote worker. Thanks to digital communication and collaboration tools, you can still network virtually. Stay in touch with subject matter experts and other employees in your team. It can help you make new friends in the process. Not only that, it can sometimes boost your morale and give you a sense of being a part of a community.
7. Take Regular Feedback
Last but certainly not the least is to take regular feedback. Whether you are an employee who is working remotely or a departmental head, you need to seek feedback. Remote workers should constantly ask for feedback from their supervisor or immediate manager. This will give you a clear picture about your progress as a remote worker. On the flipside, departmental heads should conduct meetings with higher management and other departmental heads to make the right business decisions. This will help both your remote workers and management to improve and guide your organization to the path of success.
How do you prove your worth to your employees while working remotely? Share it with us in the comments section below.