Remote work is a way for companies to hire employees without physically locating them in a specific office. It’s a growing industry, and one that can be beneficial for both employees and employers.
It’s a way for workers to be more productive by eliminating their commute, and it can also help them focus on work in a more relaxing environment.
Self-starter
Being a self-starter is one of the most important qualities that potential employers look for when it comes to remote work. This is because it shows that you can be a hard worker without needing supervision. Having this quality will allow you to work on multiple projects at once and also be flexible with your time when working remotely.
The key to being a self-starter is to be confident in your ability to take charge of a situation and find solutions on your own. This confidence will help you to succeed at your job, even when others don’t support you.
A self-starter also has an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to make change happen in the workplace. It’s often a good idea to communicate your progress and ideas with management as you pursue new projects or improvements for the company. This will ensure that you’re seen as a valuable asset to the team.
Another way to demonstrate your ability to be a self-starter is to get involved in projects and tasks that require a lot of effort. This will show that you have the ambition to complete challenging tasks and that you’re willing to go the extra mile to meet deadlines.
When you’re in the middle of a project, set aside some time to brainstorm and think of ideas to improve it. This will give you a chance to think creatively and solve problems before they become more serious.
You can also take initiative in your work by asking to lead a project or offering to train others. This will show your manager that you’re capable of completing challenging tasks and can be an asset to the team.
Being a self-starter can be difficult, but it’s a skill that you can build on over time. You can begin by identifying your own natural traits and strengths that make you a self-starter. This will help you to understand your own personality and how these traits might affect the way you perform at work. It will also help you to identify areas where you need to develop your skills.
Flexibility
Workplace flexibility is a perk that can make a big difference in retaining workers. Seven in ten workers surveyed by HR software company Zenefits said that flexibility is as important to them as pay and health benefits. Employees who are able to work remotely from anywhere they choose, easily meet their family commitments and pursue hobbies, are more likely to stay with a company longer than those who cannot.
Remote work is also a good way to promote workplace flexibility, because it can encourage people to communicate more effectively with their teams and colleagues. They can use messenger apps and chats to connect and share information, which can be helpful in the workplace and beyond.
But flexible working policies need to be well implemented. This means having a clear, written framework with principles that guide decision-making and expectations for workers. It also means making it easy for employees to understand and apply their policies.
Managing people who work remotely requires a different style of leadership. Leaders need to support their telecommuting team members by using multiple methods of communication, tracking productivity on a daily basis and keeping employees accountable for their work.
The ability to work from home can increase employees’ motivation and reduce stress and anxiety levels. It can also help them feel more connected to their communities and the larger world of work, which can boost performance.
While some companies have successfully implemented flexibility, others have struggled to find a balance. For example, a recent report from Microsoft found that when a team initially moved to remote work in 2020, employees worked an average of four more hours a week, sent more messages at nonstandard times, and spent more time in meetings (albeit shorter ones).
In order for flexibility to be effective, it needs to be accompanied by clear performance expectations, goals and resources to support the new schedule. Moreover, employees need to be aware of the consequences of not meeting those expectations. If someone is falling short, they should be put on a performance improvement plan and assessed for skills, motivation or some other issue that may be preventing them from doing their best work.
Community
One of the major drawbacks of remote work is isolation, so finding ways to create a sense of community can go a long way toward improving employee well-being. Having friends who share similar interests can help you tackle challenges and achieve your goals, while having mentors to guide you along the way can boost your career prospects.
Getting in on the action is easier than ever thanks to a proliferation of social networking apps and websites that cater to remote workers. Some of these sites offer virtual meetups where you can connect with people who live in the same part of the world as you, while others let you organize your own team-wide meet-ups.
Many of these groups have a common purpose, such as sharing tips and tricks for staying healthy while on the road or collaborating on the best travel hacks to make the most of your time abroad. Some, like WiFi Tribe and Outsite, even have social clubs and coworking spaces to keep you connected with others.
The best remote communities are those that take the time to understand their members and what they want out of them. Oftentimes, figuring out what your team members are looking for will be the hardest part of the process, but the rewards are worth the effort.
A great example of this is the WiFi Tribe, a site that provides helpful information on remote living and working, as well as a highly curated community. They have a 24/7 community with members from all over the world who regularly communicate and share advice on topics from where to work remotely to what it’s like to live overseas.
They also partnered with the Harvard Business School to produce an infographic about the most important metrics to measure when it comes to workplace success, including those related to employee engagement and performance. The site notes that remote employees who feel more connected to their colleagues, both in person and online, have higher rates of productivity, happier employees, and lower turnover rates.
Communication
Communication is an essential component of a successful working relationship. When employees are able to communicate effectively, they feel connected and more motivated. It can also help remote teams work more productively and efficiently.
However, there are some common challenges that can occur when it comes to remote work communication. These include:
One of the most important things for remote teams to do is to establish a set of clear guidelines for communication. This includes ensuring that all members of the team understand their responsibility to communicate and keep each other up-to-date with project statuses. It is also important to establish a set of time limits for communicating.
Another challenge that can arise is the lack of a physical connection between employees. This is especially true when team members work in different time zones. This can lead to delayed messages or misinterpreted messages, which isn’t ideal for any company.
The best way to solve this problem is to ensure that all employees have designated tools for both synchronous and asynchronous communication. These should include a video application for synchronous communication and instant messaging applications for asynchronous communications.
In addition to establishing clear communication guidelines, employees should also be encouraged to have more informal conversations with their team members. This will create a sense of community and allow remote team members to feel more included in the company.
This can be done through group discussions, casual chats, and other ways that allow people to get together and share their ideas without being overbearing or micromanaging. It can also be beneficial to have separate chat channels for more informal talk, such as Slack or Google Hangouts.
Similarly, remote employees should be encouraged to schedule meetings with their managers, and it is also a good idea to let them know what times are most convenient for them to connect. These can be very useful when they need to discuss issues with management, or just want a more relaxed atmosphere for conversation.
The shift to remote work has brought a number of challenges that can impact employee performance, but if employees are able to overcome these challenges, they will be able to achieve the goals of their team and company. Effective communication is essential for remote workers, and it can be a great opportunity for managers to boost morale and increase productivity by ensuring that all employees are able to communicate successfully with each other.