How to make sure visibility while working remote

Are you working remote or would you like to work remotely?

Then you will definitely find this blog useful for maintaining the visibility while working remote.

Nowadays, remote work or work from home has become a common workplace’s culture trend. According to a researcher’s study on 2018, 70% of people globally work remotely at least once a week. And the demand for remote working is still growing these days.

Many of us would prefer to work from home either partly or fully for various reasons: to take care of our family, to come out of usual work setup, to reduce stress, and for various health reasons or location barriers etc.  Remote working is really a blessing for working mothers who thrust to manage their kids as well shine in their career. And also, owing a big thanks to Technology advancements which made this possible and easier.   

On the other hand, many arguments have been raised against work from home model, stating that whether it improves business productivity or pulls it down..

When analysing both sides, overall it seems to be having many pros rather than cons. Some of the benefits acquired by the employees & employers are:

For Employees:

• Work in flexible hours, no typical 9.00 AM – 5.00 PM job
• Able to balance personal and professional life
• Able to work independently
• Free of office politics
• No need to travel (so, no traffic and no exposure to pollution!)

For Employers:

• Able to recruit and retain skilled employees across the border
• Can manage their resources effectively as the remote workers perform work end-to-end without much support from others
• Cost savings in terms of cutting infrastructure and operational costs (i.e. reducing electricity & internet bills, refreshment bills etc.) Hence, this can also be an effective model for start-up and SMEs who have financial constraints.

On the contrary, working remote is considered as a challenging task at both the ends.

Though many organisations are letting their employees to work remote, there is a hindrance for different reasons. For example, the employers cannot evaluate employees working hours and performance, difficulties in training the employees, lack of communication, data security concerns, communication problem and the focus/concentration of remote worker may be distracted due to household activities and thereby affects the quality of work.

So, the remote worker is under estimated in most of the times while compared with the workers in-office. Also, the achievements of them is unnoticed and unrecognized by the team members at office. These may also result in less compensation.

That is the reason why many of the employees won’t opt this remote work model although required.

However, in my view, it is every employee’s responsibility to break this roadblock and prove their capabilities as well their tendency towards work and organisation.

In this blog, based on my experience, I would like to share some tips to help you to maintain the visibility within your team while working remotely:

1. Improve your availability

This is one of the most significant areas that the remote worker should be focused. Though you have an option to work in flexible hours, try to follow office business hours. Also, try to participate in all work-related discussions/meetings without absence.

It is better to keep updated/communicated beforehand with the colleagues and managers when not available for few hours or days.

Punctuality is also a high requirement to show your presence and commitment.

2. Self-controlled personality

As a remote worker, while working remote from office and working without manager’s supervising, self-control is a mandatory attitude that one should have.

Watching videos, audios, social media blogs and other information that are not related to the work during office hours/while working should be avoided.

Further, taking care of confidentiality of organisational data is highly expected.

This builds trust on you and your integrity and also makes you to work more productive.

3. Keep Communications alive

Keeping your work-related communications regular and updated is also an important factor.

Apart from emails, communications via video and/or audio conferencing over phone, Webex, and Skype etc. are highly recommended to create a personal feel with your colleagues and managers. The regular updates and proper communications make you a perfect communicator.

4. Frequent Office visits

Physical presence plays a major role. The frequent visits to office (if possible) and face-to-face discussions enable the remote worker to reduce the gap and thereby well connects with your team mates.

5. Be a Volunteer

Whether it is in a team meeting or any request individually from any of your colleagues or managers, be the first one to reply/act and jump-in immediately wherever your suggestions or help is required.

Helping voluntarily proves your kindness and dedication towards work.   

6. Self-motivated

Be positive and don’t worry when your work was not noticed or encouraged by your management.

And self-motivation is a necessary requirement as it creates confidence and enables you to love your work and do your work properly (irrespective of any expectations).

Also, don’t wait others to notice and appreciate you for your accomplishments. Instead, ringing/telling your achievements yourselves is the best one.

7. Planning tasks & maintaining timelines

As a remote worker, it is your whole responsibility to plan and prioritise your tasks/works based on timelines in absence of your manager’s guidance and colleagues support. Actually, well-planning denotes the half completion of the work. And the remaining work can be completed effectively by proper execution.

In addition, meeting the project deadlines at crucial hour is very essential. Because it creates big respect on you among your team mates and managers.

8. Sending updates

And the last but not the least is, sending periodic updates to your managers. The best way is tracking your time and the project’s progress on daily basis and send updates to the concerned persons.

In addition, sending the weekly and monthly updates to managers make the management feels that you are keeping up your goals and moving on a right track.

It enables your managers to observe your work performance and productivity.

Further, this provides an opportunity to discuss with managers on regular basis and understand the organization’s requirements which enables you to work accordingly.

Similar to the above, there may be many more ways to maintain visibility while working remotely. I am sure, by following one or more of the tips specified above (as relevant to you), your visibility will be proved/maintained among your colleagues and managers.

Let me conclude with Sir Richard Branson’s comments relating to working remotely: “To successfully work with other people, you have to trust each other. A big part of this is trusting people to get their work done wherever they are, without supervision.”

And of course, it is remote worker’s duty to create and maintain the trust as well as the visibility.