Those who work remotely often have to put much more effort into making colleagues and superiors see their contribution to the common cause. But remoters can still build a career.
Here are some tips to help you stay productive, demonstrate your importance, and achieve professional success without showing up at the office.
9 ways to succeed while you work from home
1. Organize the workspace
You can only work effectively if the conditions around you are entirely suitable. Having a specially organized place to focus and tune in to work. It must be comfortable, so do not skimp on a good chair and a table where you will feel relaxed. Make sure that your back and neck don’t get tired, your eyes don’t hurt, and so on. After you finish your work, you shouldn’t feel overwhelmed.
2. Set a strict work schedule and stick to it
You need a strict schedule to work from home while not delaying the completion of tasks, not letting the team down, and not stretching the work process from the very morning until late at night.
Decide what time you will start and when you should finish work. Keep to this schedule, only allowing yourself to deviate from it with a perfect reason. This way, you will get used to one routine and increase productivity. However, for this, you will need discipline and self-organization.
3. Tell your family and friends you work without distractions
You need to build clear boundaries if you live with someone, such as a neighbor, girlfriend, or family. Explain to them that the very fact that you are at home does not mean that you can be available from morning to evening at any time.
To work comfortably, it is necessary to establish rules: during what period you should not be distracted, when you have breaks, what conditions should be around you, and so on.
4. Set priorities
It doesn’t matter if you work in the office or from home; you must be able to identify the most important tasks and focus on their fulfillment. This skill is vital to achieving success in professional development.
Learn to distinguish which task will bring you closer to achieving your goal and allow you to solve the problem that has arisen and which one you can postpone for later or delegate to someone else.
5. Stay in touch with supervisors and coworkers
Many people believe working from home can minimize communication with superiors and colleagues. Yes, it can, but there is one significant disadvantage: you risk becoming invisible. If you drop out of communication, no matter how well you cope with your tasks, they will not pay attention to you.
Of course, career growth does not shine for you either; a higher place will be given instead to someone who will constantly be in everyone’s sight. So your task is to keep in touch with your boss and colleagues.
If you want to avoid appearing in the office, it’s not scary since there are chats, messengers, e-mail, video work calls, and so on. Please show up live at least occasionally: attend important events and corporate events, and be present during the resolution of serious issues.
6. Take a regular rest
Often, those who work from home get even more tired than their colleagues from the office. You can spend more time-solving work tasks, get more involved in the process, manage more work, and be in touch 24/7.
It is very tiring, and if almost every day goes like this, you may soon face serious problems such as burnout, chronic stress, anxiety, and so on. It is vital to force yourself to rest regularly. With this measure, you can maintain productivity and overall performance.
7. Invest in professional development
Working remotely, like working in an office, requires constant professional development. So don’t forget to invest in yourself, even if you think you are already doing great with the tasks at hand.
Ask about professional growth opportunities. If a company sends its employees to study or pays for courses, take advantage of this offer. If not, do some self-education.
For example, search the Internet for online courses, attend webinars, follow the latest news in your field, and promptly implement the latest technological developments or acquired knowledge into the workflow.
8. Set goals and track your progress
You need to set goals and track progress so the manager can see your contribution to the company’s development. It is best to voice these goals during calls and inform the team about the tasks you will undertake to achieve the goal.
This approach to work will demonstrate your involvement and show you as a serious professional who works and does not just receive a salary. Taking into account achievements will help you stay motivated and have strong evidence that you are growing and developing.
9. Discuss your achievements
It is best to agree with your supervisor about regular seasons, during which you can discuss upcoming tasks and analyze your work’s results. Ideally, such interaction will take place at least once a week. This way, you can show yourself: share ideas, talk about your progress, and discuss completed tasks.
Direct communication is important. First, it is a great way to get the manager’s feedback and understand how the boss evaluates your work. Second, it is constant contact—this way, you do not let the manager forget about your existence and clearly state all your successes.
