The ability to work from home is very enticing for many employees. Gaining back the time lost in a commute, being productive in your pajamas and having the freedom from office distractions can be powerful perks. While there are many positives, telecommuting does have its pitfalls. Remote employees can miss out on subtle but strategic opportunities to enhance their careers. Here are four tips to make sure your remote relationship does not impact your professional development.
[See: The 25 Best Jobs of 2018.]
1. Have a plan. It is easier for a manager to think of in-office employees for a key project or opportunity because they are visible. Make maintaining a top-of-mind status a priority. Schedule proactive “check-ins” with managers and key colleagues regarding your work objectives and inquire about (or pitch) additional ways you can add value. Be clear about the ways you would like to grow and voice your interest in longer-term goals — even if those roles are not currently designed for a remote employee. The extra effort ensures that you stay on the radar and it may land you more interesting, and career-defining, work.
2. Block time. Even the best work intentions can go astray if you don’t minimize distractions. Assess your work priorities and deadlines along with your natural habits and the activities of your household. With those factors in mind, build a daily plan to give yourself the best chance of being productive. For example, if you have three kids that need to leave for school between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. each day, it is best to schedule conference calls for 9:30 a.m. or later. This minimizes the knocking on the office door to ask for a ride to school or to help locate the lost homework. If you have a difficult time focusing on tedious work after lunch, use that time to take a call while you walk around (and maybe fold laundry). You will be more energized and ready to dedicate an hour to reworking the budget once you have stretched your legs.
[See: The 8 Stages of a Winning Job Search.]
3. Be responsive. In-office employees joke about (and may also jealously fear) that remote employees are spending their days watching Netflix and taking their dog to the park. An effective counter to this perception is to be as responsive as you would be if you were in the office. Establish unique alerts for when emails are received from your manager or key colleagues. Make good use of messaging tools like Slack to keep in touch. Look at your email every 30 to 60 minutes (at least) to respond to any messages. Send email responses to ensure others you have seen their request. For example, “I am working on a strategic project with a tight deadline until 4 p.m. today, but wanted you to know I received your message and will respond by close of business today.”
It is also beneficial to proactively communicate to the in-office team if you are under a consuming deadline or if you have a standard pattern for how you block your work for maximum productivity. Of course, confirm with key managers as to what level of communication is preferred, but establishing a framework and keeping in touch can make a significant difference.
4. Don’t let remote work stand in the way of relationships. Face time is key in every relationship. Visit the office regularly for a meeting or status update whenever possible. Leverage virtual “face time” through video chat as an alternative to in-person meetings if needed. “Seeing” someone is a time-tested way to build human connection. In-person meetings also ensure maximum attention. When relationships are only through the phone, it is difficult to know if the participant is truly paying attention.
[See: 10 Ways Social Media Can Help You Land a Job.]
Expand your relationships beyond immediate co-workers — just like you would in an office. Find reasons to connect with colleagues and managers in other teams and groups. Cross-functional collaboration often results in career development and promotions. Don’t fall into the pitfall of limiting your interactions to “need-to-know” co-workers. Instead, leverage volunteer projects, optional task forces or other cross-functional initiatives to expand your network. While it requires more savvy, these activities pay major dividends for career growth.
Career-minded remote employees plan for activities that foster growth in trust and respect for themselves and their work. If you establish your priorities, build a productive work environment and keep an eye toward strategic growth, you can ensure that remote work and career development are not mutually exclusive.
More from U.S. News
Tips for Surviving a Career Transition
Famous CEOs and Executives Share Their Best Career Advice
Success Strategies for Remote Employees originally appeared on usnews.com
