-
Target Test Prep 20% Off Flash Sale is on! Code: FLASH20
Redeem
4 Tips to Stand Out While Working Remotely
You know the saying, “Out of sight, out of mind”? If you’re currently working remotely, do not let that happen to you. These are scary economic times, with unemployment in the U.S. approaching Great Depression-era levels. In this uncertain landscape, make sure your supervisor knows that you are still just as productive and dedicated to your job as you were pre-quarantine.
The key, explains author and time management coach Elizabeth Grace Saunders, is making yourself and your accomplishments more visible to your organization. Saunders recently shared these five tips in Harvard Business Review.
Tip #1 Do Your Work
We’re more than nine months into this whole working from home thing. That means we no longer have many valid excuses for slacking on the job. If your organization needs to make some tough decisions about who to keep around, your performance suddenly matters—a lot.
So, time to ramp up your productivity. Accept new assignments with enthusiasm. Aim to deliver ahead of the deadline, if possible. At this point, managers now expect higher standards of output, Saunders says.
“If you haven’t done so already, put a system in place for keeping track of your tasks and ticking them off, even if your schedule is modified because you have other responsibilities at home,” she suggests.
Tip #2 Toot Your Own Horn
One way to ensure your manager remembers your value is by regularly updating her or him with your latest accomplishments. Many workplace cultures value results-based models to gauge employee accountability. To that end, share a weekly recap with your boss that focuses on progress made and quantifies performance whenever possible.
You don’t want to come off as a braggart, of course. Be judicious about what you share, and always highlight the efforts of the team. The goal, explains Saunders, is making sure your boss knows you’re doing great things, even though they can’t observe your efforts in person.
Tip #3 Help Your Boss
Now more than ever, your boss may need a helping hand but feel reluctant to ask. Due to the pandemic, they may have to juggle homeschooling their children or caring for elderly parents. While you shouldn’t take on extra tasks if it means burnout for you, know that stepping up in ways that make your boss’s life easier can make you an even greater asset to the organization.
Offer to help with extra assignments or take work entirely off of your manager’s plate, Saunders suggests. “This shows that you’re not only someone who gets their work done but also someone who takes initiative.”
Tip #4 Be a Team Player
Strong communication and interpersonal skills are as vital as ever when working remotely. If problems arise, find a solution on your own. Or, at the very least, see how you can help before bringing it up with your supervisor. When the issue is with another colleague, take steps to work things out together if possible, and avoid escalating the problem to involve management.
“During this time, you not only want to be seen as a valuable individual contributor, but also as someone who elevates the entire team,” Saunders says. “Taking this approach to conflict shows that you have the capability to communicate and collaborate.”
Otherwise, your boss may hesitate to put you on a team for fear you won’t play well with others.
Tip #5 Spread Positivity
Between anxiety over COVID-19, the threat of economic collapse, and fights at Starbucks over mask-wearing, there’s a lot of negativity in the air lately. One unexpected casualty of social distancing has been a lack of laughter in our day. That’s why Saunders urges employees to inject more humor and positive energy to their virtual communications.
Kick off meetings by chatting about something funny you saw or a book you’re reading. Adding a social element goes a long way toward replicating the comradery of face-to-face encounters. “Laughter and positive energy draw teams together and make people feel good about being around you,” Saunders says.
In the end, all your efforts to stay busy and positive while working remotely may not save you from a layoff. But, she adds, “it does increase your odds because you’re demonstrating your value to the organization and the people around you.”
***
Did you enjoy this post with tips for standing out while working from home? It originally appeared on the Blacklight, our weekly newsletter for professionals. At the Blacklight, we aim to illuminate with every dispatch that lands in your inbox. If you’re thirsty for guidance to help you slay it at work or as a student and move your goalposts closer, sign up today!
Recent Articles
Archive
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009