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The past few years have seen many jobs move to a remote working situation. This may have been a reaction to the pandemic, or it could be that tech in your business or with your clients has developed. We are now seeing that some form of remote working is here to stay in one form or another. We have all changed, but we need to sharpen up, even more, to complement the face-to-face meetings with remote. You can develop further by considering the following skills:
Tech Savvy
This one almost goes without saying. Remote working is going to require at least a passing knowledge of technology. It would help if you were comfortable operating a computer and using the internet. If you have some gaps, sign up for some of the local courses to increase your skill levels. You do not need to do everything at once – perhaps start with the simple and easily achievable growth skills first before trying the complex ones. What would they be?
Good Communication Skills
Although you will be missing the classic water-cooler chat, you still need strong communication skills. In some ways, the conversations are even more important when working remotely. You need to properly convey your message through either voice calls or text like emails and instant messaging.
As an example, some of my clients have decided to have a non-work call each week for an hour. The call has no structure or business agenda. There is an invitation for the attendees to go for a walk outside and enjoy some exercise and air. Liberating and incredible for team dynamics
Adaptability
For many of us, remote work is a new experience. Adaptability allows us to adjust to this new reality. It allows us to stay flexible and get used to doing things in an entirely new way.
Focus
Being able to focus is a key skill that remote workers need. You will deal with an entirely new set of distractions when you work from home. You will need to find ways to deal with these distractions and focus on what needs to be done.
Time Management
Time management is important for anyone. It is especially important for remote working, though. You need to prioritize what tasks are most important and direct most of your time there. Keeping a “9-to-5” type schedule is much harder when you can set your own schedule.
Organisation
A cluttered work area will sap your energy and focus. When you work remotely, you are in charge of your workspace. The more organised it is, the more work you will get done. You will also need to keep your emails, work folders, and digital assets organised as well. Perhaps clearing up every evening after you finish work could be a good habit to get into.
Self-Motivated
Working remotely means you won’t have management breathing down your back – or at least they won’t be as present. Since there is often no manager to keep you in check, you will need to be self-motivated to get your tasks done on time.
Emotional Intelligence
Being able to read people is much harder when you work remotely. You can’t always rely on the same visual cues you did while working in the office. Emotional intelligence will help you read situations and respond to them more effectively.
Ability to Disconnect
When your home becomes your remote working workspace, it can be hard to separate the two. It is important to do so, though. You don’t want your life to feel like work all of the time. When you are done for the day, you are done. Enjoy your free time without checking messages or emails constantly. For some thoughts – check out one of our other posts here.
So what can you do now to make a start at getting better at remote working?
- Define a workspace in your home. Where do you think you will get the best work done?
- How are your tech skills? If you feel weak in any particular area, consider getting further training.
- Create a morning routine. Creating a new work from home morning routine is a great way to keep yourself motivated and organised.