Four Essential Skills When Working From Home
Remote work is likely to be around for a long time. Companies are extending their work-from-home policies until at least the end of the year, which shows that this isn’t just a passing fad. Both employees and leaders need to work on developing these four skills to do well and thrive in a remote work environment.
Strong Communication That Can Be Written
The majority of all communication between teams that work in different places is done through writing instead of talking. This means talking via email, Slack, or text message. This is true even if you use the chat feature while on a video call. No matter what platform you use, you need to be able to communicate clearly.
Before you send an email, you should always check the spelling, grammar, and punctuation. You’ll also want to make sure that, depending on who you’re talking to, you use the right level of formality and the right tone. When you send a message to a coworker, you can be less formal than when you talk to your boss. It may be that you want to Obtain Your Doctorate in Organizational Leadership and need to communicate it to your manager. Make sure you re-read your email and put all the needed information.
Collaboration
Working from home doesn’t mean you have to work alone. You will still be part of a team, which means you will work on projects and tasks with other people. Without a place to meet in person, it can be harder to work together.
Communication skills and teamwork go hand in hand since communication is such an important part of working well with others. Find the right mix of video meetings, phone calls, and messages to make sure there is enough communication without it being too much.
Focus
When you work from home, there will always be other things to do. From pets and kids to noise from roommates or neighbors, it’s hard to find a place where you won’t be distracted at all times. Being able to ignore these distractions is a very useful skill.
Block out some of the sights and sounds that are distracting you so you can stay on task. Noise-canceling headphones are great, and having an organized workspace is also very powerful. Remove as much as you can from your space so you can only think about your work. Accept that there will be interruptions and don’t think too much about them when they do happen. Decide if the interruption needs to be dealt with right away or if it can wait, and then quickly get back to work.
Time Management
Having the ability to manage your own time well is a valuable skill that helps you and your employer. When you work from home, no one is watching over your shoulder, and you don’t get the boost you get from knowing your boss could walk by at any time. You have to stay focused on your tasks and make sure you finish everything you’ve been given.
If you have trouble keeping track of your time, you can try apps that help you be more productive and keep track of your time. Set aside certain times of the day to work on one important task at a time during “focus hours.” Don’t let emails or Slack notifications pull you away from your work. Try working in “sprints,” where you work for a set amount of time, then take a short break, and then do it again. Try different things to see what works best for you.
If you perfect these skills, you should become the ultimate remote worker. Give them a try and let us know how you get on.
Yes, managing time can be more difficult when we work from home. If you one of those people who experience this, head to a local cafe or coworking space to work at least twice a week. Just to change the scenery. When we work outside the home, we have a time frame that we have to meet. This is how we do the work on time and don’t delay with tasks.