Remote work is a privilege. The ability to earn your living from the comfort of your home or any location in the world is something that wasn’t even conceivable a decade ago. Now, it is normal and accepted practice for companies to offer remote positions.
In the quickly evolving remote space, employers are adapting and adopting new trends and tools to attract talent and maintain company culture, like using a uniform Zoom virtual office background to sustain team and branding identity. As a remote worker, you must learn these trends and tools to make yourself invaluable to your employer. There are several things a remote worker can do to improve their worth to a company.
1. Fluid Communication
One of the most challenging aspects of remote work for employers and employees is communication. The remote work environment is still relatively new, and communication tools are continuing to evolve and adapt to the environment.
Trust is the most challenging thing for any person to give, which includes within the employee-employer relationship. Remote positions force an employer to provide employees with a potentially uncomfortable level of autonomy, which demands trust. As a remote worker, you can help ease the fear and anxiety of a remote workforce by committing to fluid communication, meaning using all communication tools at your disposal to share updates, concerns, questions, and more.
By showing you understand and frequently use communication tools at your disposal, you can increase the level of trust your employer has in you. Also, by using the tools, you show comfort and mastery of the technology, which makes you a valuable asset. Finally, you can help ease any built-in tension in the remote environment by establishing set work and contact hours.
2. Tracking Projects
Part of the concern from employers with a remote workforce is the lack of transparency in assignment progress. While tools are on the rise for project management and tracking, many companies are still behind in adopting such tools and platforms. Many companies are just now getting used to virtual office backgrounds, which enable team unity and employee privacy.
Still, if your company does not have project tracking tools or software, you can help ease any tension by providing frequent updates on your progress. If your employer doesn’t already use weekly meetings, you can suggest them to improve project commitment and transparency. Remote teams must work harder than in-office teams to maintain transparency and meet deadlines.
3. Learning and Development Programs
While knowing how to change Zoom background may put you ahead of some people in your company, you want to focus on making yourself invaluable to your employer. By attending learning and development programs either offered by the company or some other institution, you show initiative. Most employers love it when employees take an interest in professional improvement, especially when it helps the team.
The remote workforce is not going anywhere. If you are a remote worker or want to be, it pays to know how to work in the environment. Employers now more than ever need committed and trustworthy remote workers. Consult a remote work advisor to learn more about being effective in a remote position.
