By Shiela Mie Legaspi, President — Cyberbacker
It’s an understatement to say remote jobs remain popular. According to statistics, 87 percent of job seekers looked for hybrid or completely remote positions in 2022. The number of remote work positions is also projected to increase, with Upwork estimating that more than 32 million Americans — about 22 percent of all US employees — will work remotely by 2025.
Yet remote positions pose their own challenges. In particular, it can be difficult for remote workers’ contributions to stand out when they aren’t physically present in the office. Remote leadership skills and virtual teamwork techniques can, however, boost their visibility.
No matter where you might be, the following remote career growth tips will ensure your teammates understand the vital role you play at work.
What challenges do remote workers face?
The truth is that remote workers experience discrimination in the workplace. Studies have found that business leaders often have a “proximity bias,” meaning they value team members who are physically closer to them more than those who are farther away, regardless of the actual value those employees might contribute to their joint enterprise.
This bias causes people who work remotely to receive 31 percent fewer promotions than those who work in person at the office.
Many remote workers are aware of this bias. The results of a survey published in Harvard Business Review demonstrated that, when people work away from the office, they feel they are not treated equally as their in-office peers, or may even feel like they are mistreated, left out, or being talked about negatively behind their backs. Higher levels of remote employees also report changes being made to projects without warning.
Moreover, according to Buffer’s State of Remote Work 2023 report, 28 percent of remote workers say growing their careers is more difficult for them than for their in-person colleagues.
Still, remote work remains popular. According to Buffer’s survey, 98 percent of survey participants want the option to work remotely at least part-time for the rest of their careers. This is the same percentage that would recommend remote work to others.
Why? Let’s count the ways.
Why people love working remotely
Ninety-one percent of the Buffer survey’s respondents say they have had a positive experience with remote work. Conversely, only 1 percent characterized their remote work experiences as negative.
In particular, remote employees value the flexibility and freedom of working from home. The Buffer survey found that the biggest advantage people perceive in remote work is the flexibility in determining how to spend their time. This was closely followed by 19 percent, who appreciate the flexibility in where they can live. For 13 percent, choosing where they work was the biggest benefit. Remote workers also dislike unnecessarily wasting time in transit to the office — 12 percent said their top reason was “I have more time because I don’t commute.”
Despite the challenges, remote work is here to stay. That’s why it’s important for anyone interested in working remotely to master effective virtual communication and other virtual teamwork techniques.
Communicate frequently and build relationships
The first way remote workers can increase their visibility is to communicate frequently. While you might not be able to walk over to someone’s office and wave hello when you are in a different time zone, you can register your active engagement and friendship in other ways.
Toward that end, remote workers should respond to emails in a timely fashion. Even if you don’t know the answer to a question yet, it’s essential to acknowledge that you received the email and are working on the issue. A simple message to this effect can go a long way in soothing any concerns the other party might have.
In addition, remote workers should take the initiative to reach out to the rest of their team regularly. Many workplaces today utilize online messaging platforms like Slack, which enable coworkers to ask questions, provide support, and even just joke around. By reacting to others’ posts, providing comments, or posting their own messages, remote workers can participate in their team’s internal conversations — both formal and informal.
Another idea is to consider scheduling virtual coffee breaks or other team-building activities to further build your connections. Similarly, it’s possible to schedule video conferences where team members ignore each other and focus on their individual work for a given block of time, checking in with each other only during breaks or afterward to report how their progress has gone.
This kind of working-alone-while-together accountability group can help people feel supported and less isolated. Think of it as the virtual equivalent of studying at a coffee shop with a friend.
Demonstrate engagement in video conferences
Many workplaces also hold staff meetings on video conferencing platforms, which constitute another opportunity for remote workers to signal their presence and enthusiasm. Consider logging on a few minutes early so you can chat with your colleagues casually, and share personal experiences so you can get to know them better beyond just work-related topics. Doing this makes it possible to build authentic friendships with those you may never have even met in person.
Don’t forget to come to meetings prepared with ideas, insights, and questions. During the meeting itself, push yourself to speak up and make contributions, and don’t be afraid to showcase your expertise. The important thing is to make meaningful contributions that will highlight you as a valuable member of the team. If you have a question, don’t hesitate to ask it. When your coworkers see you engaging actively on these calls, it creates a positive impression, and they understand your commitment to the organization’s mission.
Be reliable and document your progress
To make a good impression, consistently turn your deliverables in on time. When your coworkers can see that you get your work done, any fears they may have had about that score will be relieved, and they will trust you to get your tasks done in the future.
It is also important to manage your deliverables transparently by providing updates on your work progress. If your coworkers see your work advancing steadily, they will be more inclined to perceive you as reliable and professional.
If your business or organization uses task management software, this can be as easy as adding additional subtasks to larger projects and checking them off as they have been accomplished. Attaching any relevant files or URLs can also help your team members feel like they always know what you are doing and can check in on your progress at all times, but doing this also protects you. If a problem emerges on your end, you can point your team members to the foundation you already put into place and ask them to pick up where you left off.
Proactive communication is also essential. When different time zones are at play, it becomes crucial to sense potential issues and resolve them well in advance. Otherwise, minor problems can become full-blown crises simply because people’s working hours differ. In particular, if anything is confusing, it’s essential to ask for clarification as soon as possible so that work can proceed without a hitch.
Being recognized as a high performer at work requires continual improvement and the willingness to exceed expectations. That’s why seeking feedback from your supervisors and coworkers is also vital. When you show your willingness to accept constructive criticism, the rest of your team will respect you and gain an appreciation for your dedication.
Achieve professional success
Making a good impression at work might be different for those far away from the office, but there are still many ways to stand out. Communicating frequently, building relationships, being proactive, delivering results consistently, participating actively in meetings, and seeking feedback can all help you gain visibility and recognition in the workplace. In these ways, you can achieve greater and greater professional success as a remote employee.
About the Author: Shiela Mie Legaspi is an organizational development expert and the President of Cyberbacker, the leading provider of world-class administrative support and virtual assistant services from anywhere in the world to anyone in the world.