Remote work does not come naturally for everyone. While some may look at it as freeing, others can feel a little disoriented, especially coming from a WFO situation. To know which camp you fall into, here are my top 5 traits of what I think will make you great at remote working.
You’re a self-starter and self-motivated
A common phrase you utter during job interviews but WFH is where you’ll really know if you can put your word where your mouth is 😏.
One of the perks of working away from everyone else is having the sense of autonomy. No more do you have to worry on managers breathing down your neck to get things done. However, this would mean being able to hold yourself accountable on your committed work.
I’m a big proponent of task tracking. It helps you to plan out your Todos right down to the day, month or even by projects. Be it on screen or going traditional with post-it notes, it helps to see the work that you’re supposed to take up plastered in front of you.
Being able to get things going on your own helps to get the ball rolling (which is also the main idea behind the Pomodoro technique). Once you’ve cleared the first 30 minutes of work, you’ll feel more inclined to continue on for longer!
You’re disciplined with your schedules
You are fickle when it comes to timing, disliking having to spend working hours in unnecessary meetings or be needlessly interrupted during crunch time. You live by a schedule that you keep in your head or have been flaunting to everyone else.
Scheduling your day works wonders to keep your day-to-day organized for sure. However, there is a difference between being disciplined versus being too rigid. Plan things out as a general overview instead of pinpointing every detail to the minute. Plans can change and you’ll have to be agile in adapting to whatever priorities that came up.
This was a learning point for myself as I tend used get super annoyed whenever my strictly curated schedule is interrupted. It detracts those who needed my help which causes a bigger bottleneck in the process flow. Do NOT tie yourself too much to an imaginary, self-imposed standard if it meant shunning people away. This is a balancing act that you’ll need to master if you haven’t.
You can still be a team player when needed
Coming from my second point. You’ll still need to be able to do office talk when needed. This includes occasional catch-ups, small talk, addressing colleagues properly, mindful of everyone else’s work load and also to realize that not everyone will be good at this like you do!
Remote work is not perfect. It also has its flaws and limitations faced differently by different people. As a company member, the target is to build a strong team together, without discriminating anyone. It doesn’t matter if you are the best remote worker in the office when everyone else is operating at a different frequency than you.
Fortunately, this does not mean you are a hindrance, on the contrary actually. If you do find someone who is struggling to adjust to WFH, then a simple gesture of a helping hand can help build a long lasting rapport. And as mentioned in our previous article, it pays to have a positive relationships at work.
You can communicate effectively
You may consider yourself more of an introverted type. Someone that does their due diligence away from others, only to emerge with the game-changing new product that saves the day. Sadly that’s rarely ever the case.
Interactions are still as important as ever, except now it’s being replaced with texts and video. Communicating effectively, concisely and in a timely manner is an essential trait to develop if you haven’t. Again, being part of a team means working as a team – that aspect of work is not something that can be changed anytime soon.
You can be alone, BUT not a loner
There is a distinct difference between the two. Although everyone’s pretty far apart, it doesn’t mean it’s become a one man show. Projects still require team collaboration to complete – the leaner the communication flow, the better.
Apart from impacting performance, human beings are social creatures by nature. Staying disconnected from everyone for long periods of time can take a toll on your mental health. It’s advantageous to be able to deliver results alone, but do not mistake this as a means to be asocial.
Always find the chance to be actively engaging with colleagues. Some days you can be away because you need to hunker down on some important work, but on other days – it’s good to take a step back and check in. There’s a reason isolation cells are a thing in prison!
Are you right for this?
If you have ticked off most if not all of my points here then great! I’m sure you’ll do well in this era of a new norm and beyond. As for myself, after 3 years of working remotely, I don’t think I can ever go back to the long commutes and tiny cubicles. It’s certainly a lifestyle choice that is rewarding granted you do it healthily.
For those who’re currently adjusting, give it some time and hang in there. Just like any skill, it’s something that takes a while to be good at. The great thing is, now you are free to set up your own routines, schedule, timetables and methodologies to help improve yourself in your work instead of following some company’s training regime. Although our articles on WFH can be a guide for you whenever you feel stuck 😉. Your workspace is your playground, time to experiment and find ways for you to develop these 5 core traits!
Leave a comment down below if there are other traits that you think should be at the top of this list!