{"id":6855,"date":"2020-01-17T14:45:47","date_gmt":"2020-01-17T19:45:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ceros.com\/inspire\/?p=6855"},"modified":"2021-04-21T10:43:28","modified_gmt":"2021-04-21T14:43:28","slug":"how-to-stay-connected-as-a-remote-worker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ceros.com\/inspire\/originals\/how-to-stay-connected-as-a-remote-worker\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Stay Connected as a Remote Worker"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 4<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>\n

For all its benefits<\/a>, like saving some dough and getting to work in your pajamas, remote working also has its challenges. Loneliness is primary among them<\/a>. The trick to getting the most out of your remote time is making sure that you never feel isolated or siloed\u2014even if you\u2019re working on your own. Here’s how to stay connected as a remote worker, including as an employee and as a person<\/em>, during your work hours.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set up regular remote meetings <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a common misconception that remote workers don\u2019t attend meetings. They do\u2014in fact, a survey from Owl Labs shows<\/a> that they often go to more of them than in-office workers. That\u2019s because getting regular, consistent feedback is an important part of productive remote working. If you\u2019re the manager of a remote worker, or a remote worker yourself, consider implementing some of these strategies for staying in touch:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. A daily check-in:<\/strong> It\u2019s always good to make sure that everyone\u2019s on the same page. Even if it\u2019s just over Slack, make sure that everyone knows which daily tasks to prioritize. <\/li>
  2. A weekly team meeting:<\/strong> When you\u2019re part of a hybrid or remote team, it can be important to hear about what other <\/em>people are working on\u2014even if it\u2019s outside of the scope of your focus. Pro tip: For remote meetings, try to encourage using Zoom or Google Hangouts. Video can be a bit awkward at first, but it\u2019s more personal than a conference call\u2014and can help bond a team together, setting the groundwork for collaboration (even at a distance). After all, much of communication is non verbal. faces need to be seen, expressions interpreted, for full effect.<\/li>
  3. Occasional in-person meetings: <\/strong>Whether it\u2019s one-on-one or with the entire team, nothing beats face-to-face. If there\u2019s another remote teammate of yours located close by, plan days to work together. If it\u2019s feasible, get everyone on the team together a few times a year\u2014for a meeting, retreat, or even just an office hang. You can use the space to share business updates, individual successes and failures from the past quarter\u2014whatever the format, the point is to make everyone feel included. Remember: The purpose of getting everyone together is ultimately to help everyone feel more connected to each other.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Designate an in-office contact for remote workers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    When you\u2019re working at a distance, it can be easy to feel out of the loop\u2014or worse, like your concerns or questions aren\u2019t being addressed. One way to combat this issue is to designate an in-office liaison to field all remote-related queries and issues. This person can be a manager, or they can be on the same level as the rest of the team. One part of this liaison\u2019s responsibility would be making sure hybrid meetings run smoother\u2014by letting remote workers take the floor when they have something to say, and making sure that their issues are heard. In some cases, you\u2019ll need a manager or an HR professional to help designate this liaison. But that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t approach them with the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Find a remote working buddy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Friends and so-called \u201cwork wives\u201d can have a huge impact on productivity. According to research done by Gallup<\/a>, women with a work buddy report feeling 63% more engaged with their work than those without one. If you\u2019re a part of a hybrid team, try to find someone that you can regularly check-in with who can help keep you motivated when working alone is getting to be too much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Use a remote working office platform<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Communication is clearly the key to successful remote working. But sometimes too much communication\u2014or the wrong kind of it\u2014can actually put a damper on productivity. Micromanaging can have a damaging impact on output<\/a>. That\u2019s why office platforms like Trello<\/a>, Asana<\/a>, or Todoist<\/a>, where team workflow can be monitored and important documents can be shared, are so important. They can help keep a micromanager\u2019s worst tendencies at bay\u2014giving a transparent way for everyone to monitor each other\u2019s progress, as well as their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Communicate about more than your remote work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Slack<\/a> is good for more than just workflow. When you\u2019re out of the office, keep in touch with your coworkers about more than just your daily tasks. If you can, try to stay up-to-date with people\u2019s birthdays and what\u2019s going on in their lives. Don\u2019t be afraid to touch base with other people about things that aren\u2019t specifically about work\u2014relationship building is part of your job, too! Communicating with your coworkers in lighthearted ways can help keep the out-of-office malaise from setting in, and keep your work on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Change up your remote work routine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Sometimes feeling more connected when you\u2019re remote working doesn\u2019t have anything to do with the office at all. Sometimes, you just have to feel connected to the world. If you work from home, consider trying a new location. Head to a coffee shop, investigate renting a desk at a coworking space, or just get lunch with a buddy in the neighborhood. Changing up your routine, and breaking out of your isolationist tendencies, can often have a very positive impact on your work<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And remember, the workday should have a little room for enjoyment. Whether that means implementing a fun team-building channel on Slack or simply giving a friend a phone call when you complete a difficult task, don\u2019t hesitate to take breaks and reward yourself for putting in the time and doing good work. Having fun is also part of the productive rhythm of a workday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Finding the right solutions to the challenges of remote working <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Learning how to stay connected as a remote worker is important. But finding the balance between being connected and also having enough space to actually do the rigorous work that remote schedules are best suited for<\/a>\u2014that\u2019s what this is all about. It might take some time to figure out which techniques for staying connected work best for you, but just remember: You\u2019re not alone. Don\u2019t be afraid to experiment. After all, that\u2019s what adopting a flexible schedule is all about. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    This story is part of our new series on remote working. Like what you’re reading? Check out The 23 Best Tools and Apps for Remote Working<\/a>!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    For all its benefits, remote working also has its challenges. Loneliness is primary among them. Here’s how to stay connected as a remote worker.<\/div>\n

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