How to Stay Connected to When You Work Remotely

How to Stay Connected to When You Work RemotelyHow to Stay Connected to When You Work RemotelyHow to Stay Connected to the Office When You Work RemotelyThree tips to help you feel part of the kollektiv - even if youre miles away.Remote work arrangements are growing in popularity as organizations increasingly recognize that the best talent may not exist within the local market. In fact, according to a joint study by Global Workforce Analytics and FlexJobs, 3.9 million U.S. employees work remotely, a figure that has jumped 115 percent since 2005.In an age where technology makes it easier to work from virtually anywhere in the world, remote work arrangements hold appeal for many people, including eliminating the need for workplace attire or fighting rush-hour traffic. However, for employees who choose to work remotely, it can be a challenge to remain in the loop with co-workers and feel included in key projects and decisions. Here are four tips for staying connected when you work remot ely.1 Get creative with telephone and videoYour co-workers in the schreibstube have the opportunity to collaborate face to face, building relationships in the lunchroom or at the water cooler. However, working remotely doesnt mean that you have to miss out on the team camaraderie. In fact, the creative use of traditional communication tools can help keep you connected.The next time you want to send a quick note to a colleague to thank them for sending over an important file, do it by phone instead. A phone call gives you an opportunity to engage in conversation and build work relationships. When you speak to someone verbally, even if just for a moment or two, theres a higher chance of making a connection that cant be duplicated through email or Slack message.Another way to stay connected with co-workers is to use video calls as much as possible not just for meetings. Where possible, join training sessions, lunch and learns, and other company events by video conference. While your c olleagues may be thinking of team get-togethers as something just for employees in the local office, if you suggest joining by video theyre likely to be supportive.Related Use Your Words for Effective Communication in the Workplace2 Be an innovatorYour colleagues have the option of peeking their heads into the department managers office or casually running an idea by a co-worker, and it may feel like youre being left out. However, another way to stay connected with the team and get around this obstacle is to develop a reputation for innovation. When others see you as the source of great ideas and creative solutions to problems, theyre mora likely to include you in important discussions and key decisions.Here are some specific ways you can become the team innovator, even from afarNetwork Get to know every single person within your scope of job influence and even those you dont work with very often. Call them on the phone, ask about their work, and build the relationship it makes it e asier to call on them for their opinions when you have a new idea to pitch to the team.Challenge the status quo Offer up new ways to make the team more efficient, or pick one of the teams pain points and volunteer to re-engineer it. When youre the center of the process, other members of the team are more likely to come to you with their ideas and suggestions.Identify learning opportunities Since change is inevitable in every company, take the lead in helping the team learn a new system or process. When you do so, you create opportunities to share with them what youve learned and how you think it can help the team be more productive.3 Find a buddyWhether you call it a friend, a buddy, or a work spouse, you can benefit from having one, especially if you work remotely. Your work friend can introduce you to new members of the team and explain quirks in the office and team culture things that are extremely beneficial when youre not in the office to see them for yourself.Research conduct ed by Gallup found that having a friend at work helps you perform better. In the same study, they found that women who have a work buddy are 63 percent more engaged and connected to their work than those who dont have one. Some of the other ways a work friend can help you feel more in tune with the rest of the team areThey can help you get recognized Perhaps many of your co-workers dont know how hard you work or how committed you are to the success of the team. Yet, your work buddy probably knows. Whether in a meeting or via team email, a good work friend will be willing to highlight your successes for the rest of the team to see.They share office buzz Every office has a culture made up of various employee personalities and ways of doing things. When youre not in the office, you may not pick up on whos having a bad week or the general mood of the department. Your office buddy can clue you in on new initiatives, who just resigned, and other berichterstattung that will keep you in the know and feeling like a part of it all.Working remotely has its benefits and challenges, but you dont have to feel left out. With the right approach and a friend or two to help you can stay connected to the office and feel like youre right in the middle of the action.Click on the following link for more advice on how to get ahead.Not sure if your resume is doing the job? 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