How to Be a Good Remote Co-worker

Ellie Green
Authored by Ellie Green
Posted: Friday, September 10, 2021 - 15:48

Building your virtual collaborative abilities is one of the best methods to enhance relationships with your co-workers and boost team productivity when working from home. Working remotely, even if you're a terrific team player in an office setting, provides a unique set of problems for teams and individuals. While you have no influence over whether or not others you work with have excellent remote team skills, you can help to improve the dynamics of your team by learning the best practices for being a good virtual colleague.

Communication is Key

If you want to improve your chances of being hired and working as a remote worker, you’ll want to put in the effort to improve your communication skills and habits and become the greatest virtual colleague you can be. Fortunately, you can improve your capabilities in this area by taking advantage of online training, some of which are free.

A direct and honest approach to any situation that arises while working remotely is the best path. Whether your child disturbs an important meeting, or the dog won’t stop barking, or you sent an email intended for your other half to the whole team, just explain the mishap and move on. 

Use delays to connect and network with colleagues. This can assist you in improving your virtual teaming abilities as you get to know everyone better while using time online efficiently. 

Email is one of the most important ways to communicate with co-workers while working remotely. Whereas in an office setting you could pop into their cubicle or office, email has become even more vital in a work-from-home setting as it is your primary mode of communication. Email etiquette is important. Maintain simplicity and focus in your message and avoid using slang or making unduly casual statements. You should always thoroughly reread your email before sending it, both to spot any typos and to double-check the tone.

Be Prepared

When you create a home office area that is dedicated solely to your job, you will have fewer interruptions. Turn a room or area in your house that isn't being used for anything else into your personal workspace. Be prepared with sufficient light, storage space, and a comfortable chair. Make sure all your tools for work like your Wi-Fi connection, laptop and webcam are in good order. 

Resist the impulse to laze in your pyjamas all day and dress for work every day. Not only will you appear professional during video meetings, but dressing in the morning also puts your brain in “work” mode.

Make to-do lists, create goals, and devise a daily routine that includes breaks and times when you can concentrate on deep work. Depending on your employment, you may wish to divide your day into chunks of time allocated to various tasks. The more structure you can include into your remote working days, the less likely you are to become distracted.

Be Considerate and Supportive

One of the most important aspects of working remotely is to have a strong sense of patience and tolerance. When people are with their family and trying not to worry about work, avoid sending emails on weekends, early in the morning, or late at night. Be considerate of other people's time. People are likely to be more distracted than normal and may have difficulty concentrating—especially if they are a working parent or caring for an ageing relative at home as well as working. Be supportive and empathetic. 

Individuals may function well on their own, but teamwork necessitates collaboration among team members. When members of a group feel out of the loop, they are more prone to become frustrated. It's critical to keep your co-workers up to date on the status of your daily duties and to stick to project deadlines.

Be adaptable, flexible, and persistent in your efforts to build positive habits that will allow you to work from home successfully. Keeping your remote work goals in mind will assist you in being a competent remote employee and co-worker while also allowing you to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

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