You’re a parent—and you’re working remotely. Maybe it’s due to the structure of your new job; maybe it’s because of a situation outside your control (like the Covid-19 pandemic); maybe it’s part of a corporate work/life initiative; or maybe your company has pulled back on its real estate and expects you to work remotely as a matter of course. Whatever the reason, there are certainly upsides: no commute, no office distractions, no one looking disapprovingly at you when you duck out of the office for a pediatrician’s appointment. Just you, the comfort of home, and the opportunity to spend more time (maybe a lot more) with your kids.
Those benefits, however, come with equivalent challenges—particularly at the personal level. How do you stay on the senior leader radar screen? In a 24-7, always-on work culture, how do you avoid the perception—particularly among more senior or traditionally minded colleagues—that you’re taking the easy path or have chosen the “parent track”? How do you establish constructive workplace relationships with people you see infrequently? How do you avoid, or work through, the home-life interruptions that can compromise your performance?
Savvy working parents know that it takes more than a home office to make remote work fruitful for their organizations, careers, and families: It takes conscious effort and some specific, effective tactics—which you can start using today.
After years of office life, working remotely can feel wonderfully flexible: Get to your desk at 9:30 a.m. in your pajamas! Feed the baby while on the conference call! But that same lack of traditional workplace boundaries has the potential to erode your motivation and productivity (are you really at your best getting a late start, in sweatpants?). Use your remote work setup to create flexibility that’s meaningful to you—to do the kids’ morning routine, for example, or to get to soccer games—but keep a firm schedule and habits, too. Start work at the same time each day. Wear what makes you feel sharp and confident. Limit breaks to the same length and frequency as in the office. With a solid routine and the right “guardrails” in place, you’ll maximize the feeling of being professional and in control.
What your colleagues can’t see, they can’t appreciate. When working remotely, provide small, clear signals that your commitment and work ethic are unwavering. Send emails first thing in the morning as a means of announcing that you’re already up and at it. Let colleagues know that you’ve read their emails and documents carefully: “Brad, thanks for this—the data on page six will be helpful in our quarterly review process.” Take calls in the early morning or late at night as a favor to coworkers in other time zones. These small tactics will let you appear eager, committed, and hardworking—good attributes at any level.
Pay attention to your physical work environment, and set it up to help you be, and be seen as, professional, focused, and committed. If you can’t ensure privacy, that’s fine—but alert colleagues on the video call up front that yes, your three-year-old may burst in. Create a professional backdrop for video calls so that no one has to see your kids’ ice hockey equipment in the background when you’re discussing the quarterly marketing report. Taking charge of these small logistics enhances your working environment and your professional image.
Smart use of technology can maximize your efficiency and your connection to colleagues. If your home printer isn’t as fast as those in HQ, or you’re emailing and calling while everyone else at the office is on Slack, you’re missing real opportunity. Partner with the IT team, or with one of the tech-savvy millennials in your department, to help you find and start using the best technological tools. Don’t know the best apps for staying in touch and “in the flow” with your company, industry, or function? Ask around to find out.
In a regular office environment, relationships occur organically—through conversations at the watercooler, in the hallway, at lunch. But when you’re working remotely, you will have to create those “connection opportunities” yourself. Call a colleague to check in on their weekend. Email a mentee to ask how her big presentation went. Ensuring that you have regular, informal touch points with everyone on the team—and throughout the organization—will pay big long-term dividends.
Children naturally have difficulty understanding the world of work—what it consists of, what it requires, and what it means. But even very small children can hear that “Mommy works hard all week at the office because I like it, and because it lets me earn money to take care of our family. On Fridays, I still work, but from home so that I can take you to school and we can do fun things together.” In doing so, you transmit the values of hard work and responsibility while showing your commitment and love.
Working remotely is a distinct professional skill. As with any other professional skill—like public speaking, negotiations, or financial analysis—it’s built over time and through experience, personal reflection, desire for continual improvement, and a lot of hard work. And for any working parent who wants to drive organizational performance, succeed on the job, and raise terrific kids, it’s a skill well worth developing.
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Daisy Dowling is the founder and CEO of Workparent, the executive coaching and training firm, and the author of Workparent: The Complete Guide to Succeeding on the Job, Staying True to Yourself, and Raising Happy Kids (HBR Press, 2021). She is a full-time working parent to two young children. She can be reached at www.workparent.com.
Adapted from “How to Work from Home When You Have Kids” on hbr.org, September 14, 2017 (product #H03W0V).