When you work from home, you don’t have the visibility with your colleagues and managers that you normally would. In an office, you might have informal interactions with these people multiple times a day. Now, if you don’t have a meeting on their calendar, you may wonder if they remember your presence—and more important, your value to the organization.
There are ways that you can make yourself and your accomplishments more visible to your organization, even when you’re not in the same building. The following four suggestions are concrete steps that you can focus on right here, right now, to increase your odds of thriving in your job and demonstrating your value while working remotely.
Getting your work done is always a good idea. But it’s especially so in times of uncertainty. During the Covid-19 pandemic, many people became accustomed to working from home for an extended period of time. As a time management coach, I got the sense from my clients that there was a grace period in the crisis’s early stages, when everyone was adjusting to working remotely. Managers were more forgiving if there was a dip in productivity or missteps here and there. But higher standards of output have returned. If you haven’t done so already, put a system in place for keeping track of your tasks and ticking them off, even if your schedule is modified because you have other responsibilities at home.
I don’t recommend that you give yourself a shout-out at every single meeting, and I definitely don’t advise that you take undue credit for others’ work. But if you have accomplished something significant, share it. That could look like covering a few highlights of your work with your boss each week, either in your one-on-one or through email. Or speaking up in a meeting to share about what your team is doing. Or even giving a presentation on some best practices that could help other colleagues in a similar role. Focus on not only what you did but how it produced positive results for your organization. This is not bragging; it’s simply informing others about how, even though they might not see you working, you’re getting great things accomplished. And this gives you increased visibility across the organization as people understand the role that you fill and the value you add.
With my clients, one of their least-favorite ways to spend their time is brokering arguments between people on their team. It drains energy, and they generally consider it a waste of time.
You want to be seen not only as a valuable individual contributor but also as someone who elevates the entire team. Try to work out differences with your colleagues on your own, without getting your manager involved. If you feel you absolutely must escalate a disagreement to your boss, do so minimally and only when it’s appropriate. Taking this approach to conflict shows that you have the capability to communicate and collaborate with others well, and it keeps your boss from being hesitant to put you on teams because they’re concerned you won’t play well with others.
It’s easy to focus on our anxieties, on the uncertain future, and on all the things we can’t control. Try something different. When you’re chatting before the start of a meeting or sending an email, mention something uplifting. That could be the birds you saw on a walk, the silly things your kids did, or a book you’re reading. If needed, come up with some varied subjects in advance each day. Whatever you focus on expands, so expand good in the lives of your coworkers.
And if you’re comfortable, be funny. Laughter and positive energy draw teams together and make people feel good about being around you.
Certain things about work will always be out of your control. However, if you follow the pieces of advice above, you will do what you can to make the most impact and get credit for it within your current role. And you’ll make a positive impression in the process.
__________
Elizabeth Grace Saunders is a time management coach and the founder of Real Life E Time Coaching & Speaking. She is the author of How to Invest Your Time Like Money and Divine Time Management. Find out more at www.RealLifeE.com.
Adapted from “5 Ways to Demonstrate Your Value—Remotely” on hbr.org, June 1, 2020 (product #H05NYG).