Working Remotely? 6 Tips For Stronger Working Relationships
Marie Raperto, The Hiring HubWorking remotely has it's pluses/minuses and making it work can be difficult. One of the biggest problems seems to be forging a relationship with your boss and your team.Staying connected takes some work but you will find that it will not only help you form bonds but it might make you more productive too.
Here are some tips to follow:
- Connect face-to-face as often as you can. Remember that communication can be non-verbal and body language is important. It can also help you learn to 'read' your team members' voices and emails better.
- If you can't meet in-person, use video chats. You don't have to be in an actual room to connect.
- Chit-chat helps. Establishing a relationship with your co-workers means getting to know them. While you may not be able to chit-chat for long before a scheduled call, you can ask about them and what is going on in their lives. You can continue that via phone, email or social media. You can't bond with someone you don't emotionally connect with.
- Schedule one-on-one time. This can be particularly helpful with your boss or a new member of the team. It allows you to catch up, speak about your progress or just learn about the new person.
- Define your goals. Whether you are sitting at a desk in an office or at home, you can't be effective without knowing your goals and how you will be measured. When working remotely, you also need to know the teams goals and how you fit in. It's a perfect reason to schedule one-on-one time with your boss and team leader.
- Respond quickly. If you don't respond quickly, your team will move on without you. This can be very difficult in different time zones but, unfortunately, it's up to you to make sure you are not left out of the conversation.
And don't forget to visit the home office as much as you can!
