“Work from Home” is Not a Job, But Can Anyone Do It?
Many people respond, “Work from home!” when I ask what they want to do. That’s fine, but “remote work” isn’t a job; it’s a feature of a job, and it requires a specific skill set in addition to the hard skills needed for actual work.
The upsides of remote work are significant: No annoying coworkers messing up your productivity flow, no wasteful commutes, no pointless pants!
Do you have what it takes to succeed as a remote worker? Can you master the following skills?
Ignoring your family (including your cat):
Setting boundaries with those around you and making it clear that between certain hours, you are WORKING, is key.
Bless their hearts, sometimes the people (and pets) around us think we’re available because we’re home and have a habit of wandering into our office. Providing specific times and signals to let people know when they can approach you with questions about applying for their credit card and when they should leave you alone will help ensure a happy home office. Good luck with the pets; I have no advice except to learn to type with a cat on your hands.
Staying motivated:
Without the watchful eye of your boss, it’s easy to fall into the procrastination trap. You’ll quickly find that working from home requires tenacious self-regulation and motivation. Why finish that report when you could go fold laundry? And when you’re in the video chat, will they really know that you’re watching dancing cats on YouTube?
This is where we talk about work ethic. Yes, you should get up from your chair now and then, and if folding laundry is your “coffee break,” so be it. But instead of wasting your brain on social media, leverage the extra time your less-distracting, no-commute-needed workplace provides to complete your real work.
Being top-of-mind with the boss and proving your value is a distinct challenge of remote work. Let your boss know you’re a top performer and nab a promotion by sending regular progress updates, providing excellent deliverables ahead of deadlines, and being a proactive communicator with colleagues.
Mastering the art of video calls:
As for the dancing cats, keep your eyes steady and your face neutral while you’re “multitasking” on the video call, and nobody will ever know!
I’m joking — sort of. I can empathize with people who find themselves “looking out the window” during pointless meetings that have nothing to do with them.
Fact: the internet’s instant gratification has created a crisis of attention. It takes effort and practice NOT to indulge in the world-wide-web’s distractions.
Try looking at meetings as opportunities to unplug, relax, and focus on one thing. First, you won’t look like the team just found out your pants are still in the dryer when asked a question you can’t answer. Second, you may find inner peace from singularly focusing on the present.
Raising the bar for productivity:
One argument people give for working from home is that there are fewer distractions. No, Mark isn’t constantly popping by your desk to update you on his latest burrito. On the other hand, web-based productivity tools have made Mark’s feet obsolete; he doesn’t need to walk by your desk to bore you about his lunch; he can just Slack you!
Plus, at home, you may have a washing machine buzzing, a rug needing vacuuming, and a refrigerator calling your name.
You must develop a process and set of rules that give you space to do your work amid endless requests for your attention. By identifying your best work environment — such as music/no music, continuous email/social contact or just checking in at certain times, and marathons/short bursts of productivity — you’ll be able to get more done.
As you settle into your remote work, regularly review your workflow and consider how you can improve efficiency. I bet you’ve heard of this new #ChatGPT thing and other #AIworkplacetools: can they ethically help you do a better job while getting things done faster? Companies across the globe are adopting workplace automation tools, and you should, too!
Maintaining professionalism:
It’s easy to let professionalism slide like water through a flume when you work from home. First, it’s the pants. Next, the hair. Before you know it, you’re walking around in a robe and slippers. (Full transparency: I can see the tips of my slippers over the top of my laptop as I write, so you know I’m not judging you!)
Forcing yourself to shower, shave, and dress for success can help you feel better about yourself and avoid isolation-driven depression.
Additionally, remember: colleagues and clients are watching.
Since we’re not always in physical contact with each other, and our personal brand tends to be 2-dimensional, making an extra effort to show up professionally on video is more important than ever.
Knowing when to say when:
Anyone who works from home knows that #1 challenge of working from home is that if you’re not careful, work-life and home-life begin to blur, and before you know it, you’re checking your email at midnight.
Just, stop.
Seriously, stop. Checking emails at midnight will almost NEVER make you sleep better.
Because there’s no “get up and leave the office” at 5, you must build the discipline to leave work at “work” at some specified point. When the laptop is closed, it doesn’t get opened again until the next day.
No, working from home isn’t for everyone.
If you’re not a self-motivated multitasker with excellent communication skills, an uncanny ability to ensure your boss knows what you’re up to without being annoying, and co-habitants who can respect your space, working from home could be a nightmare.
There’s nothing wrong with being a person who doesn’t work from home, despite pressure from social media and news reports that everybody’s doing it.
Many people require the office environment — the in-person camaraderie and collaboration — to nurture their skills and soul. If that sounds like you, put on your pants, get in your car, and we’ll see you back home at 5:30!
