27 Oct

3 Must-Dos if You Want to Work Remotely

The desire to work remotely is widespread especially among working moms. I’ve transitioned from working onsite to working remotely, but it took effort to get here. Here are 3 must-dos for anyone looking to transition from working onsite to working remotely.

1. Earn and keep the trust of others 
The reason I work remotely is because people trust me. Period. It’s that simple. Before I was a freelancer, I was an employee. My clients are usually former bosses. Therefore, they know me. They know my work. They know my skill set. They trust that I know what I’m doing, that I’ll get the job done when I promise, and that I’ll deliver a high-quality product. The more trust people have in you, the more likely you will find yourself working remotely.

Takeaway: I trust you. Therefore, I don’t literally need to keep an eye on you.

2. Do on to Others as You Want Them to Do on to You
You must provide flexibility to receive flexibility. If your client  allows you to work remotely, and this arrangement provides you with comfort, convenience, and flexibility; then, you better be prepared to reward your client in kind. Therefore, expect to work a few late nights, a couple of weekends, or maybe even during a vacation. I’ve worked harder from home than I have ever worked in an office, and that’s because I highly value my current situation, and I work very hard to ensure my clients never experience a moment of regret for providing me with the opportunity to work remotely.

Takeaway: You need to give as well as you get.

3. Be Heard in Order Not to be Seen
Most good managers have no desire to micromanage. They just want tasks completed and projects to progress. If you want to be counted present, whether you are physically or virtually onsite, then you need to make your presence and, most importantly, your progress known. In other words, you need to be your own project manager by clearly setting expectations, tracking progress, and communicating status on a regular basis. No one should ever ask you how well your project is going or when you will be done. If your client or boss asks you these types of questions, then you’re probably not going to find yourself working remotely.

Takeaway: If I can hear the kids upstairs, I don’t worry. It’s when they’re quiet that I get concerned.

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