This question came from a busy professional.

How do you stay connected as a remote worker? 

As a remote worker, how do you fight feelings of isolation?  Especially looking for advice that newcomers to remote work can use. Thank you! 

In these technological times, it’s even simpler to stay connected.  With the advent of video conferencing, online chatting and texting, there is little reason to feel isolated.

Take the initiative

The real issue is that you have to take the initiative.

• It is not the companies’ responsibility to make you ‘feel included’.
• It is not the companies’ responsibility to make sure your network and build the proper working relationships with the right co-workers, sibling departments, other managers, and executives.
• It is not the companies’ responsibility to make sure you keep their jobs.

Get involved

The very best way to “fight the feelings of isolation” is to simply “get involved”. Some things that a newcomer to remote work can do to “feel more included”:

• Go into the office for face-to-face business networking.
  1. Even though you have the benefit of telecommuting, this does not relinquish your responsibility for your own business networking goals.
  2. Schedule monthly or bi-monthly visits to the office.
  3. If your location is a large distance, arrange for travel to the site at least once a quarter for a few days.  Line up the important meetings with co-workers, managers, executives, and mentors that are beneficial to your career growth and professional advancement.
  4. Your career is your responsibility – and the adage “out of sight, out of mind” is very relevant to remote workers.
• Schedule weekly or bi-monthly one-on-one meetings with your managers and mentors. Stay on your manager’s and mentors radar by scheduling frequent and regular one-on-one meetings.
  1. Keep the meetings short (15 minutes in length) and have agendas and meeting goals/purpose identified in advance so that you are not wasting these important people’s times.
  2. YOU facilitate and conduct these meetings to show your intentions and initiative. Ask about your performance and share the type of projects that you would like to be assigned to. Review the gaps in your skill set that you need to accomplish to gain those desired positions.
  3. YOU suggest/ask for things that you would like as rewards for meeting certain goals.

Use Technology

• Make use of today’s video conference technology.
  • Supplement your phone meetings with video conference calls. Consider including video status reports in your email reports.
• Conduct and facilitate Brown Bag Lunch professional development series on new technology or operational procedures.
  • Teleconference technology like Skype allows remote employees to both attend and present.
  • Take the initiative to present on high-profile, company driven topics. Arrange for guest speakers that are expert in these areas. Request that the company caters in lunch for these special training and educational events.

Got the extra mile

• Go the extra mile with every interaction.
  • For example: If someone emails you, call them back.
  • If you get someone’s voicemail, leave them a time/date when you will be calling them back or a timeframe when you will be available to talk.
  • Don’t allow phone tag. Take the responsibility for making that meeting happen.

I have an online course 10 Tips for the Telecommuter that may be of interest.

I know your situation is different.  If you would like additional information on this topic, please contact LauraRose@RoseCoaching.info

I am a business coach and this is what I do professionally.  It’s easy to sign up for a complimentary one-on-one coaching call, just use this link https://www.timetrade.com/book/WFSFQ

With enough notice, it would be my honor to guest-speak at no cost to your group organization.