How to Avoid Being Invisible While Working From Home
The past year has changed the way many of us work. Many more Americans than ever are working from home. So much so, it’s now earned its own acronym, “WFH.” Figuring out how to stand out in a crowd and form meaningful relationships with managers is more important than ever.
Although remote work can be rewarding, it can also be challenging, especially when you’re part of a team. Women are particularly prone to feeling invisible when working from home, a feeling that can impact motivation, confidence, and emotional well-being. In fact, a Joblist study found women are twice as likely than men to feel invisible when working from home.
If you’re worried you’re being overlooked in a remote position, here are some ways to stand out and improve your work-from-home standing.
The visibility problem when you work remotely
In this study, employers of remote workers agreed overwhelmingly (96%) that staying visible when working from home is essential for career advancement and growth. It’s no wonder then that employees, particularly female employees, worry about being noticed in remote positions.
The remote work stats show that women were found to be more likely than men to implement ways to remain visible while working remotely, yet they were twice as likely to feel overlooked.
This has left many employees scrambling to work extra hours, attend additional meetings and brainstorming sessions, and spend more time ensuring managers can clearly see the hours they’re logging and the effort they’re contributing.
The good news appears to be this: You don’t have to work more hours or compete to make an impact in your job. Employing a fee simple visibility strategies can help you stand out and reduce your anxiety about being overlooked.
Ways to show job progress when working from home
Here are a few strategies that remote employees agree have helped them remain visible to managers and employers while working remotely.
Ensuring projects continue moving
No matter your job, if you’re in charge of a project or responsible for a part of it, make sure you keep your work moving and provide regular status updates. This might be in the form of daily or weekly emails, notes shared with your manager, or keeping updated records in your internal systems. Employers will notice when a project goes awry, so keeping them in the loop (without over-communicating) will show them you’re on top of your workload.
Helping other co-workers
There’s a long adjustment period to working from home, but some employees get the hang of it faster than others. Offering help in the form of training on virtual tools like Zoom and Slack or pitching in to help other members of your team make a deadline are great ways to stand out when working remotely. Even asking your manager if anyone else on the team is struggling or needs assistance can set you apart from others.
Volunteering
Virtual meetings and conference calls are the norm for many remote employees. It can feel difficult to have a presence during large group meetings, but volunteering is another strategy employees use to stand out. This might mean volunteering to host a virtual happy hour or signing up to compile data for internal purposes. Offering your time will show your manager (and even higher ups you don’t normally work with) that you’re a team player.
Here’s what happens when you go the extra mile
When you put in a little extra effort to stand out and remain visible, managers not only notice, they also overwhelmingly respect this quality. In fact, it was found that 93% of managers had a more favorable outlook of employees who took steps to remain visible, pitched new ideas, and volunteered when working remotely.
Those who take the time to stand out when working remotely are more likely to receive a raise (23%) and/or get promoted (31%). In addition, employees who feel seen often report less burnout, are less likely to experience loneliness at work, and suffer less from imposter syndrome. Taking a little extra time to set up a way to make your work more visible can have great benefits for both you and your employer.
Create a visibility plan to improve your relationship with work
Working remotely can be a struggle and might not be your first choice. But coming up with a visibility plan to allow you to remain accountable and demonstrate progress can be a motivating way to help you feel seen while reporting on your successes.
This guest post was authored by Courtney Johnston
Courtney is a freelance writer and editor specializing in finance and small business content. She has written for The Chicago Tribune, The Motley Fool, Fundera, Benzinga, JoyWallet, BestReviews, The Culture Trip, and Clever Girl Finance. She also teaches writing instruction at the University of Indianapolis. Courtney enjoys condensing complex topics into relevant content for readers. You can find her at www.courtneywrites.com
