With remote work becoming the ‘new normal’ in Singapore, it is not just businesses that need to pivot — employees need to adapt by adopting certain skills necessary to stay motivated and engaged in a digital workspace.
Here are five important skills to stay productive and excel at remote work.
1. Organisation
As a remote worker, you are not working within the structure of a typical workplace of having a physically present boss to keep you on track and focused on tasks. This means you will need to self-manage and take control of your work schedule.
● Avoid distractions
Commit to blocking out time during the day dedicated only to work, and nothing else — no checking of social media, rummaging through the fridge or starting a load of laundry.
● Manage your time
Plan your tasks and workflow using a notebook, calendar, or project management tools such as Asana or Trello. Prioritise your to-do list based on deadlines and by coordinating with your teammates.
2. Technological proficiency
Remote work is powered by technology. Familiarise yourself with the digital tools used in the workplace so that you remain efficient.
There are three main types of collaborative tools involved in remote work:
● Communication
Tools that facilitate daily exchanges of information through chats or instant messaging. Examples include Slack, Flock, and Chanty.
● Conferencing
Tools used for online meetings, virtual brainstorming sessions, and collective team engagement. Examples include Zoom, Google Meet, and Cisco WebEx.
● Coordination
Tools that organise, manage, and track individual assignments as they contribute toward a team goal. They include project management platforms like Asana and Airtable, document management tools namely Google Drive and Dropbox, and lastly workflow management systems such as Notion and monday.com.
The SkillsFuture For Digital Workplace programme will help you understand how emerging technologies will impact your work, and the common technologies you need for your daily work and life. To thrive in a technology-rich environment, check out these SkillsFuture courses on more advanced digital skills.
3. Teamwork
Studies have shown that quality workplace friendships positively affect individual productivity. But without face-to-face interaction, building camaraderie with your teammates can become a little tricky.
Showing that you are a team player will help to bridge that gap. By putting the team’s collecive success ahead of your personal agenda, you can build trust within your team, boost collective morale and increase overall productivity.
In your next virtual meeting, express appreciation for a teammate who helped you out in a task. Use conference calls to seek advice and talk through roadblocks with your team. Share funny or inspirational content through your chat channels. Even a virtual team lunch can help provide some bonding time!
4. Communication
One of the biggest challenges of remote work is maintaining regular and open communication with your bosses and managers. Proactive communication is key to establishing accountability and securing recognition for your work. Get comfortable with conducting regular video calls, providing prompt updates, and initiating performance reviews.
And with most of your communication being in written form (such as emails, online chats, and text messages), be sure to refine your writing skills and be clear, concise, and empathetic in your choice of words. With the lack of non-verbal cues like body language and tone of voice, how you say something is even more important than what you are saying.
5. Self-motivation
Succeeding at remote work takes independence, resourcefulness, and initiative. Being physically apart from your colleagues may be difficult, so it is most important to stay self-motivated to sustain your momentum.
Find what works for you, whether it is breaking down your tasks into bite-sized goals, drawing up a work schedule, or rewarding yourself for small wins.
Self-motivation is especially important when you’re feeling overwhelmed or burned out, but do not wait till these moments to practice it. Motivation is like a muscle — the more regularly you exercise it, the stronger it becomes.