4 Powerful Habits to Make You a Successful Remote Employee

We’ve been told our whole lives how crucial face-to-face interaction is for employment and how body language speaks as much as the words we say. Many people today, however, don’t see their employers or colleagues in real time, or if they do, it’s not very often. If you’re working away from your colleagues, partially or all the time, what can you do to stand out and be noticed as a successful remote employee?

Remote work—where employees work from home or the bagel shop instead of the office—has gone from being a once-every-other-Friday event to a way of life for thousands of workers across the country.

In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that 24 percent of U.S. employees operated remotely in 2015.

But some people, though enjoying the comfort and convenience of working from home, are concerned about being the wallflower at the dance. There are ways to stand out to your supervisors, however, even when you are working from home.

What to Do Today to be a Successful Remote Employee

If you want to make a name for yourself while you are working remotely, pay attention to the following tips—no wallflowers here:

1. Be as professional as you would in an office setting.

Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you should treat your job any differently than you do when you are in an office. Show up to conferences on time, be thoughtful about phone calls, and respond to email in a timely manner.

Maybe you can still be professional when working in your PJs, but many people need to dress the part to act it—if you know this is you, meet the day with comfortable but professional attire.

2. Make a schedule and stick with it.

You may be able to work anytime from 7:00 a.m. to midnight, but those shouldn’t be your hours of availability. Giving your company access to you may sound like a great way to show your boss you care and can be reliable, but it’s a surefire way to overextend yourself.

Instead of trying to be available all the time, have a consistent schedule when you know you can be available and won’t spread yourself too thin.

3. Communicate extra clearly.

Part of the challenge of working from home is that your supervisors can’t see or fully appreciate your enthusiasm (or sometimes lack thereof). Work to be as clear as possible in emails and other communication outlets so your overall points are evident.

Be positive, too. A lack of enthusiasm is often read as frustration. Avoid silence as a response when you work remotely. People left to their own devices often imagine the worst: that you are simply dismissing their proposal rather than taking some time to consider its pros and cons. Lack of communication can also signal that you don’t care—a dangerous message to send to a boss no matter where you work.

4. Make virtual work friends.

Time is precious regardless of whether you are in a cubicle or your front porch, and, in those spaces, most people still have time for a smile and quick hello to their neighbor. The same should be true for your remote work.

Add a smile to the end of an email, ask about the new baby, or simply ensure every communication has some form of positive interaction. Your colleagues and supervisors will likely see this collaboration and friendliness, even if just by email, as team thinking.

It may still seem like it’s just you and a chat box, but those interactions with colleagues can mean crucial connections later—and they can make you happier in the meantime.

Prepare for remote work today for a better tomorrow.

As more companies plan to adopt flexible working policies in 2017, expect to make these practices a habit. It’s a strategy that enables workers’ autonomy and cost savings for businesses because it isn’t simply convenient—it’s efficient.

When you work remotely, you may have to be innovative to get yourself noticed, but these tips will help ensure you get the attention you deserve, no matter where you are.