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A few years ago, remote work was already seen as a trend, especially in technology, where the need to be in an office is increasingly reduced since all the work can be done online through videoconferences and messaging applications. Logically, these relationships are not a substitute for face-to-face contact. But to a certain extent, they make life easier for employees and managers – offering more quality of life and flexibility, as well as cost savings on both sides -, since expenses such as rent, energy, and transportation are avoided.
With the Covid-19 pandemic, this process of migration to the remote work was accelerated. As a result, many people were surprised by the changes that this type of work requires, and some of them adapted easily, where others did not.
It was not only the physical space that changed. Other requirements came with it: a good internet connection, dozens of communications and task management software, calls and more calls… That constituted a reality check for those used to the office, real-time conversations, eye-to-eye feedback, and coffee in the afternoon.
Besides, much began to be said about what it would take to work remotely. From e-books to live streaming on social media, people began to share their experiences with what was new to many – and several situations began to move from the unexpected to the ordinary: the room becoming an office, the child playing in the background of the video call, happy hour virtual, among others.
The new remote work, pandemic style
Along with this, many people had to start working on some soft skills considered ideal for performing a good remote job and maintaining efficient communication with their work team. Below are some skills and their importance in the work environment, even if it is now in your own home.
- Time management
Working at home does not mean living a life in any way and with no set times to carry out activities. Obviously, you have the freedom of sleeping more when you are not feeling well and then compensating by working until later, but this cannot be recurrent. Flexibility is something that not everyone knows how to handle. Therefore, it is necessary to know how to manage time and determine times for work and for leisure. This way, you avoid procrastination, stress, and weariness, which is common to develop when one works too much.
Alongside this is another challenge concerning time: prioritization and organization. It is necessary to be well organized and carry out activities according to what is most urgent. In recent times, several applications and technological tools have been launched on the market that help in this regard, which can assist in your projects’ organization. On the other hand, some people are used to the good old paper agenda to create daily lists of what they need to do on the day or week.
2. Efficient communication
Communicating efficiently is necessary to interact well, create connections and develop networking within an environment affected by the difficulty of not being physically present. Therefore, it is required to manage personal relationships sensitively, with care, gratitude, and above all, respect for others and their ideas.
Working collaboratively also requires clear communication so that the group’s relationship is harmonious and directed towards a common goal. This makes the act of listening objectively, understanding, and accurately interpreting what someone says to be a daily practice to assess what is being said objectively.
3. Concentration
Maintaining the focus on important tasks and projects is challenging in the face of so many distractions that the world offers us today, especially when we are at home. It gets worst if you live with someone else at home and that person doesn’t understand your work style, resulting in interruptions and noise, plus housework, WhatsApp messages, the bed calling to lie down, and marathon series and movies … anyway! You get the idea.
It takes a lot of focus and determination to start a task skillfully and effectively because, in addition to the time, quality is required.
4. Problem-solving initiative
In an era of so much information and superficiality, having critical thinking is one of the most observed differentials among professionals. Solving problems in the most practical way possible or understanding a situation and solving it by identifying what needs to be done is one of the most required practical skills.
Therefore, you must have initiative, curiosity, creativity, independence, and the ability to articulate logical reasoning and use the available resources intelligently and adequately so that you can propose reasonable solutions to the problems that arise every day.
Don’t forget you also need to organize ideas to resolve problems. One of the secrets is to understand the question raised.
What have been the biggest challenges for employees in remote mode?
In an interview with the portal R7.com, Renato Carvalho, one of the officeless movement initiators, says that it is necessary to demystify remote work. “Sometimes, it can work better, with the support of tools and processes, but there are functions that are beginning to become more difficult to imagine at a distance,” he says.
“Take knowledge, skills and turning it into another digital business. My wife is a nurse, and she is creating an online consultancy to help nurses who are experiencing a very high level of stress now in the pandemic”, he reports.
Carvalho says at the end of the interview that learning to work remotely is a challenge. “When working in the home office, there is greater freedom, but it comes with responsibilities. And we didn’t learn that at school or work,” he reinforces.
#WeAreARemoteTeam
In 2020, Angry Ventures became a 100% digital company. With people from different parts of the world, and programs like the Summer Internship brought together the most diverse accents and cultures in the work environment. Also, we released a remote work manual, written by the company’s founder, Fernando Moreira, and a report with the main information and trends about remote work worldwide.
There is no doubt that the world is #remote, and more and more professionals will need to adapt and learn to unlearn their bad habits to make room for the new ones emerging every day and are now demanded in the market.
