How to Achieve High Performance When Working Remotely

Until recently, remote work was considered an alternative to the usual 9-5 approach. However, the ongoing pandemic has shown us that not only does it have numerous benefits, but it is also more cost-efficient and less time-consuming.

In fact, many people who have become acquainted with its benefits just recently have expressed the desire to remain working remotely when things are back to "normal," either from time to time or permanently.

However, there are different remote jobs and also different contracts related to them. Similar to "traditional" jobs, remote work can be contract-based or project-based… in other words — permanent or freelance.

Now, not all remote jobs are reserved for freelancers exclusively. There are numerous professions that don’t require employees to be physically present, such as are, e.g., writing, editing, SEO, design and programming jobs. In fact, this is why digital nomadism has become so popular — along with seeing the world and its numerous potential tax benefits.

Great as it may be, remote work is still — work, and contrary to popular belief held by 9-5 workers, it is no easier than any other job. In addition, people unused to working remotely often face difficulties due to various misjudgments, notably related to time-management.

These can be efficiently addressed by creating daily schedules, at least in the beginning until you get used to it and learn to manage your time better.

Mastering Hard and Soft Skills

Remote workers need pretty much the same hard skills as 9-5 workers. These depend on the target vocation. As mentioned above, common remote work occupations include writing, editing, graphic design, web design, virtual assistance, marketing, customer support and consultancy.

The one hard skill all remote workers require, regardless of their profession, is to be up to date with the latest technologies and online tools, especially the commonly used apps such as Slack, Asana, Trello and other online communication tools.

As regards soft skills, the one that everyone needs is culture-sensitivity because remote work often spells international teams. Freelancers, in particular, absolutely must master it. Interpersonal communication is another soft skill that always comes in handy, but bear in mind that adaptability plays a huge role here as people from different cultures are used to different ways of communication.

Overall, this knowledge comes with time and experience, so learning on the go is acceptable.

Learning the Ropes of Time Management

Arguably, time management is the hardest thing to master, especially for people who engage in project-based work. This is due to multiple factors, including project requirements, deadlines, different time zones, etc.

However, the whole point of remote work is to make your life better and absolutely manageable on your own terms, meaning that you should be able to plan ahead, enjoy regular breaks and homemade meals without having to stress over your subordinates making a fuss over it.

The key to achieving what should seem a normal daily routine to any sane person is in planning your workload ahead. Schedules can also come in handy, especially if you’re engaged in per-project work.

The first obstacle for new remote workers is, almost always, the time wasted on mindless browsing. Just because you’re sitting in front of your own screen in your own house doesn’t mean that the job will wait. Wasting time on endless scrolling through news feeds and checking and re-checking incoming emails every 5 minutes is the certain way towards wasting whole days on end.

Fortunately, the practice is curable. Just like you have a schedule for your tasks and breaks, make a schedule for your leisure time.

Learn to Negotiate and to Say No

Negotiation skills are crucial for remote workers, especially for freelancers. Because there’s no company backing you, you’ll need to fight for your own terms and learn to say no to offers that you’re not interested in that pay insufficiently.

As regards negotiation, most of the time it takes place online, which means that the regular eye-to-eye approach doesn’t matter much. Conversations usually begin via email and even if you get as far as to an online meeting, the first impression has already been made.

Firstly, be literate. Double-check the emails you send and use an online spell checker to avoid making poor first impressions due to grammatical errors. Secondly, mind the netiquette. Don’t attend online meetings in your pajamas while your kids are playing hide and seek in the background.

When it comes to choosing projects, it is crucial to learn to say no, on top of mastering negotiation. That’s why you need to value your knowledge and professionalism and never accept offers that pay less or come coupled with unacceptable terms. Choose your projects just like you normally would if you weren’t working remotely.

Conclusion

Remote work is a great way to live your life on your own terms but beginnings are never easy. Even if you’re an established professional, you’ll need to prove your worth to clients who don’t know you or are unfamiliar with your work.

It is, therefore, always a good idea to promote yourself online. Some social media platforms are designed exactly for that (take LinkedIn for example) and creating your own website also won’t hurt your case. Nowadays, everyone can buy a cheap domain (go for your name or your company name for the sake of professionalism) and make their own website using free website building tools (e.g. WordPress). Invest a bit, in the beginning, to step up your work successfully in the long run.

Lastly, keep in touch with your clients. Once you have managed to build a stable customer base you can expect recurring projects.

Angela Ash is an expert content writer, editor and marketer, who focuses on topics related to remote work, freelancing, entrepreneurship and more.