Jennifer Parris* discusses five ways remote employees can be ‘visible’ at work.
When you work remotely, you may prefer to keep a low profile. However, it’s in your best interest to increase your visibility at work as much as possible.
There are many reasons why it’s important to be visible.
Professionally, it’s more likely you’ll get recognition for your accomplishments.
You’ll also maintain stronger relationships with your virtual team, which can help you stay in the loop about company information, stay in sync with projects, and become closer as a team.
Here are five ways to increase your visibility at work when you work from home.
- Turn on and drop in
One of the lures of remote work is being able to be comfortable in your own private environment during a typical workday.
You may never need to turn on your camera during a virtual meeting or stop in the office if your company has a physical location.
To increase your visibility and help build stronger relationships with colleagues, try turning your camera every now and then during remote meetings or stop by the physical office once in a while.
Having that face time can quickly boost your visibility.
- Speak up during meetings
Speaking up during remote meetings helps increase your visibility in the workplace when your colleagues are scattered across the continent—or globe.
Use a strong voice, particularly if your team only uses phone calls to connect.
This can help the team hear your points the first time you say them instead of needing to repeat yourself several times.
- Get involved
Sign up for the company’s annual fun run. Get involved in the virtual book club.
Volunteer to make a big batch of cookies for the holiday cookie swap.
Reminding people of who you are outside of the office—including your extracurricular interests—can keep you connected with others on your team or in the company.
- Be social
Remote workers tend to be more productive than those who work in traditional offices.
As such, it can be easy to get lost in your work and forget to make time to connect with your co-workers, particularly when you don’t see them every day.
But try to be social at work, whether it’s posting pics of your recent vacation on the company’s social network or sending out friendly emails with cute memes and GIFs (when appropriate, that is!).
Any effort you make to be memorable with your team will go a long way and boost your visibility.
- Be available
One of the easiest ways to increase visibility at work is by being available to your co-workers and boss.
After all, if you’re hard to find (i.e., you don’t answer emails or IMs in a timely manner, you never return voicemails), then chances are people will stop looking for you as much as they should.
Invisible No More
Remember, even if you love the cocoon-like ambiance of working remotely, you need to make your presence known in order to work effectively, build strong working relationships with your fellow staffers, and thrive in your remote role.
*Jennifer Parris is a Career Writer for FlexJobs.
This article first appeared at flexjobs.com.
