Adjusting to the ‘New Normal’ of working online has been a process and a half. That being said, people have become more used to this new way of working. It has, indeed, become a reality for many – all the work is almost strictly online. Facebook is even coming up with a metaverse to host physical meetings, but online. How Meta! No matter how many conveniences, cost-cuts, or increased flexibility it gives, working online benefits only those who understand how to make it work for them. If you are looking to sharpen your skills and level up your online/remote work game, this article is for YOU!
Take a look at this list and see how you can integrate and improve these aspects to fine-tune your work routine.
Soft Skills
Unfortunately, most people learn the importance of Soft Skills the hard way. They solidify your reputation at work and maintain it as you become irreplaceable. Yes, soft skills are that important! Employees and employers alike can benefit from instilling skills that ensure smooth functioning and communication within the team. Just being good at your work is not enough anymore. With skills like critical thinking, professional writing, and team ethics, you can skip the unnecessary hurdles and focus on more important things.
Emotional Intelligence
Yes, you might have probably heard it thousands of times by now. But what is it exactly? Emotional Intelligence or Emotional Quotient is our ability to understand, use, and regulate emotions effectively. A higher EQ helps with stress management and effective communication, increases empathy, and enables us to overcome challenges and defuse conflict elegantly. Ignorance does not work well with emotions. It is fundamentally human to experience a rollercoaster of emotions, especially in a workplace since it is where we spend a majority of our time. So by embracing the fact that everyone has their own set of emotions and fine-tuning your EQ, you will be better able to connect with your colleagues. The workplace will not compel you to fake your responses anymore but will make everyone feel more comfortable and less stressed. Once you start spending less energy trying to ignore emotions and focus on work, everything else (read work) goes well!
Communication
Picking up from the last point, a high EQ brings smoother communication. Communication is everything. Take the military, for example – there is zero ambiguity and 100% clarity in their communication. When it seems to work well for them, why not learn from them? Of course, you don’t have to be stone-cold with your employees and colleagues, but being empathetic enough to communicate well within your team will benefit everyone. Communication is one of the foundational tenets of work culture, and you will see that most teams and companies that communicate well have a competitive edge. Communication tools that are available online will help simplify things. Check them out here!
Time Management
Time waits for none. Especially now, with things changing rapidly, it can prove tedious to keep track of everything and be productive all the time. But as they say- work smarter, not harder. Many scheduling/time-tracking apps are available across all platforms and devices that will soon become your best friend at work. Managing your time will benefit not only you but a network of people. A workplace is a heavily codependent environment. One delay in the process has a significant impact on the entire chain. Time has become the most valuable asset, especially in the corporate world.
Flexibility
Being flexible by working 24×7 is not the point here. It is about being dynamic and adaptive, ready to take on tough challenges. Step outside the comfort zone. Adapting flexibility will do wonders for your organisation. Being flexible is an unstated role and responsibility. Also, the contributions you make at work will make you feel valued and appreciated, eventually boosting your confidence.
Critical Thinking
Thinking critically will make you indispensable- both as an individual and a company. Learning to be more reflective, independent, and competent will prove to be helpful in the long run. These skills are especially critical for those in a start-up or a new workplace. The excitement of a start-up is not at the prospect of starting something new but at how young people and their critical thinking skills change the world. Thinking critically can help you solve other issues like budgets, sustainability of the business, growth, marketing, and so on.
These skills will make your work life considerably simple. Inculcating such skills is needed to work remotely. Remember to take it one day at a time. Here are a few tools to help boost your productivity while working remotely.
End of the day, it depends on how connected you are with your work. You will almost naturally gravitate towards these skills to improve your work and workplace if you’re looking to become more efficient and effective at work.
