Remote working was already on the rise even before the COVID-19 pandemic struck. While technology has been a contributor to the rising numbers of remote workers, people have also realized the benefits of working from home. The main of them are:
- Higher flexibility in terms of time and location,
- No need to commute to work,
- Significant cost savings,
- Improved work productivity,
- Lower environmental impact.
However, to work from home productively and successfully, you need to develop certain traits and acquire such things as hardware and software. In this piece, we will review some of the major of them.
3 Traits of Each Successful Remote Worker
Remote employees not only have to be efficient in navigating a vast online space but also must be determined to perform hard and well. Hence, when working from home, you should possess the following qualities:
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Self-motivation.
Remote working requires you to be independent. You should be self-motivated to thrive in the work-from-home environment. As a telecommuter, you can frequently work for employers from various parts of the world. Hence the need to stay motivated and accountable even when not supervised by managers directly.
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Tech-savviness.
You will need to work online and use apps to be effective. In this case, being tech-savvy is a necessity because new kinds of software are developed every now and then, and you will need to keep on evolving as technology grows.
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Excellent communication skills.
Remote employees, especially those working for international companies online, must have good listening and communication skills. If you are in a customer service job in one of those companies, for example, you may be required to guide customers. How you communicate with customers will impact not only you but also their perception of the company you work for. Hence, even working remotely, you have to keep up with high communication standards.
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7 Things You Need to Work from Home Efficiently
Besides having the above qualities, take into account the following items when shiting towards the remote work model. They will help you perform effectively and stay as efficient as possible:
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A home office.
In any context, it is important to have a proper workspace to enhance your professionalism. Among the things you should get for your home office are a functional desk that holds your computer and such items as an ergonomic chair to support your back, a printer and noise-canceling headphones. Your office should also be well lit so that you do not strain your eyes when looking at your computer for several hours a day.
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High-speed Internet and Wi-Fi range extender.
Having a high-speed Internet connection is a must if you are looking to work remotely. To clarify the term, high-speed Internet is the one with download speeds of about 25 Mbps and an upload speed of at least 3 Mbps. Having this super-speed Internet will ensure you can exchange data with others quickly and have no problem with having quality communication.
Besides, you will also be likely dependent on Wi-Fi when teleworking, and there will be times when you will need to extend your bandwidth in order to be more efficient. In that case, you can use a Wi-Fi range extender, such as Raspberry Pi 4. It will help you stay connected even when away from your desk.
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Cordless mouse and keyboard.
You will need these two devices when you put your laptop on a stand. Otherwise, you’ll have to work at an awkward angle, which may compromise your efficiency. A cordless mouse and a wireless keyboard will ensure that you do not develop ergonomic problems.
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Hard disk.
Daily data backup will protect you from hackers and reduce the risks associated with such unfortunate incidents like a crashed internal hard disk. Backing up your data also ensures that you can work from any other place other than your house because you can carry your hard drive with you everywhere.
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Teleconferencing apps.
Even when working remotely, you have to communicate with others. Hence, you need to use high-quality collaboration software. Such applications as Zoom, Skype and Join.Me will work to connect you to other people. These apps offer an opportunity for video chats, screen sharing options, and audio calls, thereby making communication across teams effective.
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e-Payment systems.
Remote workers, especially freelancers, are often paid through online platforms, such as PayPal. You will need to identify platforms that work best with the company you work for. These platforms will transfer money to your bank in a matter of minutes.
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Project and task management tools.
When working remotely, you may be involved in more than one project. Plus, you have to stay in the know of your own and your team members’ work progress. In such cases, you will benefit from investing in a piece of task management and time tracking software. With its help, you’ll promote accountability for individual performance and bring both team collaboration and your own productivity to a much higher level.
