Working remotely or working from home was a model that was already starting to gain popularity long before the COVID-19 outbreak. Before there were orders to stay indoors and shelter in place, companies were starting to see the advantages of letting their employees work where they wanted to, such as, increased productivity, lower overhead costs, as well as improved employee morale and higher levels of retention.

Now that remote work is looking to become the new normal, it’s more important than ever for employees to remain visible to their respective organisations. Visibility helps you create and foster better work relationships with your colleagues. It also increases the chances of getting the assignments you want while showing off your skills and capabilities. Even if you aren’t naturally outgoing, here are a few ways to stand out and be seen, even while working remotely:

Communicate Well and Often

You might think that maintaining a low profile as a remote employee exudes the image of a disciplined and independent worker. However, unless your performance is so exemplary as to merit the constant attention of your managers, choosing to stay out of sight might very well result in them putting you out of their minds, too.

You’ll want to stay visible enough to ensure that they at least know you exist without being overbearing about it. Make use of the connectivity tools at your disposal: acknowledge emails, send the occasional instant message if you need something attended to urgently or just want to drop a quick note for clarification.

Since remote workers most often use written communications more than any other format, it’s also worth putting in the effort to write well, even when responding to informal emails and messages. Using proper grammar and being clear and concise with your missives can make up for the lack of non-verbal cues that would normally be present in interactions with your colleagues.

Be Proactive

Another way to ensure visibility is to be proactive. Some employees might be hesitant about asking for more work or volunteering themselves for projects because it’s all too easy to construe it as seeking favour. Your manager, however, will surely view it in a more positive way. Being proactive sets you apart from those who are only content to do what is assigned to them, and it showcases initiative, leadership qualities, and a willingness to go the extra mile. Next time you finish your tasks early, consider asking your direct superior if there’s anything else you can do for the day.

It doesn’t have to start and end at work, either. It’s also a good idea to participate in company-related events and extra-curricular activities. This will remind your colleagues of who you are outside of the job that you perform, thus keeping you at the forefront of their minds.

Stay Available

You can also reinforce your presence as an employee by consistently projecting availability. This ties back into communicating well—you’ll want to answer emails and instant messages as soon as you can get to them. It’s also important to respond to all essential and non-essential communications in a friendly manner that conveys approachability. Make an effort to hit your deadlines consistently, or even go as far as to submit work earlier than it is expected.

Let Your Voice Be Heard

Conference calls take the place of meetings in remote work. The best strategy is to treat them the same way, with a few minor adjustments. You’ll want to appear involved and engaged, but not so much that you end up interrupting whoever is speaking and being pushy.

Instead, make an impression by speaking up whenever you have a point to make and there is a lull or when prompted. Present your ideas, express an opinion, or offer meaningful suggestions on how to improve whatever is being discussed. Make sure that your voice comes through clearly and that you speak in a confident, knowledgeable manner. This will create a positive impression among those who are also tuned in.

Socialise!

Doing work remotely eliminates the various socialisation opportunities that help you make a memorable impression on your boss and co-workers. Bring those opportunities back by engaging your colleagues in casual conversation from time to time—when appropriate. There’s no reason why you can’t make friends with those you work with, even if you’ve never met them or have only met them once. Getting to know the people that you communicate with on the daily also fosters team spirit and improves overall morale. It creates apositive, enthusiastic team culture that makes it easier to work towards a common goal or objective.

There are many advantages to doing remote work, including the flexibility to be as visible, or as invisible, as you like. However, making your presence known offers more pros than cons: it empowers you to do your work more effectively while building rapport and earning your colleagues’ trust and respect. Strive to be more visible today! If you’re a manager looking for effective ways to create a productive work-from-home setup for your employees, click here to learn more.