3 Essential Productivity Tips for Remote Workers (Blog Post)

• English

As the coronavirus pandemic alters indefinitely how, when, and where many people are working, you may be among those learning to adapt to remote and flexible working environments for the first time. Last week, Catalyst shared best practices for people managing distributed teams. Here, we focus on employees. Below are some curated resources and tips for those who are learning to function within remote teams for the first time.

1. Don’t ghost your coworkers.
   Communicating regularly with team members is essential, according to Catalyst’s Amelia Costigan, Senior Director, Information Center and Librarian, and Emily Troiano, Vice President, Information Center. The two have worked remotely and flexibly for several years. As researchers, they also are up-to-date on the latest learnings about remote work. In a recent conversation streamed live on Linkedin, they suggested holding regular check-ins via messaging platforms and letting your team know when you are taking breaks. “In this remote team environment… over-communicating goes a long way,” said Troiano. Listen to the full conversation or read the transcript.
2. Negotiate boundaries with household members.
   During this health crisis, you may find yourself sharing space with your children and partner, as many schools and workplaces have shut down. Establishing clear rules and expectations with your housemates and family members will enable all to be set up for success, advises Nancy Hendryx, who works in Catalyst’s communications department and was the first Catalyst employee hired as a fully remote worker 12 years ago.
3. Talk openly about your schedule needs with your manager.
   Remote working doesn’t automatically mean flex working. If you have caregiving responsibilities, for instance, and you can’t work standard 9-5 hours, you may need to have a conversation with your manager. This tool, for Supporters only, helps you identify your own flexible work needs and engage constructively with your manager about adopting a flexible working arrangement.

This is the second installment in our coronavirus series about inclusive remote and flexible work cultures. See our 6 Excellent Resources for Managers of Remote Teams.