The Pandemic has passed, but remote work is here to stay. Here are ways to work better remotely.

With a significant proportion of knowledge workers looking to stay remote now that the effects of the pandemic have eased, it’s never been more important to ensure you’re prepared for remote work.

Whether you’re considering or already working remotely, there are some key tech skills that are independent of role type or industry that will help you thrive in a remote role.

Virtual collaboration tools

The first one is probably something you’re already well versed in; virtual collaboration tools. We’ve been forced to become all too familiar with Zoom, Slack, Google Meet and other collaboration tools over the past couple of years, but often there’s less obvious functionality or new features that could improve your workflow and interaction with colleagues that were overlooked in the rush to go remote.

There’s also a degree of skill in ensuring that you’re communicating in the intended way online. What might sound like a joke or simple request in person may come across as passive-aggressive when sent in writing without the visual queues.

Online communication

This leads us to our next skill, which is communicating virtually. Especially in conversations where the other person may not read the content for several hours, it’s important that you’re communicating in a way that’s detailed but not too long-winded and summarizes your key questions, concerns and actions clearly. This is especially important in teams that are working asynchronously, where you may only have the chance to exchange messages once or twice in your daily work cycle. If your needs aren’t clear and your teammate has to come back to you for clarification it can lead to significant delay.

Time management

Another important skill to keep your work on track is time management. In an office, we have more clearly defined work times and it’s easier to know how projects are tracked and expected due dates. When working remotely, you lose access to many of these queues. Many workplaces supply work-wide project management tools such as Trello or Asana, however if your workplace doesn’t, ensure you have a system to keep yourself on track. Try setting feasible goals for your day, and make sure you’re taking appropriate breaks and shutting off from work at the end of the day.

These skills might seem simple, but when it comes to remote work, it’s important to be intentional about how you work and interact with your team.