“People are more productive working at home than people would have expected. Some people thought that everything was just going to fall apart, and it hasn’t.” -Mark Zukerberg
The shift to remote work due to the Covid- 19 pandemic has changed the scenario of the working culture. It has become the new normal! Many industry forecasters believe that a significant percentage of work will continue remotely even after the pandemic.
Remote work has not only changed the working culture but also the hiring process. Now people are hired based on their soft skills. Remember, skills are not as soft as they sound. They have the power to make or break your careers, especially in the case of remote work.
Don’t get scared! If you are also working remotely and want to know the essential soft skills for successful remote work, then be with us. We will walk through the different skills required for remote workers to succeed in their field of work.
What are Soft Skills?
I know you know about soft skills. But, do you know everything about it? Let me tell you everything in detail about soft skills.
So, soft skills are non-technical skills that are related to how you work. The skills include how you communicate with colleagues, how you achieve targets, how you solve problems, how to respond to a situation, and many more. It is the most basic yet vital part of working culture.
Essential Soft Skills for Successful Remote Work
A person with immense technical and job specialties but zero soft skills cannot survive and succeed in the workplace. Therefore, having soft skills can make you shine at your workplace and get you all the success you want. Let’s have a look at essential soft skills for successful remote work.
Communication
“Good communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity.” The virtual workplace has redefined the word “communication.” Workplace communication is much more than just talking to each other. It is about the exchange of information and ideas, making sure to stay aligned and updated.
Organizations use different communication platforms like Slack, OpenGrowthhub, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom to stay in touch with their employees. So you better use them wisely and stay connected in the loop with the team members.
Time Management
“Time isn't the main thing. It’s the only thing.” Make a routine and stick to it! Create a to-do list and work on it. Before you sign off, make a list of the most important tasks for the next day. This will help you achieve them on time and without any rush. You can also save your time and energy by trying to complete all of one type of task in the first place, before heading towards the next task.
Availability
Sara Tallion, engagement manager for Theorem, says, “To show your colleague that you are still an active participant, make yourself available for collaborations.”
Many employees can feel isolated and disconnected in the new world of work. Make sure that you are available to your employees. Build a connection with them, give them constructive feedback, help them deal with the work from home stress, and organize activities to make them feel connected.
Conflict Management
Once, Thomas Crum said, “The quality of our lives depends not on whether or not we have conflicts, but on how we respond to them.” This affects our work-life too. No one likes conflict!
Conflict management is one of the essential skills one should have to be successful while working remotely. Your aim in the workplace should not avoid but resolve conflicts. An employee with strong conflict resolution skills can effectively handle workplace issues.
Conflicts ultimately diminish productivity and damage the team bond. Having this skill can help you maintain a good bond with your colleagues.
Stress Tolerance
Stress tolerance is the ability to remain relatively calm during high-stress situations without experiencing physical or emotional symptoms. Online workplaces are full of deadlines and workloads, which can lead to stress. It has become more common in the remote workplace.
According to a study, “48% of employees experienced high to extreme stress over the past year, a 7% increase over the last two years.” You must have the skill to endure the pressure and uncertainty without becoming negative and hostile. Managing your emotions calmly and maturely will help you make the right decisions during tough times.
Adaptability
“Adaptability is not a limitation. It means the power of resistance and assimilation.” - Mahatma Gandhi.
Adaptability is the most basic skill one should have while remote working. You must be adaptable to learning new work, new tools, and managing work when the internet goes down. You should always be prepared to adapt to unexpected situations like changes in platforms, IT issues, and other technical changes.
Conclusion
We are all likely to already have soft skills; it's just that we need to work on them a little to sustain ourselves in the workplace. We have to remember that remote work is the future, and the companies will be looking for candidates who can work effectively and productively. Therefore, you need to adapt, communicate, and change with the new world of work. Keep learning digital skills. They will help you become a successful remote worker.
OpenGrowth Hub equips remote teams with the tools they need to function well by enabling virtual collaboration. Aiming to build an effective team while nurturing leadership in each and everyone.
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