Virtual success: best practices for working remotely

I recently attended a company holiday party… and was pleased to learn that business relationships that I have been building online (phone, email, Yammer) were successfully transitioned to real, in person, face-to-face relationships.

I enjoyed having my colleagues say “I enjoy receiving your email messages” and “I’m the one who emails you about expense reports” and “thank you for liking my Yammer posts” and “Your smile is just as bright in person”… even the company CEO said “I recognize you from Yammer.”

If you are working remotely, remember to post a current photo in your online profile and keep a visible status in the company network. Respond to posts and email messages, return calls promptly, and keep your presence-awareness status current.

The benefits are huge for working at home. Develop a strategy for success. Ann Grove, my presentation partner and a work-at-home veteran, presents on this topic with me. We coauthored an article that was published in the November 2011 issue of the Society for Technical Communication (STC) Intercom magazine: VirtualSuccess_BestPracticesWorkingRemotely.

If you lack self-discipline, working at home might not be a good fit for you. Assess your strengths and keep reaching out.

Need a little humor? See the possibilities of working at home as portrayed in this online comic “Why working from home is awesome and terrible” by the Oatmeal.