Working from home is no longer a thing of the past as more and more companies have begun to allow their employees to meet deadlines even while they are not in the office. However, even if you have got the right tools and have everything planned and set up; working from home is still very different from working in office.
How to communicate better from home
Communication with co-workers and superiors alike is very important while being at home to maintain a proper connection. There are five essential tips that can be followed to improve communication with co-workers from home.
Making appointments: In every area of work, making proper planned appointments is necessary for proper organization of work. Just like you set time aside for making an appointment to consult a doctor, you should also make appointments in advance for important, work related telephone calls. By making sure to book a specific time, you can be assured that the concerned person would be focused and well prepared for the conversation. For making the call productive, it is essential to make preparations beforehand.
Staying focused in phone conferences: Although it is natural to stray when meetings especially telephonic conferences get long, it is essential to remain completely focused while attending any kind of phone conferences. Distractions must be avoided as much as possible and one should not involve himself with other tasks at the same time. It also needs to be ensured that there is enough silence in the background because that can prove to be a major hindrance in any conversation.
Attending weekly staff meetings: It is essential to keep yourself up to date with the happenings in the organization and to attend meetings for the purpose of setting new goals, reflecting on the performance, or for discussing about the current status of work. Even if you are working at home full-time, you should try to attend a meeting at least once a week for keeping in touch with the others.
Staying online as much as possible: People working from home should keep their computers switched on most of the time and keep a regular check on the incoming mails for responding to them as soon as possible. If you are not efficient and quick in that respect, your superiors in office may get the impression that you are not working enough, even if you are serving more than 8 hours a day. A quick response to e-mails will help remind people that you are completely focused on your work.
Be assertive: When you are not at office and working from elsewhere, taking initiatives and being proactive becomes an essential part of your work. Even if you have completed the targets for the day and are left with enough time, you can contact your superior for more work; this creates a good impression.
When you have made sure of all the above points, communicating in the right way proves to be a very effective tool.
