The ultimate guide to career development while working remotely

Remember when professional development was an exciting part of professional life? It was exciting to think about what conferences we would attend, what courses we would take, and what mentoring opportunities we might pursue.

Overcoming the pandemic has accelerated our professional development in some important ways. We had to dig deep to be successful as a remote operator and adapt our business practices on the fly. These experiences have changed us. The fear, stress, and heartbreak we experienced gave us the chance to cultivate new aspects of our professional selves. The pandemic forced us to be unconventional and uncomfortable as we adapted to a new paradigm.

Now, as more vaccines become available and the economy gets back on track, we are beginning to glimpse the next chapter. Glassdoor's chief economist, Dr. Andrew Chamberlain, predicts that teleworking will become at least partially established and that hybrid working arrangements will become the norm in the near future. Here is the ultimate guide to help you advance your career while working remotely.

"Remote workers work best when at least some of the work takes place in the office. While fully remote teams have financial and staffing advantages, they also suffer from lower spontaneity, greater difficulty collaborating, and less innovation. Dr. Chamberlain explains. "Prepare "We look forward to an unprecedented wave of experimentation and innovation around hybrid remote-in-office roles - part remote, part in-office - in 2021 and beyond," Dr. Chamberlain predicts.

How do you professionally prepare for the use of remote or hybrid employees? A good first step is to recognize the self-management skills that got you through the pandemic. Refine these to advance your professional development in the next phase of this remarkable time of personal, professional and cultural growth.

Stellar career development from a distance

When many professionals left the office when the pandemic hit, they were not yet experienced remote workers. According to the Pew Research Center, before the pandemic, about 20% of employees were working remotely, while at the end of 2020, more than 70% were working remotely.

A significant percentage of employees have not only survived remote work, but have thrived in the job. Many professionals found their rhythm, developed their skills and cultivated new ones. A Harvard Business School (HBS) online survey of 1,500 professionals who worked remotely in 2020 found exciting results that suggest career growth. The survey results show:

HBS performance data:

• 98% were able to keep their jobs while working from home.
• 33% said their performance and professional product improved.
• 33% reported that they were able to concentrate better on their work while working remotely.

HBS professional development data:

• 35% said they read more about their own professional development.
• 29% took measures to further their education.
• 34% have taken online professional development courses.

HBS leadership/team data:

• 50% said that trust in leadership is intact.
• 50% said they continue to work well with their colleagues.
• 50% said they continue to receive support from colleagues.

HBS well-being data:

• 34% felt they were burnt out professionally.
• 69% were worried about the problems happening in the world.

The HBS survey found that 81% of respondents are interested in continuing to work remotely full-time or in a hybrid work schedule; 61% would like to continue working remotely two or three times a week, the survey found.

This is consistent with the results of Dr. Chamberlain's research. When he interviewed Glassdoor employees, Dr. Chamberlain notes that more than 70% of the Glassdoor team wants to continue working with a hybrid work schedule post-COVID.

"History shows that most employees will return to work in person at some point, but probably not in the traditional Monday-to-Friday office routine that has dominated corporate culture for a century. That's a welcome silver lining in a pandemic that has upended old ideas about geography of work and ushers in a new era of tools and openness to remote work." Dr. Chamberlain shares.

Initiate a new conversation

The workplace is changing all around us and in real time. This can give employees a rare opportunity to help shape the workplace of the future. When it comes to their professional development, performance reviews are an important place to start.

Don't wait to talk about performance like you have in the past. The formulaic quarterly assessment may not be a meaningful measure of your quarantine efforts; 62% of employees feel that performance reviews in their company are superficial and incomplete. So why not take the opportunity to start a new conversation about performance?

Kyle Elliott, founder and career coach at Caffeinated Kyle Consulting, advises: "Performance reviews look different when you work remotely and telecommute. Be prepared to be proactive and initiate performance conversations with your manager. Don't be afraid to approach your manager Ask for additional projects that play to your strengths and expand your capabilities. Consider scheduling a weekly or bi-weekly one-on-one with your manager to discuss your leadership development and growth."

Be proactive and ask for feedback in advance

You can get ahead of a structured review process by proactively asking for feedback. Inquiring about your performance and asking for feedback will help you grow in your role by giving you a feel for what's working well and what needs improvement. It also shows your boss that you are Marie Krebs, People Operations Manager at Learnerbly, adds: "Remote work is changing the conversation around performance reviews by removing many of the clues that companies use to get a sense of whether someone is For example, when working in person, managers observe how a person interacts with their colleagues and how committed they are to their work. It is much harder to assess these qualities when someone is working remotely. This guide for aspiring managers can help overcome such difficulties. Since we don't work together in person, we have to plan our conversations much more specifically when we work remotely.

Collaborate and connect with your network

Your internal network, your team and your colleagues play a big role in how quickly and easily you can get your work done. When you retreat into an isolated professional life, you close yourself off from one of your greatest professional resources - your colleagues. Your colleagues not only work with you, they can also train you. They introduce you to new concepts using familiar terms and examples.

Maintain contact with your colleagues and expand your circle whenever possible. "Look for opportunities within your company to expand your leadership skills. Ask your manager if there are other roles, tasks or projects that could use your support. Often managers are just waiting for you to reach out." shares Elliott.

Look for new projects that will expand your internal network and give you the opportunity to work on different projects with new colleagues. This is a safe situation where you can learn from your colleagues and show them what you know. Time is always tricky. There is always a lot to do, but consider these risks as opportunities for your professional development.

Networks are a driver for professional development; both when you deal with your internal network of colleagues and with your external network of current and former colleagues, friends, former classmates, customers, etc. Your network is powerful, whether you're looking for insight, support and advice, or to share these things.

Elliott advises: "Be aware that not all personal development has to take place at your current employer. Find mentors outside your company to support your development. Use LinkedIn to find and connect with mentors and sponsors .

Hone your skills

Find a professional skill that you know you could improve on. Maybe your communication skills would benefit from a refresher. Maybe you're terrified of public appearances. Maybe there are certain technical skills you need to improve. Think about the areas in which you feel less confident and resolve to improve those areas.

Elliott points out: "Distance learning makes personal development more accessible than ever before. Take advantage of LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, edX and similar online learning platforms to expand your remote skills.

Grow into a leadership role

Refine and develop your leadership skills. Many employees have had to manage themselves and juggle multiple priorities during the pandemic. For some the challenge was overwhelming, but for others it was an incentive to develop their leadership skills. This is a challenging task from which employees and employers benefit equally.

Krebs advises: "An employee who wants to develop his leadership skills must ensure that he has communicated this desire to a manager." She points out that leadership is a specific area where you can enlist the help of a mentor. This is also an area that can be helpful when it comes to getting support from sponsors.

Advance your career

When it comes to advancing your career as a remote or hybrid professional, you'll be able to advance your professional development. That's part of what makes remote work so fulfilling. You have more options to adapt. Use it. Make your job the job that fits your life.

Now that you know how to navigate your remote work career, find the companies that suit you!