How to be a team player while working remotely

Contact breeds familiarity, familiarity breeds trust and trust nurtures teamwork... This pretty much holds true from teams where all members are physically working from a common office.

However, workplaces across the globe are now becoming more responsive towards their employees’ need for work-life balance, and with new-age technology, working remotely, from home, is now a norm rather than an exception. With geographies no longer a barrier, it is common to see teams where members from different countries, continents, and cultures come together to realize a common goal. However, with no physical proximity, being a key and productive team worker can be both exhilarating and exasperating! How you can turn the situation to your advantage is simply in your hands. It’s all about adapting to the situation and figuring out ways to not let remote working be an impediment and impact your productivity.

Here are a few tips that may be borne in mind while working remotely:

1) Understand common goals: You need to realize that there is no greater joy than working with a person who is in line with the overall objective of the entire team. So it’s important that you are in constant touch with the team leader and other team members to align your work goals with the overall goals of the team and work accordingly.

2) Be available: So what if you are working remotely? Give your teammates multiple ways to get in touch with you. Don’t forget to respond to your emails and phone calls.

3) Willingness to learn: Show the zeal and a willingness to learn from others in the team irrespective of how experienced you are. It’s easy to lag behind others if you are away from the workplace for too long. To keep yourself updated with the latest work related information and stay relevant be open and receptive to others in the team. When I started working remotely, the first time someone suggested using “Dropbox” to save data for the team to view it in real-time and save effort, I had no clue what “Dropbox” was!! It was then that I realized that I had to keep myself updated by regularly reading up on new developments in my area of work and also by keeping my eyes and ears open to other things that could help me work successfully from home. That also meant asking a lot of questions, even if they sounded funny to others!

4) Accept your mistakes: In case someone points out an error made by you, be humble to accept it; rather use it as an opportunity to improve and become better. This will instill confidence in everyone about your ability to adapt and improve.

5) Communication is the key: Communicate regularly to keep up with the other team members and know exactly what is expected of you from time to time. Also, do not hesitate to reach out to teammates when in doubt. It’s better to spend a few minutes on a call and then deliver exactly what is expected rather than making assumptions and then being told to redo it later; something that can prove detrimental in the long run. A high frequency of such incidents can make employers lose confidence in the very concept of hiring those who work remotely.   Moreover, regular communication can help you build a rapport with others and develop a sense of trust and understanding, which are essential for forging lasting relationships, both personal and professional.

6) Share and learn…don’t hold back: Nurture an attitude to share your ideas, views and information with the team, even if it means that someone else will benefit from them and not you. It shows that you believe in developing camaraderie.

7) Make maximum use of technology: The Internet has made it possible for virtual meeting of remote teams. This helps people to connect instantly. Reach out and be available to your teammates regularly over email, Skype, What’s App online chat rooms and instant messaging.

8) Prove your dependability: A person is judged by the promises he/she makes and those who keep their word define strong character. Show commitment and deliver as promised. Eliminate the need of constant reminders for deliveries expected from you. In case you can see any delay; be proactive and inform the concerned teammates well in advance, so contingency plans can be made accordingly.

9) Respect time zones, cultures, and personal space: If your team spans multiple countries, you must learn to respect their time zone differences. Whenever you call a fellow team member in another country, be sensitive to the local time there. Also you should try and understand the cultural differences, and reach out as per the cultural expectations. Reading up on the internet about the same can be a great booster.

Even if you work in the same time zone, do give personal space to the others. Be proactive and find out beforehand the convenient and preferred times when you can contact the person.

Remember:

Working in a remote team can be quite rewarding. It can be quite cost effective and energy saving, as you save time commuting and also on formal office paraphernalia. Remote working can lead to a greater productivity and overall motivation, if handled well. Great teams don’t develop overnight. A lot of time and effort goes into building a rapport with other team members and instilling confidence in your work. Once these things fall in place, it’ll not be long before you can contribute efficiently, seamlessly, and synergistically to your team and be treated as an equally valued member.

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