How to Be a Good Remote Employee
Ever since the global pandemic, remote work has become an option for many accountants. While the landscape has shifted over recent years in terms of the preference or requirements for remote work, it is still possible to get a remote job if you find the right employer. However, with many companies returning to office on a full-time or hybrid schedule, the broader attitudes towards remote working have changed since the pandemic, and being a good remote employee requires a specific set of skills that I'm going to teach you today.
Remote Employee Skill #1 - Team Communication
The number one complaint that the older generation has about remote workers is that they can't see them and talk to them like they did in the office. As a remote worker, it's your job to communicate often enough so that they forget there's a difference between in office and remote communication. I have found success with direct messages, group chats, and cold calls by phone or by application (much to the surprise of my younger coworkers). In my years of working remotely, I made it clear to my my coworkers that it's acceptable to call with a quick question and that communication goes both ways. By creating this dynamic, I've mitigated the friction that typically comes with trying to schedule a call with a remote worker who's reluctant to get on the phone. This frequent communication lets my team know that I am available and able to support them as they need it, and they don't ever worry about me being too busy to help them.
Remote Employee Skill #2 - Team Coordination
Working remotely means that you aren't in the office with your co-workers to get things done. However, many aspects of modern accounting rely on some sort of Team communication or a prepare and review structure. In either circumstance, team coordination is important. In the remote environment, having your team understand your priorities and timelines is critically important, even on a daily basis. The best way to achieve team coordination in a remote environment is to share your calendar with your team and have meetings and calendar blocks visible for everyone to see. If you haven't done this in the past, it might be shocking to hear, but trust me when I tell you that having my calendar available for my team has made a huge difference in getting work done. My team members are able to put meetings on my calendar to have a quick question, review something for an hour, or simply have a working session like you would in the office. The worst thing that a employer can say about a remote employee is “ I don't know what is filling up their time” and taking the time to coordinate with your team using a calendar makes a huge difference in addressing this concern.
Remote Employee Skill #3 - Demonstrate Work Product
Because remote employees cannot be observed doing their work in many cases, it's important for them to show off their work product and work process. Ideally, the work process parts are covered in the two skills noted above. However, showing off work product itself tends to be a separate skill. As a remote employee, you should aim to deliver your work product with confidence. Something as simple as an email with an attachment saying that this is done and you're ready for the next thing can go a long way in terms of how people perceive your value. Anytime something extra is done, it should be communicated by email as well so there is documented evidence of your work getting done in a timely and effective manner. The skill may seem minor at first, but it goes a very long way for remote only employees.
In 2025 and beyond, one of the primary concerns with remote employees will be that they are not productive compared to the in-office alternative. As a remote employee, your responsibility is to master these three skills so that your employer doesn't need to worry about that. Once you are able to prove how productive and involved with the team you are, you can really shine as a great remote employee!