Employees today are becoming more concerned with their professional growth. They take time to join the training, part-time courses, or a postgraduate program to hone their knowledge and skills in their respective fields. In the construction industry, many contractors are taking contractor continuing education programs to renew their licenses.
When it comes to remote work, most workers find themselves struggling to get to know their roles and familiarize themselves with the workplace. This makes professional learning difficult since not all resources are present online. In this article, we’ll talk about how new employees can navigate the remote workplace and adapt to the demands of remote work.
Ask for a Copy of the Org Chart and an Onboarding Buddy
During the first few days of your job, you’ll undoubtedly have numerous questions. In an on-site setting, it’s easy to walk up or lean over to a coworker or your manager to ask questions. But in a WFH setting, you’ll often find yourself figuring out things on your own— from setting up your work email, finding out who handles IT issues, and filling out the payroll info.
Despite the availability of remote tools at your disposal, remote work isn’t as seamless as it seems. Technology can support work collaboration, but it doesn’t change the situation that everyone is physically isolated. Even the simplest questions can make new employees feel roadblocked and disoriented for new employees working from home. Without the necessary tools to understand the company’s duties and roles, it will take them longer to be productive and feel settled.
Upon hiring, ask the HR staff to provide you with basic tools and information to get by during the first week at your new job. These should include the org chart and the list of external and internal resources. You can also ask for an onboarding buddy if they offer it. An ideal onboarding buddy is someone who is tenured and can provide a detailed context to figure out how things work in the office.
Learn Different Communication Styles
In a modern office environment, people have different ways of communicating. Your younger coworkers may prefer Slack to email, while your boss often makes calls to receive updates on projects. Whatever communication style they use, it’s important to be aware of everyone’s preferred communication channel. This will help you adapt to their communication style to prevent miscommunication.
For example, if you have a coworker who forgot to respond to your email for several days, figure out other ways to make them respond instantly or ask them what communication platform they prefer.
When connecting with coworkers and managers for the first time, make sure to ask them about their preferred communication style. This will set the expectation of how determined you are to work and collaborate with them effectively. You should also explore other platforms to communicate with teammates and clients and suggest whichever you think works for the work process.
Embrace the Company Culture
Setting the org culture is one of the most prominent issues of remote work, as well as urging employees to embrace the company culture. Since everyone isn’t physically present in one space, it’s difficult to establish a connection with the company’s vision and mission.
If all interactions occur virtually, most team-building events and exercises will be conducted through video chat or a yearly in-person gathering. But if the office transitions to hybrid work and some report to the office while others remain remote, employees are likely to feel missed out. Remote employees don’t get to see everyone in action, so they have to exert efforts to know and understand the company’s core values.
When it comes to questions about the company culture, it’s better to direct your inquiries to your manager or HR. Ask them how they adapt their working styles to these values. You may also consider joining company initiatives you can get involved in. These strategies will support your growth and development in building a strong network in the organization.
Take Breaks
The difficult part of remote work is the inability to set the boundary between work and personal life. In normal circumstances, employees can transition by taking water cooler breaks or chatting with coworkers in the pantry.
With your new remote work, it’s tough to cope with the anxiety when you’re just starting out. That’s why taking breaks is important for your performance and well-being. You have to create the structure yourself by varying the length of breaks in between tasks. Still, don’t let your free time consume you and distract you from the task at hand.
The corporate workplace is changing dramatically, and managers and employers should find ways to adapt to today’s challenges. So if you find yourself in a remote work situation, you have to take it upon yourself to make your new job enjoyable and successful.
