Sydney Career Coach, Tina Monk, was recently interviewed by She Defined Magazine where she was asked to impart tips to assist staff working remotely to climb the career ladder.
In the article, Tina explained that many people are thriving in the new landscape of work with recent research revealing that 70 per cent of people who worked remotely throughout the pandemic want to continue doing so.
“Many of my clients love remote work for its flexibility, freedom to use their time better, saved time and money from commuting, better productivity, and greater happiness and satisfaction,” says Tina.
For others, it has been a different story. For example, extroverted employees reported feeling isolated and disengaged. Women had a harder transition to remote work than men, often finding themselves busier and more overwhelmed than before.
“Women may be more likely to want to work from home than men,” Tina explained. “They have, however, had a harder time doing so, reporting higher rates of stress, depression and sheer number of hours worked, especially if they have children.”
True workplace flexibility is being thwarted by antiquated corporate ideals and values, evident by many businesses racing to ‘get back to normal’, meaning a full return to the office. Some are even forcing their staff to return in person, accusing any who refuse of simply “pretending to work” from home. Blindly returning to business as usual represents a wasted opportunity to build resilient, flexible workplaces that suit a diverse range of people. It also falsely assumes that employees don’t work as hard from home.
Tips for getting a promotion when working from home
Below are Tina’s top tips for negotiating a promotion if you’re working from home or remotely.
- For employees wanting promotion in the new landscape, the rules and conventions are murky at best. A manager might feel less accessible via video link, or the distance might make it harder to demonstrate success. It’s also difficult to gauge the state of the company when you’re out of the office. Not having the ability to wander past your colleagues’ desk to share information, ask for advice or simply catch up makes it more difficult to form and maintain professional connections.
- Making your mark while working from home begins with a mindset shift regarding productivity and success and asking difficult questions. Tina sees clients who limit themselves all the time by making assumptions about how the company is doing. It is true that due to the pandemic, many companies are struggling or have gone under, but many are thriving. Until you’ve had conversations with higher-ups and looked at job postings, you won’t know whether or not a promotion is feasible.
- Find creative ways to use remote working arrangements to your advantage. Highlight your strengths to your bosses and demonstrate the valuable contributions you make while working from home.
- It is important to voice your desire to progress within your current company. Make your aspirations clear, and don’t be afraid to ask direct questions about future promotion opportunities. If you’re not getting the answers you want at your current position, consider changing companies and moving up a different ladder. It may seem risky and difficult during a pandemic, but it is a candidates’ market so don’t assume that it can’t be done.
Read the She Defined article here »
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