It may be difficult for a freelancer or any other remote worker to show their work ethics and qualities to clients and supervisors considering the distance barrier. Several employers are skeptical about having their employees work from home since they cannot be sure how they use their time. It saddles you with the responsibility of proving your worth when you work from home.
Working from home can put a lot of pressure on you considering the number of possible distractions, demand to deliver on works and projects, limited resources, and, lastly, the pressure to keep up with work standards. It becomes worse when people undermine your hard work simply because your workspace is a few steps away from your bedroom.
While it might require a lot of conscious effort to show productivity as a remote worker, this is not an impossible task. I’d be showing you practical steps to take to show you are productive while working remotely.
Things You Should Not Do To Show You’re Productive
First, you should know things you should not do while you are forced to prove your productivity. It is understandable that while your productivity and relevance at work are being questioned, you may be tempted to want to impress.
There are, however, some things you should not do in a bid to impress your employer or superiors.
1. Do not take extra tasks to prove your efficiency
While the thought of taking more jobs might be enticing at first, especially to your employer who wants to make the best out of your time, you will realize on a closer look that the quality of jobs you do matters as much as the quantity.
Taking more tasks might lead to a drastic reduction in the standard of jobs done, and this might translate to a decrease in productivity, which you are trying to avoid. Rather than burden yourself with extra tasks, spend your time wisely in getting your jobs done to perfection.
2. Do not readily take up jobs with tight deadlines
When trying to impress a superior, supervisor, or client, you should also be realistic with the possibility of getting a job done. It’s best to turn down a job if you know you cannot deliver on the deadline.
Taking up such tasks only to miss the deadline or turn in a completed job of less quality will do no good in showing you are productive. Only take jobs with enough time to deliver except when the situation truly calls for otherwise.
3. Never bite more than you can chew
Having so many uncompleted tasks is bad for you as a freelancer or remote worker. It would help if you were not greedy with work or tasks that you take up.
It is common for people who work remotely to want to bite more than they can chew because often they have a payment pattern that commensurates with the amount of work done. You cannot keep taking jobs, especially when you know you have so much undone. You should finish up a task before taking up another.
4. It’s okay to say no
Many employees working from home have not learned how to say no without standing the risk of insubordination. You do not have to say yes to everything, either out of fear or willingness to make your boss happy. You can always say no if their demand is unrealistic. Remember, you get to do the job, not them.
How to Show You’re Productive When Working Remotely
Here are healthy ways to prove your productivity even as you work from home.
1. Never miss a deadline
Missing deadlines are the greatest signs of unproductivity. If you have to take all precautions rightly, you should never miss a deadline no matter what. Always deliver projects on time.
2. Be highly responsive and available
When you are not in physical contact with your employer, the greatest threat to work progress will be that you are unavailable, and communication is impaired.
You always need to make sure that you respond in time, and you can always be reached for information and updates.
3. Give updates: be accountable
It would help if you carried your employer along all the way. Show them your work progress; this reassures them that you are working and not on personal errands.
It is advisable to deliver your bulk projects in batches as it is a way to stay accountable and ensure steady work progress.
4. Make your works accessible
Knowing fully well that you are not in physical contact with your boss or employer, you need to make all of your works accessible. You do not want to turn in a project that is unreadable or inaccessible.
Try to unzip files to improve accessibility. Also, make sure you have a properly ordered job with a guide if possible since you will not be there in person to explain what you’ve done.
You should note that the quality of the job done proves your worth and productivity. Every employer wants to work with someone who can work independently with minimal stress, delivering on jobs efficiently. Be this worker, and your productivity will never be questioned.
Lira Johnson is a business analyst with 6 years of experience. She enjoys using what she has learned from 6 years of different challenges in businesses to help different starters achieve business growth and also help them establish clear goals that take their business from where it is to where the business owner wants it to be.