The year 2020 brought forth many changes with one of the most significant being the transition to working from home. The global pandemic changed the corporate landscape forever regarding remote working. It provided us an unofficial, real-time case study of the possibilities, benefits, and challenges that working from home presents. We were forced into remote work by a global pandemic that ravaged not only our health care system but also our economy.
I currently work in Oil & Gas as a consultant so the impact to my industry was imminent. Oil prices hit negative for the first time in history and layoffs were abundant. I knew I needed to prepare to do everything I could to demonstrate my value to my company in the case that we too had layoffs (spoiler alert: we did :-/). This was especially important for me seeing as I had just gotten hired weeks before COVID-19 began to worsen in the US, forcing most cities and states into emergency lockdown. I began my current role on March 3rd, 2020. I was in the office not even a full two weeks before we were all sent to work from home. It is baffling to digest that I’m still working from home, nearly a full year later. (No complaints, though!)
One of our first company townhall meetings of the pandemic confirmed my layoff suspicions. At the time, our CEO was honest and did not confirm upcoming layoffs but did not deny them either. I knew that layoffs were probable and that I immediately needed to shift into work survival mode. I could not afford to be lost in the crowd or seen as a new-hire that can be let go of easily. I needed to make my value evident, quickly. If layoffs were coming, I needed the decision makers at my company to know that I was someone worth keeping.
In other words, I needed to make them feel me sis! Here are my five tips for making your presence felt while working from home.
- Update your work avatar to a professional photo. Perception is everything. Having a professional photo in which you look confident, poised, and intelligent for your work avatar is extremely valuable because people will subconsciously accept and expect this version of you in every virtual encounter. Although some work meetings require our video presence, most virtual interactions will be between someone looking at your name next to your avatar. When we first began working remotely, I did not have a photo attached to my work avatar. This was problematic for a couple of reasons. In meetings, my presence was marked only by my initials (C.H.) which was not helpful seeing as I knew hardly any of my coworkers or superiors. As new employee, I’d met majority of coworkers only once or not at all. I knew this could be problematic come decision-making time. People need the ability to put a name with a face. Even if you are well acquainted with your work counterparts, human memory is quick to fade. Your work avatar is a constant reminder of who you are (physically) and how you should be perceived. Your avatar sets the tone for every encounter you’ll have virtually. If you look timid, shy and uncertain in your avatar, people will think of you that way. If you don’t have an avatar, maybe they won’t think of you at all. Knowing this, I purposefully chose a photo of me not smiling, like a traditional headshot. I didn’t want or need to look friendly, I needed to look like I know what I’m talking about. I decided I wanted to look like a boss. My title is Senior Consultant, but I wanted to look like a Manager. Managers are less likely to get laid off when the going gets tough. So, I changed my avatar to the photo below. In this photo, I look like a boss. In doing this I am sending my coworkers a virtual subliminal message – talk to me nice, respect my opinion, and keep me around.
- Participate in virtual company events. Virtual events can feel lame, I get it. Gathering virtually simply does not have the same impact as in-person meetings and often-times can feel purposeless. If we view virtual events this way however, we overlook the value they can bring to our careers in contributing to our potential longevity in the company. The purpose is the same as above, stay visible. Employee engagement is more crucial now in a time where you can show up to work without ever being seen. Participating in virtual events conveys to your company that you are excited about your job and are genuinely engaged in the company culture. This is an easy way to gain a positive rapport as an enthusiastic team member. Although this is non-work related, I imagine it can only help your case if the time comes when layoffs are imminent.
- Reach out to co-workers from different teams for help. This right here has been key and completely necessary for me being in a new role where I am still learning and growing in the knowledge of our company business practices. This, however, can be valuable for anyone, not just new hires. Collaboration with coworkers builds positive rapport and conveys team working ability. It also shows you’re willing to do what’s necessary to get the job done. I personally believe virtual introductions are much easier than in-person. So what if you’ve never met these people. When you need to ask for help in person, you first must muster the courage to walk to someone’s desk, interrupt whatever they are working on, take in their negative or positive body language and then launch into whatever question or concept you need help on. Virtually, you simply send an instant message and if they respond, they respond. And if they do not, here’s yet another person who’s familiar with who you are. Interactions amongst coworker’s matter.
- Greet coworkers at the start of meetings – small talk is your friend. This is such an easy way to be visible and make your presence known. You don’t have to be a comedian or an expert conversationalist to simply say hi and uphold conversation. This helps your coworkers and superiors interpret you as a person – with feelings, emotions and value. The last thing you want to do is be seen only as a worker. Find commonality with your coworkers by speaking on subjects everyone can relate to. My personal favorite small-talk topics before meetings are sports, the weather, quarantine hobbies I’ve picked up, and how I’m ready to go outside already.
- Get involved in company engagement groups. Similar to point two, being involved in extracurricular employee engagement groups provides visibility across teams and often provides interaction with coworkers you typically would not encounter in your day to day duties. Being exposed to different managers and peers across different teams can only help your case in the time of decision making. As a result of the racial reckoning with the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, my company launched a diversity council. For me personally, there could be no better opportunity to be engaged and contribute to the needed changes in our industry and company.
I hope these tips will help you stay hired and productive in your time of working from home. Virtual cheers!
