The rise of technology and remote working has meant that more people than ever are choosing to ditch the office for the lure of working from a new city, a coffee shop, or even the beach. The freedom this lifestyle offers is hard to beat – it allows you both to work and therefore get paid, and also to see the world.
But whilst it might seem like there are no cons to this approach, there are certain things that you need to consider as a digital nomad. It’s easy in the office to have casual conversations with co-workers, get involved with ad-hoc projects, and get help with any issues, but that can be hard when you’re a remote worker, especially if you’re in a different time zone. It can also take extra effort and planning to take charge of your growth and development – there’s no manager working next to you who can book a whole team training day.
Alongside role-specific training, there are certain areas in that all digital nomads need to excel. In this post, we take a look at three of the most important.
Asynchronous working skills
Part of the joy of flexible working is being able to decide when and where you work. This naturally means that you’re unlikely to be online at the exact same time as your colleagues, even if there is some crossover. As a result, you’ll need to ensure your employer supports asynchronous work.
Asynchronous working focuses on results instead of attendance; allowing individuals to balance their work and life better, without having to worry about working specific hours. As a result, it’s essential for teammates to have strong written communication skills. Asynchronous workers also need to be consistent about leaving clear messages for each other on joint tasks and being able to make their own decisions without having to wait for another person to reply.
Communication skills
It’s no surprise that the ability to communicate well is an essential skill for remote working. When you reduce face-to-face interactions, it’s important to be clear and concise in all of your communication so you can be sure your message will be understood as you intended.
Knowing how to listen and understand what others are saying is also a critical aspect of effectively communicating on video calls. The more proficient we become at these skills, the more successful our remote work experience will be. It takes practice, but honing our communication skills can make all the difference to team rapport and success.
Problem-solving skills
At times, it can be difficult to manage a remote workload – especially when you’re working at different times than your colleagues, so can’t lean on them for help. As a result, having strong problem-solving skills is essential when navigating this type of work situation.
Problem-solving skills enable remote teams to craft solutions independently and efficiently – even when everyone is spread out throughout the world. With a strong sense of trust and accountability, issues can be quickly identified, communicated, and solved before they have a chance to derail projects or disrupt workflow. In turn, all these elements together help boost creativity, drive innovation, and produce better work results overall.
Article written by Mavis Miller