Although the pandemic is over, some of its implications are here to stay. People are more immunity-conscious and money-savvy than ever.

The work front has changed more than personal mindsets. Remote work is one of the lasting impacts as countless employers around the world have decided to embrace the model for good. Likewise, many professionals who lost their jobs during lockdowns and picked independent roles plan to continue working from home.

Either way, the WFH concept sounds good, as it helps you save time, money, and stress from long commutes. Not surprisingly, the popularity of WFH is booming.

But there is another side to the picture because permanent remote work also has a few downsides. It can cause stress, isolation, and productivity challenges amid a lack of human interaction and endless technical glitches. The problems appear even more daunting when you consider the permanent nature of the arrangement. You may end up feeling frustrated sooner than later. However, you can rely on some skills and strategies to avail the advantages of the model and give your best. Here is a list of essential remote work skills to survive a permanent WFH role.

Ability to work independently

Working in a remote role means you should be an independent professional, willing to resolve your problems without much handholding. It is perhaps the most critical skill employers expect people to have before hiring them for WFH positions. While they provide you with communication and collaboration tools, responses from co-workers and managers may come promptly. Likewise, you cannot always depend on your IT support team to resolve tech issues on the fly. Being resourceful enables you to solve most problems independently. Moreover, you are less likely to experience frustration due to unexpected delays and glitches.

Excellent communication skills

Remote work thrives on good communication, so you must have these skills to ace a permanent WFH role. Written communication is most significant in remote work environments where all official messages go through emails and messaging tools. Lack of message clarity can cause problems as clients and co-workers may misconstrue the conversation. You must ramp up your writing skills to prevent miscommunication with team members and clients. Also, pay more attention to what others have to say and think before replying. You may even have to learn to read between the lines.

Self-motivation

Self-motivation is another essential skill to give your best in a long-term WFH role. Since you do not have bosses, managers, and peers to push you harder, being self-motivated is the only way to go. You may even get to pick your projects and decide on your deadlines if you are an independent professional. The isolation and frustration may get on your nerves more often than you imagine. But being able to motivate yourself can help you in both situations. You can follow yourself up and ensure the completion of projects on time and in quality. At the same time, it helps combat negative emotions and thought patterns.

Willingness to embrace digital tools

Working remotely requires you to use tools for everything, from staying connected with clients to collaborating on projects, managing your productivity, and tracking time. Remote access tools enable you to access business data and networks from home networks. But using these tools requires a good understanding of their features. Moreover, you must be extra conscious about security while accessing data remotely. A willingness to embrace new digital tools, including those for attendance tracking, and integrate them into your daily workflow is another trait that sets you up for a successful WFH stint.

Emotional intelligence

Over the years, emotional intelligence has emerged as one of the most in-demand skills for corporate professionals. In fact, it is even more crucial for people working in permanent WFH positions. Since you cannot see the non-verbal cues from clients and co-workers, high emotional intelligence can be a lifesaver. It helps you read their intentions and respond appropriately. You can rely on the skill to truly listen to people, solve problems, and address conflicts. Additionally, emotional intelligence boosts self-awareness, empathy, and adaptability. These traits make you an excellent remote worker.

Team player mindset

A team player mindset empowers you to contribute positively even while working at home alone. Team players fulfill their responsibilities well and on time, keep co-workers informed, and practice accountability. These qualities make them easy to work with as managers need not hover over them, and co-workers can depend on them when they need help. Good team players are also open to working with people from diverse backgrounds. Companies with a WFH culture hire employees from around the world, so language, culture, traditions, and communication styles may pose challenges. But a team mindset enables you to overcome these hindrances and collaborate closely with others.

Resilience

Another must-have skill that can keep you afloat as a permanent WFH employee is resilience. Remote work often entails immense work-life balance challenges because there are no boundaries between personal and professional lives. You may find yourself struggling with a deadline during a family vacation or taking a client call in the middle of dinner. But resilience is the only trait that can help you stay sane amid the long-term WFH commitment. It also enables you to cope with other challenges such as social isolation as you miss your colleagues and office at some point. But WFH winners do not let negative thought patterns take over and make the most of what they have.

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WFH comes with several perks, such as independence, flexibility, productivity, and zero commute hassles. But you cannot overlook the other side of the picture because it has a fair share of downsides. However, the right mindset enables you to make the most of your strengths and overcome the challenges of the remote model. You can imbibe these skills to give your best and make a mark as a successful WFH professional in the long run. The best thing about these skills is that they are easy to cultivate. You may even have most of them already, and the only thing you must do is to hone them as a part of the permanent-WFH prep.

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