Be Focused – Since you’re working remotely, your output really matters, and you want to be efficient with the work that you have to do. If you’re not used to working remotely, this might feel intimidating. One  showed that remote workers actually worked 1.4 more days per month than their office-based counterparts, resulting in more than three additional weeks of work per year. This is perhaps due to a feeling of pressure to work more or harder to prove to managers that they are working. It’s true that working remotely requires a certain amount of trust – but don’t over-do it or cause yourself extra stress. For many of you this is a new arrangement and it will take time to settle into the new ‘normal’. Conversely, remote workers putting in extra time can be the result of people being enabled to work in a manner which suits them. With minimal (if any) commuting time, and an increased engagement with the company, the extra 1.4 days per month could simply reflect higher commitment and a genuine desire to do a good job.

Even pre-Covid-19, more and more people have been moving towards Results Oriented Work Environments (ROWE). In a ROWE, you measure team members by their performance, results or output, not by their presence in the office or the hours that they work. Whilst you might not have moved from a standard 9 to 5 to a fully-blown ROWE in the space of a week, there are elements of this work style that are important to consider. For example, a ROWE requires clear communication about output and expectations – and this is something that is

really, really key in successful remote working. This is very important for manager managing remote teams.

If you’re not clear on what is needed from you and what the expectations are, then you must communicate this to your line manager and make sure you’re able to get clarity, because that is something that will ultimately set you up for success!