Those who work from home have to communicate more – and answer three key questions to their supervisor.
Many companies in Germany had positive experiences with working from home during the corona crisis – and want to stick to it after the pandemic. In doing so, they meet the wishes of many employees.
But as flexible and self-determined as working from home may be – one of the biggest disadvantages of working from home is: Many employees have the feeling that their work is not being seen and that their supervisor does not know what is being done from their desk at home.
To put your mind at ease: Most supervisors usually have better things to do than check the work of their employees every minute. However, many employees still have a bad feeling: What if my work is not seen or not seen enough? How do I communicate important successes to my superiors without being annoying?
Six important tips for proof of performance in the home office.
Tip 1: increase communication in the home office
“The best way to make your own work transparent through increased online communication in order to present the interim status of longer-term projects or tasks,” says career coach David Döbele,
Employees should, for example, keep their superiors up to date through regular exchanges beyond team meetings or group chats. By forwarding important milestones by email, for example.
Important: It is important “to take into account the individual personality of the boss and his preferences when communicating,” explains Döbele. Some managers will be relieved to propose a weekly video exchange. A two-week five-minute phone call is already too much for other bosses. Here, too, the motto is: show sensitivity and meet the boss when he needs information.
Tip 2: Answer three questions in status reports
No matter what type of boss you are dealing with, most of them are primarily interested in three questions about work in their team:
- Is everything going?
- Are there any issues I need to know about?
- Do you need something from me?
In any case, you should answer these questions briefly and precisely in your status reports – instead of meticulously listing every little to-do that you have completed today.
For short-term tasks that do not take up a lot of time, “it is best to simply send the results anyway so as not to waste time,” advises Coach Döbele. “If you want, you can ask for brief feedback here too.”
Tip 3: react quickly
Anyone who reacts quickly to e-mails or chat requests from their supervisor shows their counterpart that they are alert and available. In this way, employees can collect plus points from the boss. Nevertheless: exceptions must be possible. At least a short answer that shows: I am currently on duty can be worthwhile. Example: “I have another meeting with a customer ahead of me. Contact me afterwards. “
For the home office, Coach Döbele also recommends working and being available when the boss is working. “If, for example, a supervisor does not reach his employees at 11 a.m., and that is also the case the next day at 3 p.m., it can quickly appear as if the employee is abusing trust and not working – even if he does For example, catching up time in the evening. “
Tip 4: Set up a mini newsletter on your own behalf
Do you have a larger area of responsibility and your boss is not the most communicative? Simply share great successes and ongoing projects in a regular email with the entire team as a kind of newsletter – and don’t forget to include your manager in the mailing list.
This form of communication can be particularly worthwhile for middle managers, on the one hand to appreciate the work of their own team members and on the other hand to bring their own superiors up to date. It also makes sense to look ahead to the next few days.
On the cycle: Not less than every two weeks, not more often than once a week. Nothing is more annoying than having too many emails in your inbox.
Tip 5: Show with questions what you have achieved
Have you been on the phone to check out the service providers for the new website? Share your hard work with your manager, but in a charming way – namely with a question. Try something like: “Hello Ms. Lohmüller, which of the six offers in the appendix do you like the most for the new website?” Now your boss knows that you have made six offers.
Feel free to add your own assessment, for example: “My favorite is the company XYZ. Your offer is not the cheapest, but we have had good experiences with them twice in the past and they seem to me to be the most attractive in terms of value for money. “
Tip 6: Be active on social media where the boss sees it
Do you notice that your boss has recently discovered LinkedIn for himself? Wonderful. Take advantage of this knowledge and post a picture of your workplace every now and then at the start of the day or say what you are looking forward to today. That can definitely become a trademark.
Important: You have to feel comfortable with this form of self-expression – and be able to live with the fact that one or the other team member will certainly comment on your subtle boasting.
