How Remote Workers Can Get a Promotion - The Muse

How Remote Workers Can Get a Promotion - The MuseHow Remote Workers Can Get a PromotionEver heard the saying Do things, tell people? Its sage advice for any employee, but its even more important when youre on a remote team, and andrang the risk of being out of sight and out of mind. Sure, some people assume thats a benefit of working from home (e.g., How would your boss know if you took a two-hour lunch?) But theres a flipside to that coin When youre exceeding expectations and there are no casual stops by your boss desk to fill her in on all youre doing- how will she ever know?If you want the same raises, gold stars, or promotions youd receive if you worked in an office, youve gotta make some noise. And you have to do it without being all socially-awkward-penguin about it. Try these four strategies1. Build Your NetworkYou want everyone possible to know you and the value you bring, so that when new opportunities show up, you come to mind. For this to happen, you need to build relation ships within your team. No matter how small the group is or how far-flung the zip codes are, your colleagues are part of your network. Here are two easy ways to get this relationship-building going.Swap PraisePretty obvious, right? Right. But its a surefire way to connect with the people youre working with. Skip the slimy flattery or half-hearted kudos here Im talking about expressing gratitude and calling it like you binnensee it. When someone else saves the day, helps you out big time, or goes above and beyond, make some noise. Shootum a thank-you badge on Slack Let your new boss know. Mention it during your next conference call. People dont forget this kind of thing, especially when its done publicly. The next time they spot you dishing out some awesome, theyll reciprocate. Theres nothing like having someone else make noise for youSeek Out a MentorFind a mentor. Acting on feedback is crucial to getting better at your job and earning recognition. With the help of a mentor, the get ting better part explodes, and heres the best part You can still seek out a mentor-mentee dynamic when you work remotely.You probably wont find the same structured arrangements you world in an office. Weekly coffee dates will be harder to come by, no question but this relationship is less about form and more about content. As long as youre connecting with someone you admire who can give you clear advice, youre golden.Ideally, choose someone who can introduce you to others within the company and your industry. Most importantly, select a rolle who has the skills youd like to master, because you can learn from his experience. Which brings me to me next point2. Acquire New Skills and Ask for More ResponsibilityIts great when your manager looks for opportunities for you to grow, but truth talk Your professional development is no ones responsibility but yours.Now, dont get me wrong. Internal workshops, seminars, and just plain gaining skills on the fly are terrific- if you want to move ah ead at the same rate as everyone else on your team.But Id bet that you want to stand out. Apply the extra hour or two you save by not commuting every day to some outside training. There are a million ways to up your game. Some of my personal favorite learning platforms include edX, lynda.com, and Coursera.From there, seek out avenues where you can apply your new skills. Asking for more, new, or different responsibilities increases your value within an organization. It also puts a spotlight on your growing capabilities. If there arent new and exciting opportunities floating around your team, volunteer to help other departments. Yes, this can be harder when Steve from marketing and Tara from engineering dont stand around the same water cooler, so youll have to find out yourself. Ask your boss is there are company-wide or cross-team projects. If theres no room for you to contribute that way, ask about big picture strategic goals and study the needs and challenges of the company to see if you can spot a neglected area. Create your own opportunity by pitching a new project or position that you could take on to address the weak spot.3. Track Your ProgressConsider this your new Friday ritual. Take a few minutes to jot down an outline of everything youve accomplished that week. Include all of the items that you feel great about. This record- I call it my Lookit Me file- serves a few important purposes. Long term, when its time to update your resume, youll have a treasure trove of accomplishments and metrics to pull from. Future you will be grateful, I promiseMore immediately, this practice reinforces not only your personal awareness of how things are going, but also the awareness of your boss. On particularly good weeks, fire off your Lookit Me summary to your boss, explaining what you feel great about and the things youre excited about in the week to come. Theyre perfect for when youve really been on fire. Maybe you closed a hefty new account, implemented a new syste m or tool that quickly showed positive results, or delivered a project early, not to mention one that wowd a client- I think you get the picture.Its fine to toot your own horn, as long as its not too often or loud.4. Ask for What You WantYouve networked, paired yourself with a mentor, and trained up. Youve also flaunted your skills (and the value they create). Its time for the big ask- though actually, at this point its not so big. You did most of the work already Still You have to make some noise. Again.The first step in asking for what you want is finding the right time to do it. Since youre remote, you may have to be twice as proactive in initiating the discussion. Be sure to ask your manager to set a time to talk- over video if at all possible. (You do not want to ask for a promotion over email.)Besides setting aside a dedicated time to chat, make sure you know exactly what youre asking for. If its a raise, whats the dollar amount? If its a promotion, what are the specific dutie s youre ready to tackle? In an office setting, a small presentation covering your recent milestones might be appropriate, but in a remote dynamic, a formal pitch will likely weigh the conversation down. Everything moves fast in a virtual setting, so keep it simple. Your best bet is to have a brief (updated) resume to send over in case youre asked for one, and a brag sheet on hand to look at so you can rattle off examples of your work.Working remotely comes with lots of independence, but that shouldnt stop you from proving your worth. Network, get a mentor, build your skills, look for new challenges, and track your progress. Make noise for yourself, do it with style, and youll find the recognition and advancement youre looking for.Photo of remote worker courtesy of Shutterstock.