With all the recent hype over Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer’s recent edict banning telecommuting, American workers may be left wondering if telecommuting is a ticket to career suicide. I don’t think so, but employees with telecommuting arrangements should explore options for making themselves visible, accessible and memorable in the eyes of their employers to make sure their value proposition and contributions to the company are not overlooked. Here are a few suggestions for how to do just that.
Make time for face time.
If you routinely work from home, it becomes increasingly important to strategically plan opportunities for face time Don’t participate in every staff meeting virtually or close down other opportunities to interact with your peers. A good deal of relationship building stems from these types of interactions. The same could be said for projects you may be working on as part of a team…just because you have the opportunity to manage your projects virtually doesn’t mean you don’t need to meet with colleagues to discuss aspects of those projects. Face time can solidify trust and credibility and help you forge relationships that might be beneficial for leveraging important resources and staff for future projects.
Take on tasks that offer opportunities to interact with colleagues and decision makers.
This could be as simple as planning an office event or as complex as managing a strategic business initiative. Seek out experiences that require cross functional engagement and require phone interactions instead of email.
Document your accomplishments.
Telecommuters run the risk of “falling off the radar” because they are not a constant presence in the office. Document your accomplishments regularly so you can keep your boss in the loop and so you have a strong record of achievement to draw from during performance review time. By consistently showcasing your productivity through your accomplishments, you help support your case for your telecommuting arrangement.
Become a part of an employer affinity group.
Many employers have affinity groups based on gender, race or ethnicity. Being a member of such groups can help the telecommuter stay connected to colleagues across business groups and build strong relationships with others who may be key influencers in future decisions for filling internal roles.