10 tips to thrive in remote work

1. Share what you’re doing in the present.

Your and other peoples’ efforts can become invisible online. Everyone feels more lonely when they don’t see as many faces daily. Communicate what you're doing as much as possible. My team even started a weekly event in which we shared screenshots of what we were working on at the moment. These screenshots allowed incredible work to shine and ignited conversations. The event mimicked the serendipity of walking around an office and catching up on what everyone’s doing.

2. Document everything for the future.

The downside of a fast-moving, free environment is that documentation can be messy. My first project was a content audit, and I quickly realized the difficulty of determining what was live in product or not. Create a record of your work. In an online environment, it’s especially crucial to write everything down. A la my manager Michael Stumpo’s suggestion, I kept a running document of everything I did. It made it easy to refer to and share my work later.

3. Use a 1:1 call instead of messages when possible.

Jumping on a 1:1 video call with people may resolve an issue faster than exchanging text messages. And for anyone new to a team, grab 1:1 meetings with people early in to get to know others. People love to share about themselves and their work.

4. Block out focus time.

You can put focus time in your calendar to discourage others from scheduling meetings during these blocks. I turned off my notifications and only checked my communication channels at set times. Many of my coworkers used Clockwise, a smart calendar assistant. And remember: to perform best, you need to refresh by taking breaks. People work across all different time zones and it may be tempting to stay engaged 24/7, but doing so hurts your health and productivity in the long run.

5. Be honest about your struggles.

Check in with others at the beginning of meetings. Everyone feels more isolated during COVID. We’re humans, not machines. The more we care for each other, the better we feel and perform. Remote work may make spontaneous interactions more difficult, but they're still possible. Just because you no longer chat with coworkers in the hallway doesn’t mean you can’t have side talk before getting to business.

My coworkers were transparent about their mental health and the pandemic’s effect on them. We conversed about diversity and inclusion, and I couldn’t be prouder to be part of a team and company which cares about these efforts.

6. Share your meeting structure.

Always have an agenda and share it with meeting attendees before or at the beginning of meetings. For a review it helps to lay out discussion questions, project scope, and specification of feedback you want. End a meeting with action items. Overcommunication > undercommunication.

7. Host socializing events.

Don’t only hold meetings for work. Host social events for fun and connection. The incredible Uber intern program team (shoutout to Haley Benson) created many social events. One I thought was especially useful was a virtual speed networking session. We met fellow interns in 3 minute intervals in Zoom breakout rooms. It sounds like it could be awkward, but it was actually helpful and enjoyable.

8. Produce many options, not one.

Produce multiple options and let others help decide which one is the best. Even showing your alternates helps others see that you’ve given your final solution a lot of thought. Alternates also help spark discussion.

9. Ask for specific feedback, not “What do you think?”

In a virtual world it’s harder to rely on nonverbal cues or read a room. People like my manager Michael Stumpo kept meetings moving by posing targeted questions. He said he didn't realize he did this, which shows how meaningful it can be to tell others what you think they do well. Asking “What do you think?” after presenting your work can lead to silence. Ask specific questions: “Which is your favorite option? Do you like X? Why not Y?”

10. Go for it.

Someone may tell you to create what you don't think is best. Especially if you work in user experience, you’ll notice what’s best for the business is not always what’s best for the user. You can change peoples’ minds by creating what you think are better solutions. Thanks again to my manager Michael Stumpo for empowering me to "go for it."

Online or offline, you’re in control and you can thrive. Go for it.

Thank you, Uber, for a wonderful time! Good luck to everyone. Feel free to reach out if you have questions or feedback.

Photo by Matt Ragland on Unsplash