THRIVING IN THE MODERN WORKPLACE

As hybrid and remote work become the new normal in today’s workplace, knowing how to manage the challenges that come with them can help you start your career on the right foot.

Remoteworking,onceconsideredan odd perk, became commonplace thanks to the global pandemic. But now with social distancing measures easing up around the world, more and more companies are having their employees return to the office, often under a hybrid work model.

This sounds good on paper – you have greater flexibility in your work and life while reaping the benefits of remote work. However, the truth is that hybrid work still comes with its own set of challenges. From an increase in miscommunications to overcoming a slower learning curve when working at home, these can hurt your productivity if you let them fester for too long.

There are ways, however, to manage these challenges. Here are some tips that should help make the transition a little easier.

As you will be expected to work independently most of the time, it helps to be proactive and get things done without too much prompting from your supervisors. For example, planning out your tasks for the week, as well as keeping track of important dates and deadlines will go a long way in helping you stay focused on what needs to be prioritised.

Apart from doing some research on the company, do ask around and familiarise yourself with how things work, such as where the training resources are. As a new hire, asking questions is normal and even welcomed, so do approach your supervisors or colleagues for help. You can jot the areas down in a notebook to make it easy for your reference.

In the meantime, make an effort to learn about any new trends or technologies in your sector. This can help you stay up to date with your preferred industries.

Take initiative

It helps your supervisors to know what your work progress is like, so check with them if they would like to receive updates from you periodically, and in what form. For example, if they prefer emails, you can consider preparing weekly reports for them. If they prefer video calls, you can then come prepared with updates.

In the workplace, you should be the one taking control of your learning and development. From asking for feedback from your colleagues to checking in with your supervisor on what you can improve on, prepare yourself to learn something new every day.

Step out of your comfort zone

Part of working, unfortunately, is being tasked with things that you may not enjoy doing at first. However, it is best to keep an open perspective and stay positive. For example, if your supervisor assigns you to help lead a project, take it as a learning opportunity instead of an additional chore.

Moreover, do remember that you are still free to turn to your colleagues or supervisors for help. After all, there is nothingwrongwithaskingforassistance if you need it. Trying to prove everything on your own can be more harmful than helpful.

Make connections

It can be easy to feel isolated when working from home, so try to make the effort to reach out to your colleagues. Not only is it a good way to immerse yourself in the company culture, but building good relationships with them will help you professionally in the long run.

If you are unsure of where to start, you could start with your supervisor or colleagues you work closely with. Learn as much as you can from them, as well as about them, such as their career journey and goals.

Alternatively, you could also reach out to colleagues who started out at the same timeasyou,orevenaskyoursupervisorto introduce you to people whom you might click with.

Know when to take a break

One drawback to remote working is that the lines can start to blur between work time and ‘you’ time, especially if you use the same space for work and play.

Although it can be tempting to try and get work done to prove yourself (especiallywhenyouarejuststartingout), overworking can and will lead to burnout.