2020 brought about a historic shift to remote working.  Today, it is more of a norm than an exception for companies to offer some form of working from home. With so many of us used to it, this trend looks set to continue. By 2025, an estimated 70% of the workforce will be working from home at least five days a month. 

Remote working has the benefits of flexible scheduling, working from anywhere, and having more time to spend with family. But to really succeed, there are a few essential soft skills you need. Let’s take a look these skills and how you should incorporate them while you are working remotely


1) Adaptability

This is probably the most important soft skill when working from home. In the office, you have resources like on-site IT support, supplies, and colleagues to ask for help. When you’re working from home, you may have to do a lot more independent troubleshooting. You’ll have to adapt your working style to what is available to you and what is available to your teammates. 

If you are a manager, investigate ways to develop your team’s strategic skillset as well as working on your own adaptability. Use practice exercises to encourage your employees to visualize the ways they could adapt to different scenarios. What should they do if their internet connection is bad during a video meeting? What should they do if something breaks or they don’t have access to a file when they need it? 

Adaptability is a soft skill that is essential for productivity at work - both from home and at the office. An employee that can adapt will come up with innovative solutions for your company’s most pressing problems. Adaptability is particularly important when combined with effective sales skills. Employees that can adapt sales strategies to individual customers will close deals more often, and with a higher rate of customer satisfaction. 

remote research

2) Strong Written Communication

Strong written communication is vital for the modern workplace. In the Job Outlook 2020 report, they found that 77.5% of employers seek strong written communication on a candidate’s resume. The need for excellent written communication skills amplifies in a remote work environment. 

While video calls are great for meetings, it isn’t practical for more casual communication. However, regular communication must occur for a cohesive and productive workplace. This means that team members are using written communication to coordinate with each other throughout the day. 

Look into the best team chat software for your company. Having this software can keep teams connected, even in a virtual environment. Encourage your team to use the chat to check-in with team members and coordinate tasks. 

To really thrive, employees need to be able to clearly and concisely communicate what they need. Whether that’s through team chat or emails, written communication is vital.

3) Collaboration

Even in a remote work environment, team collaboration can reduce errors and increase employee satisfaction and productivity. Fostering a work culture that promotes collaboration and is consistently practiced on an individual and team level. In Buffer’s 2021 State of Remote Work report, 41% of employees stated that it changed how they collaborate and communicate. 

When we work at home, it can be tempting to retreat into individual projects. To combat that, have regular meetings and find ways to keep connected with your team members. Being able to collaborate online is a soft skill that employers should seek out in their employees if you have your teamwork remotely even one day a week. 

 

When hiring, consider the ability and track record of working with a team in employee attributes. Then set clear goals, company vision, and employee expectations to build collaboration skills in a remote workplace. Also, consider ways to promote team building outside the workday. This can be achieved through in-person retreats and activities and online games, movies, or mixers. 

4) Optimism 

Working at home provides a lot of benefits, but there are challenges too. Social isolation can cause increased anxiety and sleeplessness. This can be combated with good levels of communication and collaboration. Businesses need to address the issues of remote working proactively and take initiative to create positivity for the work community. 

Creating this optimism within the workplace needs to come from individual employees and management. Consider getting effective performance management tools to create goals and give recognition to your employees that meet individual and team goals. These tools should not be used to criticize your employees but to empower them. Give your employees goals to encourage them to work together to produce the best possible results. 

5) Focus

Even in the office, this is an essential soft skill for productive employees. There are constant distractions at home and at work that can prevent a team from doing their best work. At work, it’s open plan offices, watercooler chats, and noisy office mates. At home, it’s more likely to be pets, children, and partners - factors that aren’t accounted for in typical employee monitoring software. There are some strategies you can use to help you stay focused while remote working. 

Use your flexible schedule to your advantage

If you know that you are most productive at a certain time of day, schedule your most important tasks then. Then fill in the part of the day that you are least productive with less important or less time-consuming tasks. Invest in call management solutions to help manage customer calls throughout the day. 

Make lists

This may seem obvious if you have always been a list-maker. However, making a physical list and pinning it where you see it can help keep you focused. It serves as a reminder and a motivator. A list can also provide a sense of closure at the end of your workday. Making a list for tomorrow can allow you to start the next day with a sense of purpose. 


6) Compassion

At its core, compassion is empathy plus action. It is an essential quality in great employees and effective leaders. When a company is working remotely, employees need to have compassion for their fellow team members and themselves. There are many in-demand soft and hard skills needed for a business to run efficiently, but they all need to be carried out with a sense of compassion. Consider the following to help develop your compassion when remote working.

  • Acknowledge the challenges of working from home.
  • Do regular check-ins with team members to see how they are doing emotionally and physically. 
  • Make it easy for team members to ask for help and be generous. 
  • Make yourself available to your teammates. 

If you are hiring employees, look for people that have this soft skill. With current employees, encourage and give opportunities for them to show compassion for each other. Make it easy for employees to voice concerns and to communicate about matters that do not relate to their work-related responsibilities. 

7) Initiative 

Working from home requires team members to be able to take initiative and make decisions. While there should always be a way for employees to ask questions, individuals may have to make quick decisions in their day-to-day tasks. 

For instance, if you are part of a call center, consider looking at call center QA - tips and tools to improve quality assurance. This can help you take initiative to improve the customer experience. Quality assurance (QA) ensures that you are performing according to the standards of your company. 

Taking steps like these and showing initiative makes you more productive and an active participant in your company’s vision. This can give you a sense of purpose in your position and create a more proactive work environment. In a remote work environment taking initiative may start with cultivating the essential digital skills to be fully engaged at work. 

8) Time Management

Last (but certainly not least), time management is an essential skill when working from home. Procrastination can plague us both inside and outside the office. However, there are tools you can use to help manage your time effectively. 

Make a schedule

Even if you have a flexible workday, make sure you keep a schedule of your daily tasks. You can also use a schedule template to have team members communicate the times they are and are not available. Doing these two things can boost productivity and communication by making team members and yourself responsible for your time. 

Make technology work for you 

Automate the processes that you need to do day to day to optimize your time. Set reminders on your phone or computer to help keep you on top of your schedule. Remote working means you never stray too far from your tech, so make it work for you.

You should also make available tech work for your customers. Consider getting call queueing solutions, CRM software, or chatbots. All of these solutions can help improve the service you provide - as well as making your life easier.


 

Takeaways

If one thing has become clear in 2021, it’s that remote working is here to stay.


As individuals and as businesses, we need to start fostering the soft skills essential for working from home. If your company is considering incorporating remote work as an option for your team members, consider creating a transitional strategy that offers training in these skills. 

Another way to foster the development of these soft skills is by investing in a remote employee monitoring software that makes tracking their progress easier and more valuable for future workplace strategies. These skills will benefit your business overall and create a happier, healthier work environment.

Workpuls Teramind ActivTrak Hubstaff DeskTime Time Doctor RescueTime Kickidler Veriato Work Examiner
OVERVIEW
Price $6/user/month $6/user/month $7.20/user/month $7/user/month $7/user/month $9.99/user/month $6/user/month $9.99/user/month $150/licence/year $60/licence (lifetime)
Free trial 7 days 7 days No 14 days 14 days 14 days 30 days 7 days Yes 30 days
Ease of use Very easy Difficult Very easy Easy Easy Very easy Very easy Very easy Very difficult Easy
TRACKING METHODS
Unlimited (tracker working 24/7)
Fixed (defined working hours)
Automatic (when computer is connected to a specified network)
Manual (start/stop)
Project based (track time only on projects)
GENERAL MONITORING FEATURES
Stealth mode
App and website usage
Real-time monitoring
Offline time tracking
Attendance
Activity levels
Keylogger
Geolocation
Remote desktop control
Website/activity blocking
SCREENSHOTS AND RECORDING
Screenshots
Screenshots on demand
Screen recording
PRODUCTIVITY FEATURES
Productivity trends
Websites and apps labeling
Category labeling
Productivity alerts
ADVANCED SECURITY FEATURES
User behavior analytics
Data loss prevention
Advanced file and web monitoring
REPORTING
Productivity reports
Team reports
Timelines
Email reports
Access management
PLATFORMS
Web
Mac desktop app
Windows desktop app
Linux desktop app
Mobile app iOS, Android iOS, Android iOS, Android iOS, Android iOS, Android Android
Browser extension Chrome Chrome Chrome
Other Citrix, VMware Chrome OS
OTHER
Support Phone, email, online Phone, email, online Phone, email, online Email, online Phone, email, online, in-person Online Phone, email, online Email, online, Viber, Whatsapp Phone, email, online, support ticket Phone, email, online
Knowledge base
Video tutorials
Integrations comming soon
API
Deployment cloud, on-premise cloud, on-premise, AWS, Azure cloud cloud cloud cloud cloud on-premise cloud, on-premise on-premise
Kronos Humanity Timeclockplus Tsheets Wheniwork Deputy Replicon Jibble EbilityTimeTracker OnTheClock BeeBole
OVERVIEW
Price(per month)Available upon requestFrom $2 per userAvailable upon requestFrom $6.40 per user+$16Free for up to 75 usersFrom $2.50 per userBasic plan:$30 for 5 users+$5 per additional userFrom $1.50 per employeeFrom $4 per user+$8From $2.20 per user$5.99 per user per month
Free trial30 days14 daysYes14 days14 days14 days30 days30 days,no credit card required
Ease of useDifficultEasyDifficultVery easyEasyEasyDifficultVery easyEasyEasyEasy
FEATURES
Timecard management
Scheduling
Shift Trading
Timesheets
Break time management
Real-time tracking
PTO Management
Payroll
Invoicing
Client billing
GPS tracking
Clock out reminders
Alerts
Manual time
PUNCH-IN METHODS
Web app
Mobile app
Time clock device
Time clock kiosk
Facial recognition
Fingerprint scanning
Geofencing
Group punch-in
REPORTING
Visual reports
Email reports
Time rounding
MANAGEMENT
Permissions
Manager approvals
Add time for others
Integrations
PLATFORMS
Web
Android app
iOS app
Mac desktop app
Windows desktop app
Linux desktop app
OTHER
SupportPhone and onlinePhone and onlinePhone,chat and onlinePhone and chatEmail and onlineChat and phonePhone,email,chat and onlinePhone and onlinePhone,email,chat and onlinePhone and onlineOnline chat and video support in English,French,and Spanish
Knowledge base
Video tutorials
Community forum
API
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Remote Work Management

8 Essential Soft Skills For Productive Remote Working

Written by
Elea Andrea Almazora
Published on
April 20, 2021

2020 brought about a historic shift to remote working.  Today, it is more of a norm than an exception for companies to offer some form of working from home. With so many of us used to it, this trend looks set to continue. By 2025, an estimated 70% of the workforce will be working from home at least five days a month. 

Remote working has the benefits of flexible scheduling, working from anywhere, and having more time to spend with family. But to really succeed, there are a few essential soft skills you need. Let’s take a look these skills and how you should incorporate them while you are working remotely


1) Adaptability

This is probably the most important soft skill when working from home. In the office, you have resources like on-site IT support, supplies, and colleagues to ask for help. When you’re working from home, you may have to do a lot more independent troubleshooting. You’ll have to adapt your working style to what is available to you and what is available to your teammates. 

If you are a manager, investigate ways to develop your team’s strategic skillset as well as working on your own adaptability. Use practice exercises to encourage your employees to visualize the ways they could adapt to different scenarios. What should they do if their internet connection is bad during a video meeting? What should they do if something breaks or they don’t have access to a file when they need it? 

Adaptability is a soft skill that is essential for productivity at work - both from home and at the office. An employee that can adapt will come up with innovative solutions for your company’s most pressing problems. Adaptability is particularly important when combined with effective sales skills. Employees that can adapt sales strategies to individual customers will close deals more often, and with a higher rate of customer satisfaction. 

remote research

2) Strong Written Communication

Strong written communication is vital for the modern workplace. In the Job Outlook 2020 report, they found that 77.5% of employers seek strong written communication on a candidate’s resume. The need for excellent written communication skills amplifies in a remote work environment. 

While video calls are great for meetings, it isn’t practical for more casual communication. However, regular communication must occur for a cohesive and productive workplace. This means that team members are using written communication to coordinate with each other throughout the day. 

Look into the best team chat software for your company. Having this software can keep teams connected, even in a virtual environment. Encourage your team to use the chat to check-in with team members and coordinate tasks. 

To really thrive, employees need to be able to clearly and concisely communicate what they need. Whether that’s through team chat or emails, written communication is vital.

3) Collaboration

Even in a remote work environment, team collaboration can reduce errors and increase employee satisfaction and productivity. Fostering a work culture that promotes collaboration and is consistently practiced on an individual and team level. In Buffer’s 2021 State of Remote Work report, 41% of employees stated that it changed how they collaborate and communicate. 

When we work at home, it can be tempting to retreat into individual projects. To combat that, have regular meetings and find ways to keep connected with your team members. Being able to collaborate online is a soft skill that employers should seek out in their employees if you have your teamwork remotely even one day a week. 

 

When hiring, consider the ability and track record of working with a team in employee attributes. Then set clear goals, company vision, and employee expectations to build collaboration skills in a remote workplace. Also, consider ways to promote team building outside the workday. This can be achieved through in-person retreats and activities and online games, movies, or mixers. 

4) Optimism 

Working at home provides a lot of benefits, but there are challenges too. Social isolation can cause increased anxiety and sleeplessness. This can be combated with good levels of communication and collaboration. Businesses need to address the issues of remote working proactively and take initiative to create positivity for the work community. 

Creating this optimism within the workplace needs to come from individual employees and management. Consider getting effective performance management tools to create goals and give recognition to your employees that meet individual and team goals. These tools should not be used to criticize your employees but to empower them. Give your employees goals to encourage them to work together to produce the best possible results. 

5) Focus

Even in the office, this is an essential soft skill for productive employees. There are constant distractions at home and at work that can prevent a team from doing their best work. At work, it’s open plan offices, watercooler chats, and noisy office mates. At home, it’s more likely to be pets, children, and partners - factors that aren’t accounted for in typical employee monitoring software. There are some strategies you can use to help you stay focused while remote working. 

Use your flexible schedule to your advantage

If you know that you are most productive at a certain time of day, schedule your most important tasks then. Then fill in the part of the day that you are least productive with less important or less time-consuming tasks. Invest in call management solutions to help manage customer calls throughout the day. 

Make lists

This may seem obvious if you have always been a list-maker. However, making a physical list and pinning it where you see it can help keep you focused. It serves as a reminder and a motivator. A list can also provide a sense of closure at the end of your workday. Making a list for tomorrow can allow you to start the next day with a sense of purpose. 


6) Compassion

At its core, compassion is empathy plus action. It is an essential quality in great employees and effective leaders. When a company is working remotely, employees need to have compassion for their fellow team members and themselves. There are many in-demand soft and hard skills needed for a business to run efficiently, but they all need to be carried out with a sense of compassion. Consider the following to help develop your compassion when remote working.

  • Acknowledge the challenges of working from home.
  • Do regular check-ins with team members to see how they are doing emotionally and physically. 
  • Make it easy for team members to ask for help and be generous. 
  • Make yourself available to your teammates. 

If you are hiring employees, look for people that have this soft skill. With current employees, encourage and give opportunities for them to show compassion for each other. Make it easy for employees to voice concerns and to communicate about matters that do not relate to their work-related responsibilities. 

7) Initiative 

Working from home requires team members to be able to take initiative and make decisions. While there should always be a way for employees to ask questions, individuals may have to make quick decisions in their day-to-day tasks. 

For instance, if you are part of a call center, consider looking at call center QA - tips and tools to improve quality assurance. This can help you take initiative to improve the customer experience. Quality assurance (QA) ensures that you are performing according to the standards of your company. 

Taking steps like these and showing initiative makes you more productive and an active participant in your company’s vision. This can give you a sense of purpose in your position and create a more proactive work environment. In a remote work environment taking initiative may start with cultivating the essential digital skills to be fully engaged at work. 

8) Time Management

Last (but certainly not least), time management is an essential skill when working from home. Procrastination can plague us both inside and outside the office. However, there are tools you can use to help manage your time effectively. 

Make a schedule

Even if you have a flexible workday, make sure you keep a schedule of your daily tasks. You can also use a schedule template to have team members communicate the times they are and are not available. Doing these two things can boost productivity and communication by making team members and yourself responsible for your time. 

Make technology work for you 

Automate the processes that you need to do day to day to optimize your time. Set reminders on your phone or computer to help keep you on top of your schedule. Remote working means you never stray too far from your tech, so make it work for you.

You should also make available tech work for your customers. Consider getting call queueing solutions, CRM software, or chatbots. All of these solutions can help improve the service you provide - as well as making your life easier.


 

Takeaways

If one thing has become clear in 2021, it’s that remote working is here to stay.


As individuals and as businesses, we need to start fostering the soft skills essential for working from home. If your company is considering incorporating remote work as an option for your team members, consider creating a transitional strategy that offers training in these skills. 

Another way to foster the development of these soft skills is by investing in a remote employee monitoring software that makes tracking their progress easier and more valuable for future workplace strategies. These skills will benefit your business overall and create a happier, healthier work environment.