Women face so many challenges in the corporate world. There’s pay equality, harassment, career opportunities, and work-life balance, to name a few.
An article published by the Harvard Business Review even says that women face a double disadvantage in a hybrid workplace.
“Double disadvantage” refers to when a person experiences drawbacks economically and socially. In this case, women are often a minority at work, leading to unfair treatment (social) and disproportionate wages (economic).
As a female remote worker, one way to counter any of this is to increase visibility at work.
How do you do this?
We’ve got a few pointers for you.
Learn How to Advocate for Yourself
Most of the time, if not always, women are taught to stay quiet and never speak up.
As such, many women blend into the background. It’s even tougher for female remote workers who are only reporting to work virtually.
It’s especially easier for them to be overlooked due to the lack of face-to-face interaction.
So, learn how to advocate for yourself at work. And no, that doesn’t mean bragging about your achievements.
Rather, it is about letting people in key positions know about what you have contributed thus far to increase your visibility and get further in your career.
Apart from that, giving updates can improve the overall workflow in the office because everyone will be aware of a project’s current progress.
Speak Up During Meetings
While not every meeting needs your input, speaking up leaves an impression on your colleagues.
Of course, what you say should add value to the overall discussion.
Make it a point to contribute 15 minutes into the meeting. You will find that adding your opinions throughout the session will be much easier.
If there are points that are unclear to you, don’t hesitate to ask questions for clarification.
Take Time to Further Sharpen Your Skills
Many corporate employees think that being employed is the end goal and that you can stop learning once you get a job.
It shouldn’t be.
One advantage for female remote workers is that they have control over their schedules. Thus, there are tons of opportunities for them to pick up a new skill or hone their existing ones.
Besides, with technological advancements, gone are the days when people have to physically show up to a seminar, a conference, or a workshop to learn something new.
Nowadays, one can simply look up the courses they are interested in online and get access to thousands of resources.
Some of these programs are for free and some aren’t. If you have the cash to spare, you can go for the ones that will give you a certificate once you have completed your classes.
Mastering a new skill gives you a competitive edge to tap into other career opportunities. You can also apply your learnings to be even more efficient at work.
Practice Being Proactive
Often, it’s easier to be as nondescript as possible at work. It helps you avoid conflicts and unnecessary responsibilities. And career growth as well.
Unless you want to stagnate, start showing initiative at work. Actively let your co-workers know how that you are able and willing to assist them.
This will demonstrate your leadership skills as well as leave a positive impression on those around you, especially in upper management.
Still, remember your limitations and make sure to set boundaries with your bosses and workmates.
Cultivate Meaningful Relationships
Lastly, create symbiotic relationships at work.
This is especially important in a remote job setting where you don’t or cannot physically see the people you work with.
Women should uphold each other and build a sense of belonging.
Whenever you see any harmful behavior directed towards your fellow female remote workers, stand up for them!
They will be thankful that someone helped them and will likely have your back should you need it in the future.
Remote Work Visibility
It can be difficult to maintain a level of visibility when working remotely, especially for women.
Still, stand your ground and don’t cower in the face of workplace adversities.
Persistence will ultimately pay off.
So, if you are a woman long interested in shifting to a full-time remote work set-up, then head on to Remote Staff’s job listings, which are regularly updated. You will surely find something that best suits your qualifications.
Remote Staff is also a champion for female remote workers, with many women occupying the company’s key management positions. If you enjoy the flexibility and challenges that remote working brings, register with us today!
