The First Lesson

The new year has begun, and with it marks a sixth year of working from home. Initially, I was a bit nervous about it — how would I learn to do my job? Where would I work?

Now, it’s no longer surprising, especially since I’ve found it ideal for me.

What I didn’t predict was that I would have to develop good communication skills. I thought communication would be the same as if I were in the office. However, when your coworkers can’t see you, it’s easy for them to misunderstand when you’re silent.

With that in mind, I’m starting the year with reflections on what I’ve learned through the past six years of working from home. Starting off with the first:

It’s best to overcommunicate.

Heads Down, Doubts Up

One thing about me was that when I got my task, I went ahead and worked on it. When someone asked a question, I looked for the answer before responding. I consistently worked hard, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.

But how did my coworkers know that? Really, they couldn’t have known.

In my mind, I assumed that silence was good — they’d think “Yes, she’s getting it done.” In reality, I was perceived as unresponsive and not making progress on my tasks.

If we were in the office, I could simply say “Got it,” and they’d know I’m handling it. Since they couldn’t see me, it became a bit stressful for them not to receive a response. No confirmation message would make them think I’m ignoring it.

I went straight to work, but even though I’d eventually get it done, a recognition would have calmed them down while they waited. Even better if it included an ETA on the task.

A Little Goes a Long Way

Today, I give confirmations whenever I receive something from coworkers or clients. Otherwise, they would have to send another message requesting confirmation, which is unnecessary.

And it’s not annoying to coworkers — it’s actually much appreciated. It’s not extra noise or irrelevance.

Remote work eliminates visual cues you’d give in an office, such as nodding and verbal confirmations. Silence allows them to create their own interpretations. Most times, they’ll think you didn’t see their message. It’s best to give short updates to keep them in the loop, even if it’s just “I’m looking for the answer” or “I’ll switch gears in ten minutes to work on this.”

When I started confirming, I’d receive thank-you messages or heart reactions. No one asked why I sent back a receipt and an estimate of when it’d be completed — they needed those words to reassure them and to trust that I have things under control.

Make Sure They Know

Overcommunication doesn’t mean filling the silence for an unspoken agenda. It’s not excessive apologizing, either. To do it well, I should address the status and expectations — and it’s best to provide this information before someone asks.

Once I received enough follow-ups, I realized that people don’t “just know” that I’m working on it. They can’t see me working on it, so how could they know? I’ve made a habit of making sure they don’t have to double-message me — because that takes more time and energy than me confirming.

Overcommunicating demonstrates to people that I care about the work and the team. It never slows me down, nor does it become overrated. Instead, it makes sure everyone’s clear and builds confidence in the team.

After six years of working from home, this is one of the most important lessons.

Have a cozy workday, dear.