The option to work remotely has long been on many developers’ wish lists, but before March 2020, it was a benefit enjoyed by a privileged few. Many CEOs and managers were worried that without supervision, employees would slack off, and performance would decrease.

What we have learned in these months is that remote workers are as productive, if not more, as they were in the office and that building trust in the workplace has never been so important.

In our last webinar, we had the opportunity to chat with Mariano Álvarez, Senior Web Developer at Circuit Stream, who shared with us valuable insights and tips on how to build trust when working remotely.

Show that you are reliable, trustworthy, and a valuable asset to your tech team! Here’s a recap for those who weren’t able to attend the event.

1. The more you communicate, the more they will trust you

Communication is the foundation of healthy and strong relationships. It creates bonds between people in all social settings and work environments and plays a vital role in every phase of the project.

It goes without saying, then, that clear, effective, and frequent communication is essential when it comes to building trust. If you leave your managers or team members in the dark, they will worry about what you’re up to. Instead, the more you talk about your progress, blockers, and plans, the more confident they’re going to feel.

“Whenever you have a blocker stopping you from making progress, or whenever something isn’t clear, don’t hesitate to ask for help,” says Mariano Álvarez. We’re often reluctant to ask for support because we want to appear self-reliant or knowledgeable. But, sometimes, a simple question can help us to avoid ambiguity or solve a problem. Also, you will be surprised at how many people are willing to lend a hand if you just ask them!

The core goal of team communication is to collaborate effectively and get everyone on the same page, which greatly increases the probability of successful project outcomes.

Try to be clear and honest, even when it comes to personal communication. There could be life events that distract us from work from time to time, we might just not get along with a new team member, or we might need a day off. Even if you’re working from home, your co-workers and supervisors will notice that something is wrong. Better address problems early on, before they become too big.

2. Trust and commitment

A tech team needs to be able to rely on all members of the team to do their part. The project’s success depends on it. Here are some takeaways from our webinar on how you can show your reliability to the rest of the team:

  • If you’re working from home, with no managers and bosses physically present, you’ll find that you have some additional flexibility in your time. That’s great, but don’t get too comfortable. You are still accountable for your work and need to provide the same quality of work as if you were working in the office.
  • In every project, there are individual tasks or assignments, and most of these tasks have deadlines that other team members are reliant upon. Set goals and deadlines that are realistic and achievable, and put effort to complete the tasks on time.
  • Think of your responsibilities from a team perspective rather than an individual perspective. Knowing that you and your team are working toward the same goals can make you feel more involved and committed.

3. Proactivity

Proactive people are constantly moving forward, looking to the future, and making things happen. They’re actively engaged, and employers and team members simply love working with them.

Part of being a productive and reliable developer is being able to see the big picture and to think of how the company might grow and develop.

“Be proactive and avoid procrastination. Once you finish your work, update your status and find other tasks and jobs where you can contribute or add value,” Mariano Álvarez says. “This shows that you are interested in the work, but also that you can work independently and without direct oversight.”

Mariano Álvarez, Senior Web Developer at Circuit Stream, shared with us how to achieve clear and honest communication, show commitment, and be proactive at work so that you can build trust and better relationships. Check out the link to view the full webinar and visit our website to discover our upcoming events for software developers.

Discover the soft skills here and how developing them can benefit your professional life as a developer.