The pandemic has brought a drastic change in the way professionals work. Many working professionals around the world have shifted & adapted to working remotely and maintaining a balance between work life and personal life, even though they are both happening at the same place. The struggle is no different for soft skills trainers. As a soft skills trainer, you need to go the extra mile because your work solely depends on face-to-face training and consultations. So, how do you make sure that you continue working, and that too with the same level of professionalism that training professionals are known for? I have some tips for you. Read on.
Upgrade to the Right Digital Solutions – To stay connected remotely to your clients and peers, make sure you leverage digital solutions to maintain a consistent flow of work. Understand the nature of your work and see if you need new software solutions, higher speed internet, hybrid cloud, communication toolkit, etc. These technology solutions are necessary investments that will help you operate smoothly even from home.
Stay Disciplined and Productive – While many may consider working remotely or working from home more comfortable, it actually requires a higher level of discipline. That’s because you may have a lot of distractions such as social media, household chores, family members needing your attention, etc. So, try to implement small changes that will help you stay productive. Here are a few things you can do:
- Start early and follow your work schedule. This means scheduled hours for meetings, training material creation, curation, breaks, etc.
- Maintain the correct balance between work and home. Do not let any household responsibilities interrupt your work and hamper its quality.
- Shut down social media or turn off notifications to avoid distractions.
- Set up a clutter-free workspace that receives ample sunlight. A cluttered workspace hampers productivity.
Appear Professional – When working from home, you may be tempted to sit in your pajamas all day. But you can’t afford it when you’re on video calls with your clients and team members if any. Your appearance, especially when training clients on soft skills, speaks volumes of your professionalism. So, make it a point to dress up professionally every day so that you are ready for even unscheduled meetings.
Convey Professionalism Through Your Body Language and Background –While your clients and team members understand that you’re working from home, it’s still your number one responsibility to make sure that you convey the right attitude. So, avoid a few things while you’re on phone calls or video calls, such as:
- A cluttered or unprofessional backdrop
- Constant disturbing noises such as television or music blaring in the background
- Eating while talking
- Breathing into your microphone
These small things will make a lot of difference.
Establish Ground Work for Long-Term Success – Here are a few things you can do to ensure consistent work on a long-term basis:
- Collaborate with organizations that may need remote training support.
- Offer online courses and keep updating them to make sure they are relevant despite the changing training dynamics.
- Create e-books and other training materials such as a self-help magazine or activities to maintain consistent cash flow.
Follow all these tips diligently, but most of all, make sure you learn something new every day. Keep trying new approaches and continue offering excellent training services. All the best!
Author Bio:
Suman Agarwal is an award-winning image management professional. She has helped students, home-makers, women on sabbatical as well as people seeking second career alternatives to explore Image Management and Soft Skill Training as a vibrant professional choice. She frequently writes blog posts about the urgent need of image consulting professionals and soft skill trainers in the 21st century and loves guiding people in exploring lucrative career options. Write to her at sumanagarwal@imageconsultinginstitute.com to seek advanced career guidance.
