What do you do if you're a business development professional considering remote work?

1 Assess your goals and expectations

Before you decide to work remotely, you need to have a clear idea of why you want to do it and what you hope to achieve. Are you looking for more flexibility, autonomy, or work-life balance? Do you have a specific project or client that requires remote collaboration? Or are you just curious about the remote work lifestyle and culture? Whatever your motivation, you need to set realistic and measurable goals for yourself and communicate them with your manager and team. You also need to understand the expectations and policies of your company regarding remote work, such as availability, communication, performance, and security.

3 Manage your time and tasks

Another essential skill for remote work is time and task management. You need to plan your daily, weekly, and monthly schedule, and prioritize your most important and urgent tasks. You also need to set boundaries between your work and personal life, and avoid distractions and interruptions. You can use tools like calendars, timers, to-do lists, or project management software to help you stay organized and focused. You should also track your progress and results, and report them to your manager and team regularly.

4 Build relationships and trust

Working remotely doesn't mean working alone. You still need to maintain and develop relationships with your colleagues, clients, and prospects, and establish trust and rapport with them. You can do this by communicating frequently and effectively, using video calls, instant messages, emails, or phone calls. You should also show interest and empathy, ask questions, listen actively, and provide feedback. You can also join or create online communities or networks for business development professionals, and share ideas, insights, or resources with them.

5 Learn and improve

Remote work is a continuous learning process, and you should always seek to improve your skills and knowledge as a business development professional. You can take advantage of online courses, webinars, podcasts, blogs, or books that cover topics related to your field or industry. You can also ask for feedback from your manager, team, clients, or prospects, and identify your strengths and areas for improvement. You can also experiment with different strategies, methods, or tools, and measure their impact on your performance and results.

6 Enjoy the benefits

Finally, you should enjoy the benefits of working remotely as a business development professional. You can have more flexibility and control over your schedule, location, and environment. You can save time and money on commuting, and reduce your carbon footprint. You can also access a wider pool of clients and prospects, and expand your network and opportunities. You can also improve your work-life balance, and spend more time with your family, friends, or hobbies.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?