Introduction
Good communication is the key to staying connected. You may be thousands of miles away from home and isolated from your friends and family, but that doesn’t mean you have to leave them out of your life. In fact, most field work sites offer a variety of ways for employees to stay in touch with their loved ones. And don’t forget, a great way to keep people informed about what you’re doing is through regular blog updates or social media posts!
Before Leaving for Your Field Work, Perform a Communication Self-Assessment
Before leaving for your field work, perform a communication self-assessment.
Check to see if you have the right equipment. You’re going to be in a remote location and depending on how far away your work is going to be, it’s possible that internet access will be limited or spotty at best. Before you leave for your trip, make sure you check your mobile phone plan and that all the devices in your office are working properly. This way, if there are any issues while out there, they can be resolved quickly before they become problems with getting work done.
Check to see if you have the right software. If there is specific software required for projects related to fieldwork, make sure that everyone who needs it has access to and understands how to use it—even though this may seem obvious, many people forget about this step! It also helps when licenses expire during trips because then no one gets locked out without being able to do anything until someone else comes along with another license key or whatever method might apply (eBay anyone?).
Know the Communication Tools Available at Your Site
Good communication is essential in a remote work environment. If you will be working remotely for any length of time, it is important to know how communication tools are handled at your site. For example, if you will be returning home after each day of work, then email and cell phones are the best options for communicating with your coworkers back in the office. However, if you will be spending extended periods away from civilization or without cell phone service (or even power), then consider buying a satellite phone so that there is always an option available for communication with coworkers back on base.
Contact Your Employer and Colleagues to Establish a Communication Plan Well Before You Leave
When you’re in the field, don’t forget to contact your employer and colleagues to establish a communication plan. You should be in touch with them constantly: check in at least every day or two, even if it’s just an email letting them know that you’re doing well and will be back soon.
If Possible, Take a Tour of the Field Office
- When you arrive at your field office, take a tour.
- Get to know the layout of the office and learn the names of people who work there.
- Find out where the kitchen and restrooms are located.
- Find out where the power outlets are located.
- Ask about conference rooms—you may want to reserve one for yourself or with a colleague so that you can meet privately without disturbing others in their work.
It’s also important to know where resources like a library, printer/scanner/copier if available, internet connection (WiFi), etc., are located so that you can make good use of those resources during your stay in this location!
Practice Emailing Your Contact Person at the Field Office
You should practice sending emails to your contact person in the field office before you leave. You may want to do this from home, or you may want to try it out at the field office when no one’s around. If you can’t make it into the field office for some reason, send an email from wherever you are (e.g., a hotel room) and ask if they’d mind responding with something like “Just sent,” or “Received.” This will help ensure that there aren’t any communication problems down the road when we’re all trying to coordinate our efforts and keep track of what everyone is doing.
Establish a Regular Work Schedule With Everyone in the Office. Remember That They May Be on Different Time Zones From You
If you are working with people in another time zone, the more you can stick to your own schedule, the better. A regular work schedule makes it easier for everyone to coordinate their timetables. Remember that they may be on different time zones from you, and try to keep a regular work schedule as much as possible. Also try to sleep at the same time each day, eat at the same time each day, etc. So that if there is an emergency and someone needs help at 3am Eastern Time (8pm PST), they know who is available and who isn’t.
Try to Connect With Your Family and Friends at Home During Your Time Off
- Try to connect with your family and friends at home during your time off.
- How you can stay in touch with your loved ones?
If you have a smartphone, try using apps like FaceTime or Skype to video chat with your friends and family back home. If you don’t have a smartphone, the hotel barista might know how to use group messaging on WhatsApp. And you can always write letters (which will probably be delivered by carrier pigeon) or emails (which should arrive within 24 hours).
If You Can, Bring Some of Your Favorite Things to Make the Field Station Feel More Like Home for You
If you can, bring some of your favorite things to make the field station feel more like home for you. Send photos of loved ones, mementos from friends and family, or even a plant or plant-based gift that reminds you of home. If you are abroad, it is important to have something which reminds you where you are – a map of the area (or country) works well. You may also want something that helps with relaxation – such as a yoga mat or blanket.
It Is Important to Keep in Touch With Those Who Care About You When You Are Away for an Extended Period of Time Working in a Remote Location
To ensure that you and your loved ones stay in touch, it is critical to keep a list of their contact information.
This can be done either electronically or on paper. If you are taking notes from a printout, make sure to write down everyone’s phone numbers and email addresses so that you don’t forget them. It may also be helpful for you to take pictures of the people who will care about your well-being while working abroad so that they can have an image of what each person looks like.
Conclusion
Our research suggests that people who work remotely tend to be more productive, because they have fewer distractions. But working in remote locations presents its own challenges, especially when it comes to staying connected with loved ones. We’ve outlined some strategies for staying in touch, but it’s important to remember that this can look different for everyone. The best approach is to speak honestly about your needs and preferences with those around you—and then see what works!