It can seem tough to snag a promotion when you’re working from home. After all, without face-to-face time with your team and boss, how can you show your worth? Executive and career coach Lauren Cohen understands: “When working remotely, employees often feel unable to adequately and accurately show their dedication and professional accomplishments,” Cohen says. “They worry their boss doesn’t know that they are starting early, dressing up — from the waist up — and Zooming, taking copious notes, coordinating projects, and going the extra mile.”

But it’s not impossible to prove your worth and get a promotion while working from home. By honing these seven skills, you can show your boss you’re ready for a new role — even remotely.

The ability to create strong relationships.
Even though you’re working from home, you’re not really working alone. And Sheila Murphy, career coach and CEO of Focus Forward Consulting, says it’s vital you sharpen your relationship-building skills to prove you’re ready for a promotion. She recommends you show your boss you “have the relationships needed to accomplish and exceed objectives” while working from home.
You can strengthen relationships with coworkers, team members, and clients by engaging, helping, and encouraging them on digital channels, such as Slack, Zoom, and email.

A healthy dose of self-discipline.
According to Cohen, “The best remote employees can work independently and do not require a lot of hand-holding.” In other words, if you’re self-disciplined and proactive, you can prove you are ready for a promotion when you work from home. Cohen suggests you “show” your boss a summary of the action items you’ve checked off your to-do list each day. “The more you can show things that no one asked you to do, the more likely you are to get promoted,” she explains.

A deep understanding of your business.
As Murphy points out, “being remote means that you do not hear the watercooler conversations, and you may not have access to the same information that people in offices do.” But you don’t have to be in the office to know your business inside-and-out. Take the time to read industry and company news, and tap into your online networks to stay abreast of any changes. “You need to demonstrate that you have a deeper understanding of the organization, where it wants to go, and how you will contribute to that effort,” Murphy says, to land your desired promotion.

Problem-solving abilities.  
If you see something awry, don’t simply report the problem. Instead, “think about some ways to help fix whatever is going on,” suggests Cohen. “If you can collaborate and be a team player and help fix things, this will go noticed. And if you’re concerned no one will know you helped take control of a situation, you can highlight your positive actions in an appropriate way.” Cohen points out that leaders offer solutions and work positively and productively — no matter where they are based. “Remote workers who demonstrate leadership are invaluable,” she says.

Innovative thinking.
There is at least one advantage to working remotely while vying for a promotion: “You are not working in what may be an echo chamber insisting that approaches stay the same,” says Murphy. “Being outside the central hub means that you may look at issues with a fresh eye and bring innovative solutions to a problem.” And if you can do that, you are well on your way to earning a promotion. “Organizations are looking for people that think differently and question the status quo,” she says. “Employees with innovative solutions are positioned for greater responsibilities.”

Managerial prowess.
If the promotion you want would put you in a manager’s position, you’ll need to show you can lead a team — and develop talent — remotely. But luckily, “you can show this skill by how you lead projects and mentor others,” says Murphy. How can you do that? “Make sure that your manager knows how you orchestrate project execution and motivate talent,” Murphy suggests.

Strong communication skills.
You may not be talking to coworkers in-person, but you’re still communicating plenty by phone, email, and other online channels, such as Slack and Zoom. “Communicating well in writing, by phone, and on video is critical to success as a remote worker,” says Cohen, and it’s also one of the keys to being promoted. “Strong communicators are more likely to get promotions because they can advocate for their accomplishments and further the mission of their company, whatever their role is,” Cohen explains. You can show you’re a strong communicator by asking questions and reporting important information. “Remote workers need to go the extra mile to be strong communicators and show collaboration and leadership in all communications,” Cohen says.

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Getting a promotion takes time – plus a plethora of skill and abilities and the right attitude, of course. But just because you may not be able to snag yourself a new title tomorrow doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be working today to show you’re the right gal for the job.

Why? As Karen Elizaga, executive coach and author of Find Your Sweet Spot, explains, “when you are making these promotion-worthy moves, whether motivated solely by the potential to move up, or simply to do the best job, people are watching. At this level, your superiors and even your peers know that they can rely on you, and you stand out from the rest.”

1. Manage yourself.

Managing you is your manager’s job, right? Wrong – if you want a promotion, says Sharlyn Lauby, president of consulting firm ITM Group Inc., founder of HR Bartender, and author of Essential Meeting Blueprints for Managers. “No company wants to promote a hot mess,” she says frankly. “So being punctual and organized is important. By doing these things, the company can see that you will set a good example.”

2. Seek out feedback.

If seeking out even constructive criticism seems slightly masochistic, consider this: Showing you are committed to getting better and growing successfully in your current role could keep you top-of-mind when it comes to even greater progress – like a promotion, say Elizaga. So, “when executing on a project, and especially when you have completed one, find out from your boss whether there’s anything else that you can do above and beyond what you’ve just accomplished,” she recommends.

3. Solve problems.

One universal skill of managers, it seems, is their ability to put out proverbial fires. So be the person with the extinguisher – and not the match, so to speak. “Companies want to know the people they promote are able to see potential problems and propose solutions,” says Lauby. “It’s hard to justify promoting a person who subscribes to tacit approval.”

4. Look for ways to help.

You’ve got your daily to-do list down-pat – and you do it well. “But what can you do to improve or streamline [other work] processes that could save money for the company or enhance effectiveness and efficiency?” asks Elizaga. By providing solutions to problems that others have ignored – problems that have likely plagued your boss – you’ll stand out amongst the complacent crowd, Elizaga says.

5. Resolve conflict.

People who get promoted play well with others. “This doesn’t mean that occasionally disagreements won’t happen,” says Lauby. “But HR professionals get no joy in wearing a striped shirt and breaking up employee conflicts.” So the next time things get heated with a coworker, don’t run to your boss’ office. Instead, approach your colleague. “I always recommend starting a conversation with, ‘Having a good working relationship with you is important to me. Can we talk?’” Lauby recommends.

6. Be your own advocate.

Do your job and the job of a public relations firm, representing yourself and your accomplishments, Elizaga recommends. “When you have achieved something that you’re proud of, you can send an email to the team letting them know,” she says. “Mind you, the communication need not be boastful – in fact, you can send out an email of gratitude that thanks to everyone who pitched in, the challenges you might have faced, and let them know what the outcome was.”

7. Learn how to learn.

You may only think about school once a month when you cut your student loans debt check. But Lauby says it’s important to continue learning new skills long after you’ve graduated if you want to snag a promotion. “Organizations want employees who will own their careers and that means taking control of their career development,” she says. “If you want a promotion, start showing your manager that you’re trying to learn new skills. Volunteer to work on a project to gain experience.”

8. Dress for the job you want.

If your current role calls for nothing more formal than jeans but your boss wears pencil skirts and stilettos to work every day, then it’s time to rethink your wardrobe, Elizaga says. “It sounds so cliché, but it’s true,” she says. “If you start a job in the mailroom, but you want a job in marketing, check out what the people in marketing are wearing and emulate it. Whether we like it or not, our appearance makes an impact on others’ impressions of us, so it behooves us to make the most favorable impression we can even before we open our mouths.”

9. Give relevant feedback.

Not only should you ask for feedback when it comes to your own work, but you should practice giving it, too – like a manager might. “No matter what job you have, being able to give thoughtful, relevant feedback is important,” says Lauby. “Organizations rely heavily on good feedback to make business decisions. And people who give good feedback get invited to the right meetings – the meetings that can showcase your talents, if you get what I mean.”

10. Carry yourself with confidence.

Finally, “no matter what your stature, carrying yourself with confidence and trust in yourself will inspire others to trust you as well – possibly with bigger and better roles, and ultimately a promotion,” says Elizaga. “Your body language speaks volumes, accounting for up to 60 percent of the message that you send to the world. So, inspiring body language asks silently for a promotion.”

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Determined to increase your salary? Follow these tips from Reesa Staten, vice president of communications and director of research at recruiting firm Robert Half International and Anna Ivey, a Boston-based career and admissions counselor, to increase your salary this year:

1. Get comfortable negotiating salary raises.

“Women fall behind here, because they generally aren’t as aggressive and fall farther and farther behind with their salaries. You can’t be shy about asking to be paid what you’re worth,” Ivey said. Along these lines, she said, it’s important to keep detailed documentation of your achievements.

2. Research and compare your salary.

Staten urges workers to make sure they know how much their skills are worth before they pursue a different position or a promotion. Compare your salary.

3. Become an indispensable expert.

Continue to learn about your line of work, so that you stay current with trends and developments. Your strategy might include going to industry conferences, reading industry publications or setting up regular lunch meetings with others in your field to exchange information and ideas. This is a key to increasing your salary.

4. Make yourself visible.

Network and mingle, making sure you are continually visible to others in your industry and your workplace. At work, take on difficult challenges and make sure that management is aware of your contributions.

5. Update your skills.

Consider training or certifications that could lead to a promotion. “In some companies, if you don’t have a bachelor’s degree, you can’t advance to the next level. Some jobs require an MBA; get as much education as possible,” Staten said. Search for online learning that could help increase your salary.

6. If you return to school, make sure that it will pay off.

Ivey said it’s important to investigate degree programs before launching into one that might not increase your salary — and could end up costing you more in the long-run. Also, find out what continuing education benefits are offered by your employer. You may be able to “earn more” by getting your employer to cover tuition costs. Research the best college degrees for higher earnings.

7. Absorb and adapt to new methods.

“Things are changing quickly; what is state of the art now will be obsolete 10 years from now,” Staten said. When things change at work instead of getting grumpy, be the first to jump on board. Your enthusiasm for change and adaptability to new systems and ideas are to how your employer values you and could lead to a salary increase.

8. Be receptive to criticism.

Constructive criticism can help you improve your performance, Ivey said. Not only is it important to be able to gracefully accept criticism from your coworkers and boss, but integrating that feedback into your work can win you points and opportunities for promotion.

9. Sharpen your communication skills.

“I don’t care what role you’re in. If you can read and speak well, you are way ahead of the pack,” Ivey said.

10. Get comfortable with math.

“A lot of people coast through college without number knowledge — just basic knowledge, like how to read a financial statement. We live in a Sarbanes-Oxley [SOX] now. If you work in a publicly traded company, you will be affected by SOX. Accounting is a great skill to have in your tool set,” Ivey said, referring to the federal law that tightened corporate governance standards.

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