People don’t know who they’re working with, which makes it harder to delegate tasks and resolve conflicts. And it's especially hard to accept new ideas, take risks with company resources, give promotions, or do things differently—especially when a new team member is the one pushing for change.  Communication is one of the hardest parts of remote work.

This article is about your mindset, values, and your ability to communicate them to your team so that you’re heard, understood, and accepted. It can help you earn a promotion, gain respect, and push your ideas forward.

The perfectly human project

Most remote projects follow a template: the designer, developer, editor, or SMM is just a task machine. There’s a brief—you ask a couple of questions, maybe adjust the deadline. That’s it. Ideas and features come from the top. The executor simply does the work and gets paid.

The other kind of project is human-centered. Here, communication is open. If you have an idea, you can speak directly to the department head and discuss it. Most often, the kind of project you work on depends on your own motivation. If you want to do something new and exciting—say so, and you’ll be heard. Most of the time, anyway.

Your motivation isn’t money

How people treat you depends on how you treat the project. Why are you doing this? Money is a weak motivator. Someone who’s only in it for the paycheck may do their tasks well—but they’re unlikely to become a growing asset, a source of new ideas. And that’s exactly what teams value most. So what’s a better kind of motivation?

The third option gives you space to grow, pitch ideas, and take initiative. But even that motivation won’t be seen unless you speak up. Sometimes the right conversation happens by chance. Other times, you can simply write a message to your team lead a month or two in and say what you want to do. The key is honesty. If you truly want to grow and build something great—say it. But don’t fake it. People sense that.

A message is a code

“Hey. The typography in the mockup is a bit weak. Please revisit font weights. Maybe make the main one a little bolder. Try to finish by 12:00 tomorrow.”

One designer will read that as polite and constructive feedback. Another might get offended. We all have different emotional states and perceptions—we interpret the same messages in different ways. Many solid projects fall apart simply because someone on the team says, “They don’t get me here,” and leaves. Understanding takes time—especially remotely. Sometimes it takes 3 months. Sometimes six. Here are a few key rules:

“Guys, I respect your taste, but I strongly feel this design doesn’t work because… I suggest doing it like this instead, because…”

Freelance ambition

Ideally, you’ll find a freelance project you love and grow within it. For example, you’re a graphic designer doing logos, mockups, print—but after an animation course, you can also do motion design. It’s great to use those new skills in a long-term project rather than searching for new clients.

Tell your team lead / project manager / art director about your goals. Take initiative. Pitch the value of this new skill for the team—especially if it hasn’t been used yet. Proactiveness, communication skills, and the ability to explain things clearly are valuable in any team, especially in freelance. No one knows your intentions or energy unless you say them. In an office, a good manager might sense your mood just by being near you. Remotely—you have to speak, speak, and speak again.

You are a brand

The more credibility you build in the team, the more open people will be to your ideas. If you want people to listen to you—earn their trust. A lot of beginners complain, “I have so many ideas, but nobody cares.” You might truly have great ideas—but to get people to listen, you need to:

Develop yourself. Invest in yourself as a brand. Take courses, read, listen to lectures and podcasts. Share ideas and inspiration with your team. People will trust and support you if they see that you’re genuinely excited about the project and want to bring real value—not just earn money.

In our online intensive “My New Online Profession,” you’ll learn how to set tasks, communicate ideas, and resolve conflicts. You’ll master design and layout, build a strong freelance profile, and learn to work with clients in a way that gets you understood.

Sign Up