A Mini-Survival Guide for the Virtual Knowledge Worker

Yasmina Khelifi is a French project manager with 3 PMI certifications. She has been working in an international environment for more than 20 years. Yasmina can speak 6 languages and has an MSc in Mobile Telecommunications. She is a passionate PMI volunteer. Yasmina's new co-authored book 'The Volunteering Journey to Project Leadership' (CRC Press). is now available. Connect with her to continue the conversation.

  Career Development   Talent Management  

Since the greater outbreak of the pandemic in early 2020, organizations have had to shift their ways of working—and accelerate changes that were already on the horizon. As project managers and humans, we have had to adapt.

What does it mean to be a virtual knowledge worker today? I’d like to share six tips to help you successfully navigate this “new normal”:

1. Identify your needs and motivations
I’ve been working remotely since before the pandemic, as we had a corporate agreement. I always wished I could work entirely from home, and then in 2020 that became a reality—but for a bad reason.

I’ve been enjoying remote work very much, but some of my colleagues have struggled with it. Before the pandemic, a colleague refused to work from home because he couldn’t concentrate. Another one told me he was visiting the fridge too much.

We all have to experience these new ways of working. Some firms have now imposed a return to the office; others have a work-from-anywhere policy.

You need to take stock of:

• What do I miss most when I work from home?
• What do I enjoy most when I work from home?

These answers will help you define new strategies and change your habits. You’ll also discover new things about yourself.

For instance, I’ve heard some people say they miss their commute because they could …

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