Out of sight and out of mind need not be a problem when working remotely, advises career and leadership consultant Al Dea in Fast Company.

The founder of talent advisory firm Betterwork Labs, Dea works with companies on how to attract, develop and retain diverse workforces. He advanced some strategies that remote or hybrid workers can employ to maintain visibility and viability, while coping with the challenges of competing for attention and recognition with their in-office co-workers. “It’s still possible to advance your career in an age of remote work,” he wrote.

Career development is more than just doing the work, Dea wrote; it is “critical” to reflecting on one's past achievements as well as aspirational ones. Dea recommended that workers ask themselves questions such as what they have done for the organization and how they can attain their career goals. Creating a career development plan and scheduling regular meetings with a manager are other suggestions.

Making sure that managers, leaders, and stakeholders know what an employee is working on will keep that person visible, offering opportunities for new projects or advancement, he wrote. He advised checking in with  one's manager on a regular basis and offering updates on projects based on the manager’s recommendations.

Building strong relationships are vital for workers who are not always physically present, Dea wrote. Citing a Harvard Business Review report that found an increased likelihood of promotions for those who forge strong relationships with senior leaders, he urged remote employees to set up regular meetings with leaders and key stakeholders to share what they are working on in order to ensure that these leaders are aware of the employees and their work. That could lead to positive performance evaluations and promotions.

Documenting one's impact is important, too, he wrote. He advised employees to keep a “brag book” of messages and other accolades that they may have received from colleagues about their work. Then he advised employees to forward these accolades to managers, and keep them on hand for their next performance evaluation.

Dea also emphasized the power of networking. By finding a community of like-minded people with whom one can share ideas and generate feedback, “new learning and collaboration opportunities will present themselves,” he wrote.

“Whether you’re working in person, remotely, or somewhere in between, you can take ownership of your career by tracking your accomplishments and keeping open lines of communication with your manager and leaders,” Dea concluded. “It is possible to get promoted and advance your career while working from anywhere—you just have to be intentional about it.”