Seeking ways to improve your performance in your online job?
You can draw guidance from the Japanese philosophy of “Hansei,” which roughly translates to “self-reflection” or “introspection.”
Deeply ingrained in Japanese culture (e.g. martial arts, tea ceremony, business management), Hansei involves reflecting on actions, decisions, and outcomes with humility, aiming to recognize mistakes and pursue improvement.
Fortunately, this philosophy is equally applicable to remote work settings.
Here are 7 practical tips to apply it.
Set Regular Reflection Sessions
Allot a dedicated time for reflection sessions to pause, review, and assess your actions and work outcomes.
Use this time to ask yourself tough questions about what went well, what didn’t, and why.
Ideally, you can aim for around 15-30 mins of meaningful reflection time.
If possible, you can also schedule longer sessions, up to an hour or more, for even deeper reflection or when addressing complex issues.
Keep a Hansei Journal
Next, try to keep a journal or digital document where you can record your reflections and insights.
Keeping a Hansei journal enables you to record thoughts, experiences, and lessons learned, so you can track progress, identify patterns, and gain deeper insights into your strengths and areas for improvement.
Furthermore, you can also use these tips to take advantage of journaling in your remote work alongside your Hansei practice.
Aim for Continuous Improvement in Remote Work Skills
Hansei encourages remote workers to seek opportunities for skill development and improvement continuously.
This might involve attending virtual workshops or training sessions, learning new technologies, or refining time management strategies.
You can also apply the Japanese concept “Kaizen” to guide you in making small and incremental changes to improve your productivity.
Celebrate Your Successes
It’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind and forget to acknowledge how far you’ve come.
So celebrate your successes! No matter how small, they’re a great way to remind yourself of your capabilities and boost your confidence.
Moreover, reflecting on your successes allows you to identify what strategies and efforts led to positive outcomes.
This self-awareness is essential for continuous improvement and growth in your remote job.
Practice Humility
On the other hand, you should cultivate a humble attitude towards your work and accomplishments.
Humility allows you to approach challenges with an open mind, seeking feedback and insights from others without ego or defensiveness.
This way, it’s easier to identify blind spots, recognize mistakes, and adapt accordingly.
Seek Feedback
Actively seek feedback from trusted colleagues, managers, and clients.
By actively seeking feedback, you gain different perspectives, enabling you to adapt best practices and keep improving.
Be open to constructive criticism and use it as an opportunity to learn and grow.
Practice Self-Compassion
You may uncover a lot of shortcomings, failures, and insecurities during the Hansei process.
So remember to be kind to yourself amidst these imperfections. Recognize that growth takes time and that setbacks are a natural part of the journey.
Being kind to yourself will keep you motivated despite setbacks and help you navigate challenges with resilience.
However, if you’re still looking for home-based jobs in the Philippines, you can sign up with Remote Staff for the best remote working opportunities for Filipinos.
Remote Staff can match you with long-term clients who appreciate your dedication to continuous improvement by applying Hansei.
Register today!
