How Remote Working Options Transform the way we do Business

Waking up early to put on some make up, stress about what to wear, getting stuck in a traffic jam on your way to the office - quite a start for a productivity-longing day. These are just some of the “traditional” frustrations that accompany our 9-5ish work days. Not to mention that millions of workers spend at least 10 hours a week commuting. Luckily (although slowly), habits tend to change with trends.

Over the past decade, the revolution of remote working is spreading across industries, transforming and even negating old rules. The work-life balance is increasingly gaining in importance and more and more often it’s becoming a crucial factor when selecting a potential job. This is also what matters to recent graduates - to work in a customized, fun environment with casual dress code and emphasized spirit of flexibility. 

Today, most of employed as well as the about-to-become-employed young people are in constant touch with smart devices, online platforms and technology in general, which makes them accustomed to rapid changes. This puts a boring note on traditional workplace.

So, remote or not?

Many companies refuse this option because they fear that remote work will not be as effective as the one employees perform in the regular office space, that they would be easily distracted, hard to trust or get in touch with. Not so compelling.  Here’s why:

●  The vast majority of jobs is already being performed through a computer screen or at least two (one for communicating, the other for tasks..). This by itself is already remote work.

●  Remote workers are under far less stress than the ones in regular offices

●  Remote workers don’t feel the need to “escape” from that office space, thus are less likely to be distracted

●  Remote workers cost less, are very well connected and more engaged (they tend to be more responsive and almost always online)

Refusing to implement the remote working option in an organization is rather the matter of lack of progressiveness and will to get out of the comfort zone of traditional operation - mostly because it is necessary to improve ways of planning to the next level:

●  When communicating through digital media the perception of how employees provide each other with information for successful collaboration acquires new dimensions (especially when working with people in different time zones). Being communicative is the key to maintaining productivity.

●  Employers and employees have to express their skills regarding planning, time management, decision making and showing commitment in a more refined and detailed way.

●  In order to ensure that all the ideas are carried out properly, using a wider set of collaboration and web conferencing tools is a must. Collaboration software such as Google Docs, Office 365, Huddle or Campfire, improve brainstorming and business goals management within the remote team.  

●  Team-building! When having a remote team member it is decisive to ensure that they don’t feel left out of planning, or conversation whether it’s about business or something else. With tools such as Skype, Google Hangouts or Slack, there are no excuses, just stay connected. Also, if possible it is desirable to plan and schedule company meetings at least once a year, to really make everybody feel like a part of the team. It’s also about showing value for everyone who represents company’s brand and culture.

While many people double their productivity and know how to use and organize their freedom to work alone, from wherever they want to, some people perform much better within regular office patterns.

When remote work is being done from home some people are having difficulties with maintaining work-life balance:

● They simply don’t know when to stop working and step away from the computer.

● This one is usually followed with major health risks due to prolonged sitting and not leaving the house (problems with back, increase in weight..). Setting up reminders to take a walk or do some exercise is a good idea. 

● When working from home, it can be difficult to set boundaries for family.

● Lack of social life.

With proper organization, these complications can be solved, and remote working can be turned into a very rewarding lifestyle.

So although it’s often described as the dream life, remote working isn’t for everyone.  And as for the companies offering remote working options, there’s still a lot to learn, and to be successful, progressive and relevant, this option shouldn’t be considered mandatory but rather be offered to workers as a benefit.