How to Make Working Remotely Work For You

How to Make Working Remotely Work For You

Are you currently working from home? Perhaps you are doing some contract work at home? How is that going? I want to look at the concept of working from home or working remotely. Working remotely means that you are employed or have a contract with a company, but instead of working in an office you work from home.

There have been advances in video conferencing, social media and other technologies, meaning it’s easier to work from home than ever before and yet lots of companies are still resistant to allowing staff to work remotely. America seems to be leading the way in working remotely. According to the software company Intuit, nearly a quarter of Americans work remotely or telecommunicate for at least a few hours every week. According to the Wall Street Journal, 67 percent of American companies allow at least some employees to work at home occasionally and 38 percent allowed some workers to do so on a regular basis.

There are so many advantages for businesses in letting workers work from home. Companies do not need as much floor space. They do not have to pay the energy bill to run lights and computers for everyone! For the employee, it means you don’t have to waste time travelling to and from work. Also people who have flexible hours and a flexible workplace are happier employees. One study found that 78 percent of workers would give up free food if they were allowed to work remotely. According to a Cisco survey, six out of ten graduates said they would like to work remotely on a flexible schedule.

And yet Australian companies are still reluctant to embrace working remotely. Also remote workers worry that their colleagues will see them as slackers because they are not in the office. They also fear that that lack of actual time with their boss will hurt their careers.

Communication is key

Research shows that the key to productivity and team work is effective collaboration –where you work has little impact. Corporate advisors from Financial Northeastern say teams need to embrace a model of ‘bursty’ communication. There needs to be concentrated exchanges with little time between responses. That means you should respond to emails promptly. Exchanges that drag on slow down the team, but bursts of communication allow group members to quickly agree on goals and focus on their work instead of chat.

Sara Sutton Fell, of FlexJobs, says you should use more than one tool to connect with colleagues. Email, chat, phone, web, and video conferencing are all useful, depending on the circumstances. Email is great for tactical information, project updates, and sharing data. The phone works well when you need to brainstorm or solve a challenging problem. Video conferencing is ideal for several people tackling a problem or sharing difficult news. Also never be afraid to contact people. Do not let little problems become big problems. Be a proactive remote worker, reach out to people!

Use your time wisely

If you are going to work from home, you have to be able to get stuff done! Managers do not let employees work from home if they can’t meet deadlines or produce quality work in the office. If you know how you work and how much you can get done, then you have the skills to work from home. When you first start working remotely show that you are organised. Pay attention to detail and produce work of a high standard. If you are working to weekly deadlines, then it is even okay to use some of your day for other tasks like shopping and cleaning but you will have to catch up on your work at night.

I have known a lot of women who have worked remotely. The truth is that they have done more for their company than they are actually paid for! I know women with young children who work short days from home, pick up kids from childcare and then work long hours into the night. These women are often so grateful for the privilege to work remotely that they go above and beyond the call of duty for their firm. Please do not burn yourself out. Do what you are paid to do. Do it well, but do not over do it, and burn yourself out! Make sure you have a lunch break. Go for a walk in a park during the day! For every hour you work, factor in a 10 minute break. Working remotely does not mean becoming a slave!

The downside of working remotely

There are disadvantages to working remotely. Some people do become lazy and stop producing quality work. Remote workers also do not get the chance to form close friendships with the co-workers, and they miss out on interactions that may inspire them.

Remote workers do not get to spend quality time with senior managers. It is harder for them to build up relationships. You need to push yourself to network. You might want to have some contact with co-workers on social media. I would strongly recommend attending company training days in person and attend work related events.

You need to find the right space and the right clothes to work in

Remote workers often work in their home office or on the kitchen table if they don’t have a home office. Never work in your bedroom. Bedrooms should only be for sleeping and relaxing. Working in a bedroom could lead to disturbed sleep or a stressful life! Consider also varying your work environment. Why not work in a coffee shop some days?

I know some remote workers who start work in their pyjamas! I even know a guy who has done a teleconference wearing a shirt, jacket, tie and pyjama pants. I advise against this. It’s healthier to give your mind and body clues that it’s time to ‘go to work’. You may work from home, but that doesn’t mean you can stop showering! Start your day with a shower and put on smart casual clothes. Dressing well helps you be more productive. You will move into professional mode.

Often the key to successful remote working is having a routine and sticking to it. You need to know your strengths and weaknesses and keep producing quality work. If you find your work is suffering, then I’d suggest returning to the office for a stint.