What Is Remote Work: Is It Right For You?

Working from home has countless benefits but can be challenging with distractions and without the right mindset can become counterproductive. Employees love working from home because of its flexibility and your freetime grows immensely without the commute to and from work. Employers love when their team can work remotely as it cuts back on overhead cost, as long productivity stays up. This is why so many companies are making the transitioning and allowing their employees to work remotely. Between increased productivity and reduced overhead cost why wouldn’t they give it a try? However not all employees are cut out to work remotely. So before making the switch you need to understand what is remote work and consider these 4 questions.   

 

Can You Work Alone? 

 

It’s no secret that working remotely that takes away the environment of working with others. While that’s good for some people it may not be beneficial to others so this is an important question to ask yourself. A lot of people need motivation from others and the ability to collaborate with co-workers in order to be successful in the workplace. While working remotely you have to be able to find the motivation to conquer projects and workloads solo. Today’s technology allows us to connect with others through video conferencing and messaging platforms that keep teams engaged and focused.

 

Are You Self Disciplined? 

 

WIthout the pressure that comes from management and the typical office environment many people can find themselves getting distracted. When working from home it’s common to get lost in other responsibilities when you are taking a quick break. What was supposed to be a five minute break to throw the laundry in the wash has turned into spring cleaning and somehow you lost a half of days worth of work. Being self disciplined is an important skill for an employee who is working remotely to have. This means they are self motivated, stay focused and driven to complete their responsibilities on their own will. So if you answer “no” to this question you don’t want to consider working remotely.

 

Are You a Strong Communicator?

 

Communication is key whether you’re working in the office or working from home. Without the verbal and visual communication clues, a person working remotely has to compensate through other channels of communication. This is why strong communication skills are critical. Without person to person contact, being a strong communicator is crucial when working remote. Through messaging platforms and emails you must be clear and concise when portraying your message in order to not be misinterpreted.

Consider Your Work/Life Balance

 

If you find yourself someone who gets lost in their work or brings their work home, working remotely may not be for you. When working remotely you will have to be able to create a distinct line between work and personal life. Therefore having a strong balance between work and personal life is important to long term success in working from home. One of the major drawbacks of working remotely is that your work and personal life can intertwine. Being able to balance the two is key in maintaining a good working relationship with yourself! 

 

Whether you’ve worked remotely before or this is your first time considering it, there are specific skills you need in order to do so successfully. Working from home comes with a lot of benefits as well as responsibilities. If implemented correctly, a business can reap the benefits of remote employees and the staff themselves can reap the benefits. It’s a win-win for every party. Some businesses even offer the option for their employees to work remotely a couple days of the week. Whichever works best for your business and your employees is the route to go.

Brett Sartorial
 

Brett is a business journalist with a focus on corporate strategy and leadership. With over 15 years of experience covering the corporate world, Brett has a reputation for being a knowledgeable, analytical and insightful journalist. He has a deep understanding of the business strategies and leadership principles that drive the world's most successful companies, and is able to explain them in a clear and compelling way. Throughout his career, Brett has interviewed some of the most influential business leaders and has covered major business events such as the World Economic Forum and the Davos. He is also a regular contributor to leading business publications and has won several awards for his work.