The Challenge of Working Remotely
The Challenge of Working Remotely
Q: I lobbied for a long time to become a remote employee due to long commute times and family obligations. Now that I work remotely, I hate it. I feel unproductive, stir crazy, and disconnected from colleagues. What can I do to improve the situation? Or should I beg my boss for my cubicle back?A:
Welcome to the downside of joining the remote workforce. The big push to work remotely (or “working from away,” “telecommuting,” or having a “remote office”) comes from two places. First, people like you—with horrible commutes and family responsibilities—want to eliminate the waste of time that commuting often is. Second, with the rising costs of metro-area property, many organizations are looking to lower real estate expenses, and having a partially remote workforce is one way to do that.
Now that you’ve experienced the highs and lows of working remotely, try to eliminate the extremes. It doesn’t have to be an either/or situation—always in the office or always working remotely. Can you split the week between home and the office? Find some middle ground. Going from all to nothing might have been too much of a shock to the system for you. If you broach a return to the office with your manager, don’t talk about being unproductive at home; talk about being more productive in the office, perhaps because communication with coworkers is easier and quicker that way. Recognize that it could be a challenge for your manager to bring you back on site, so be as accommodating as possible: “I’d like to create a new schedule that would allow me to come in a few days a week, if there is still space for me. I’d only need a cubicle or space in the conference room, if an office is not possible.” Put your request on the table with the solution attached to it.
If your manager doesn’t have space for you, you still need to fix the problem. Take time to identify what impacts your productivity and then seek solutions. Are you lacking motivation? Are you not feeling connected to your team? Successful remote workers develop techniques to maintain high levels of productivity, maximize their time, and limit the isolation. They might deliberately schedule conference calls throughout the day to stay involved with colleagues, plan a daily gym class to help structure their day, or schedule after-work gatherings to support the need for affiliation.
Maintain some kind of schedule…with flexibility. Give yourself time for meals and coffee breaks and to maybe throw in a load of laundry…but don’t start vacuuming the whole house. Don’t exploit the situation, but do make it work for you—some people prefer an early start so they can be done by 4, while others are at their best later in the day. Learn what works for you.
It helps to have a dedicated office space as well that is just for work. Is anyone interrupting you during work hours? Are you constantly fielding home-related calls or do you let them go to voicemail? Set aside a specific space for work and limit the time spent on non-work-related tasks.
If isolation is your biggest obstacle, think about who else works remotely. Are you close to them? Could you organize a day to work together at each other’s homes or a coffee shop? Can the work you’re doing be done in a place where you are surrounded by people? Segment your work into “private” and “public” categories and structure your days accordingly—if you have confidential phone calls to make, plan them for a morning at home, but then swing by Starbucks for the afternoon for non-confidential tasks. Get creative with your work environment!
Working remotely is a growing trend as technology develops and employee preferences change. While a remote workforce can benefit both organizations and individuals, it can certainly be a challenge to establish a successful and productive environment!
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