I’ve Worked Remotely for a Decade: Here’s What I’ve Learned

I’ve worked remotely since 2012—as a remote employee for five years, and as a consultant and business owner with clients across the country since.

There is high energy and low energy work and most people have high energy and low energy hours that may not correspond to a traditional workday.

The gift of remote work for the consultant and client in my case—or the employee and company—as it may be, particularly if it’s accompanied by a flexible policy around hours and location is that if I control when and where, I can bringing my greatest strategic thinking and creativity to my highest energy tasks.

Two more big ideas:

Claude Silver was one of the first people I heard frequently speak about bringing your whole self to work. Remote work allows us to be our whole selves in and around our work; to have the time to take the kids to school or dance, to fit in an extra walk every lunch break —which allows us to happily take a call with Australia late one evening or finish an urgent, unforeseen project without resentment, because trust and flexibility are baked in.

James Sommerville once said “the most valuable part of the meeting takes place on the walk through the lobby between the front door and the elevator—how do we recreate that on zoom?” THAT is the question companies struggling with a lack of connection or collaboration should be asking.

Thanks LinkedIn for this prompt: Companies around the world are taking different approaches to time spent in the office, what are your thoughts on the future of remote work? #FutureofWork 💭 #remotework #linkedin