At some point or another, every office worker asks themselves what it would be like to work from home, or how the freedom to work where they choose would change them for the better. Working remotely means having the freedom to work where and how you want. But is it all that it’s cracked up to be? Let’s take a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of working remotely:
Pros
- Flexible schedule
- No commute
- Less distractions from coworkers
- Increased productivity
- Flexible attire
Cons
- More personal distractions—family, tv, phone calls, Facebook, etc.
- No face-to-face relationship building
- Missing important information provided by direct discussion
- Potential lack of discipline
As you can see, the benefits and drawbacks are evenly matched. It could be a great idea, or it could be a terrible idea. It all depends.
In an article from Mashable.com, Working Remotely: Is It Right For You?, HR Manager Sara Ferraioli from Winter, Wyman, thinks it’s best to ask yourself if you have the discipline, the motivation, the space, and the right personality to pull it off. If you can’t answer yes to all of these categories, you’ll have a harder time working remotely with any true measure of success. The key here though, is having the right personality to make this arrangement work. Without it, you’ll be more susceptible to distractions, time management pitfalls, and misinterpreting key communications.
Of course, not all businesses and roles can support this style of working either. If your company or role requires you to interact with a team or clients on a daily basis, then working remotely may not be feasible. Or if your role requires you to explain or digest complex ideas and problems, you would be missing out on that face-to-face collaboration.
Working remotely has only recently become a viable solution for some workers. Fifty years ago it may have meant up and moving the entire office to the middle of nowhere—a far cry from what it means today. In the meantime, flexible and remote working will continue to become part of workplace culture as Millennials take over more of the workforce in the coming years.
For those workers looking for a more flexible workspace or private work retreat, check out our available options.
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