If you, like many, ended up working remotely during the COVID lock down and are now considering working remotely going forward, there are a few considerations that may help you cement that idea as a good one.
Before taking the leap it is important to realise that forced/compulsory remote working is not quite the same thing as integrating a remote working aspect into your career. While your company will more than likely provide some guidance, policies, training and even equipment to help facilitate working from home, it is in your best interests to ask a few questions and weigh up the pros and cons for your particular situation.
The decision
There are three groups of people within any organisation that need to commit to a remote working policy:
- Owners and the board
- Colleagues we work closely with
- Ourselves and those that live with us
Many avoid looking closely at these three areas before the decision to work remotely is made. Often, they will hear what they want or take comments on face value, but it is always a good idea to dig a little deeper.
Owners and the board
From your immediate line management through to the board members of the company, it is worthwhile having an open and honest conversation to check if there are any reservations around the working from home scenario. Some leaders feel they should support or be seen to support such initiatives, in reality, they are often not setup themselves to properly collaborate and work closely with those at distance.
Check the following:
- Do any of the partners/owners work remotely themselves?
- How does the remote working policy read to you; do they even have one?
- Ask about the investment in remote working, like the technology, systems, software, and hardware provided.
- Ask about the metrics used to measure performance or monitor productivity.
- Check the rules/Governance. What skillset do they expect from you when working remotely?
If the company has most of these in place then it is a good sign that remote working has been properly thought through, adopted and forms part of the company operating model. It will also help confirm that it has been included as part of the company culture.
Colleagues
You cannot have a phone conversation without someone on the other end. I am referring to the, often forgotten point; the moment you start working remotely your colleagues are working remotely with you. If one or two people you work closely with are in the office, they will still require the skills and experience to successfully collaborate on projects with their colleagues at distance. If your immediate team has several working practises that require them to be onsite, you may be hindered in your progress. Have a similar open conversation with those you work with daily. Ensure they are comfortable with collaborating online, make a judgment call on whether you think they can adjust or are willing to adjust to this way of working. If your colleague thinks you are having a day off, the working relationship will deteriorate.
To thy own self be true
Is your home environment suitable? Such as reliable Internet, dedicated workspace, or suitable equipment if the company does not provide it?
Have you spoken to your family/flatmates/spouse? What will their expectations be, how will they benefit or suffer from you being at home?
How will you measure the success of remote working?
Do you feel a trial period is more suitable to ensure it is the right move and you have the discipline to work from your home?
Summary
There are many interesting topics to cover when it comes to the remote working debate. I have covered the odd one like “Bob” back in January this year and will continue to add various topics over the coming months. “The initial decision” is, for me, the most important aspect when embarking on a working from home journey. We adapt and learn over time, we get better at it and it can well be a game changer but it is important to ensure the right people are on board with it from the start.
I have worked from home two days a week for over 6 years now, three years while living in London and three here in NZ. The experience has been fascinating, extremely rewarding and I feel very privileged to be given the opportunity to do so. Making it work has had its challenges but overall the journey has been worth the effort. While this flexibility in location can help provide that elusive life balance that many of us are looking for, some have not been as lucky, often due to not asking the questions above at the start of the process.
There is a chance that many companies will offer remote working post COVID under pressure, without really committing to it. I don’t want to kill the excitement of this great opportunity if it has been offered to you, just a little nudge to check that excitement for a couple of minutes while you check the buy in is really there.
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