(Part 1 of 5)

“Although I was unsure how the shutdown would impact my work, it only took me a few days to get comfortable working from home,” commented a long-time employee, and I for sure don’t miss the forty-minute commute and the scramble for parking.”

Although you may not have noticed, working remotely (from home, a co-working space, a coffee shop, or anywhere in the world) has been trending for several years.

More than 40% of us worked remotely at least some of the time prior to COVID-19 and that number has more doubled in the last 15 years.

Dell reported $12 million savings a year in less office costs, and Global Workplace Analytics calculates that companies can save more than $10,000 per person annually by allowing employees to work anywhere.

As remote working benefits both employers and employees, the trend will likely increase.  However, being out of the office does introduce leadership challenges.

Some managers fear that employees being out of sight will also develop into being out of mind.  Concerns about work measurement and accountability arise, communication and collaboration become more critical, and remote workers report feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Future blogs offer suggestions for managing a remote workforce.