Work Together Anywhere

CHAPTER 3Remote Working 101: Getting Started

“Remote workers aren’t trying to escape doing work. We’re trying to escape the day-prison. We want to use technology to make better use of our time. We want to spend more time doing things that matter to us, and less time stuck in traffic.”

—LISETTE SUTHERLAND, “Work Together Anywhere,” TEDx talk for Theme: Unbox the Future ¹

If you’re already a remote-working member of an established team, then you’ll probably want to jump to chapter 4 for tips on perfecting your game. If you’re definitely going remote and ready to get going, then skip ahead to the Getting Set Up  portion ( p. 72) in the next section. For those just considering going remote, keep reading—all of what follows is pertinent to you.

Pre-Remote: Deciding for Yourself

“When my role is to be a virtual team member, I need to be self-motivated, focused, curious, flexible, and, above all, collaborative.”

—MEGHAN M. BIRO, “Telecommuting Is the Future of  Work,”  Forbes ²

Part of the decision about going remote—whether it’s you who is unsure or you’re worried your boss will be (if you have a boss, that is)—concerns both temperament and skill set. We’ll cover how to convince your boss later on. For now, let’s spend some time thinking about what it takes to work remotely successfully. Even if you’re fully convinced this is the path you want to take—or you feel it’s your only option—try to approach the following with an open mind. You’d be much better off identifying ...