Work Together Anywhere

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Part of what can make remote working seem so daunting is the element of the unknown—from a manager wondering if a remote employee is working to a team member wondering if a terse email reflects annoyance or haste or neither. As a result, many have questions about just how a company or team can function effectively when one or more workers isn’t on-site. To follow are answers to a series of such questions—from team member concerns such as career advancement, income, and social isolation to team leader concerns such as productivity, trust, and plain-old tech glitches. And while it’s true that not every situation has a positive solution, strong evidence suggests that those “no go” situations are in the minority. In most cases, an optimal combination of skill set, tool set, and mind set will prove to be admirably effective.

Individual/Team Member Concerns

APTITUDE

How can I tell if I’m cut out for working remotely?

• Working well remotely is as much about attitude as it is about aptitude. Great team members don’t just do their work effectively; truly excellent team members work effectively with their coworkers. That calls for regularly striving to build a sense of connection and trust, especially regarding reliability. You can learn all you need to know in chapters 3 and 4.

Isn’t it hard to be productive working outside the office?

• It’s true that some just work best in an office environment. But for the rest of us, it’s simply a matter of trying ...