Adaptability & Balance through Remote Work
At points in our professional life, we all face unexpected challenges in our personal life. Navigating tough times, like personal struggles, bereavements, health worries, or external factors beyond our control, is unfortunately inevitable. However, there is a tool at our disposal that can be a game-changer in how we work through these: remote work.
Remote work, and to a lesser extent, hybrid work, has revolutionized the traditional workplace dynamic. People are offered flexibility and autonomy on a scale that is not seen in office work. Those aspects can be invaluable in navigating the difficult times with adaptability and a balance. Having gone through tough times myself, I know firsthand how remote work can truly help with adaptability and balance.
As I’m sure a lot of people have experienced, a while ago, I went through a close bereavement. It was tough emotionally and at times, it was hard to focus on anything else. Remote work helped in by allowing me to schedule time to take breaks and to work on tasks that weren’t too draining.
More importantly, being able to work remotely made a huge difference in dealing with my feelings. Instead of being in a busy office and almost “masking” I was in a place where I felt safe and comfortable. I surrounded myself with things that meant a lot to me and I was able to stay calm and focused. And, if needed I could reach out to my global team for any support.
Just as remote work offered me and offers others, the opportunity to navigate with autonomy and flexibility, a great team is crucial. Crucial in both the sense of remote work and navigating difficult times; having a cohesive and supportive team can make all the difference.
Working remotely means a lot of asynchronous communication with a globally distributed team and while there are some challenges to this, there is also a solidarity to it. When your manager and team trust you to do your job and you can rely on your team there is a sense of security, stability and flexibility.
Flexibility can be a huge bonus with a globally distributed remote team, especially in difficult times. A flexible team can adapt working hours to accommodate commitments or changing circumstances and can foster empathy and understanding. It’s so important that this is the mission of the team from the get-go because the sense of belonging and transparency can create such a supportive environment.
So, remote work has emerged as a powerful tool in navigating difficult times, offering individuals the autonomy and flexibility needed to maintain balance and adaptability. My own experience with remote work during challenging periods has highlighted its invaluable role in providing a supportive and nurturing environment where personal well-being is prioritized.
Ultimately, remote work is not without its challenges, and the importance of a great team cannot be overstated. Asynchronous communication and global distribution may present obstacles, but they also foster a sense of solidarity and collaboration that is essential in times of need. A cohesive and supportive team provides the foundation for success in remote work, offering trust, flexibility, and understanding that enable individuals to thrive, even amidst adversity.
Thérèse Walsh is passionate about understanding and theorizing human behavior, culture, and technology, and applying them to practical solutions. As a Global Talent Acquisition Operations Manager, she supported the growth and success of G-P/Globalization Partners, a leading SaaS-based global employment platform and one of the world’s most successful remote first companies. With over 10 years of experience in recruitment, talent management, and consultancy, Therese has expertise in change management, process improvement, and data analysis and is a remote work evangelist.