I work in an expert organization and, alongside my job, I’m pursuing a master’s degree at a university of applied sciences – all remotely from my home office.
Like many others, I transitioned to remote work during the pandemic and have stayed with it since. Some see challenges in remote work, but I often view it through a positive lens. Remote work has brought many benefits such as increased productivity, focus, flexibility, choosing a workspace that suits the task, and, best of all, no commuting. However, successful remote work doesn’t just happen on its own; it requires a well-equipped environment and a focus on effective management practices that support remote collaboration and communication.
Essential Digital Tools for Effective Remote Work
Digitalization has made flexible work possible, independent of time and place. This flexibility depends on open communication, well-organized workflows, and effective tools for working remotely. In a decentralized organization, smooth information flow is critical. We’ve worked together to refine the best practices for working as a cohesive team while physically apart. Having established ground rules helps create clear expectations and efficient workflows for everyone involved. Meetings, quick check-ins, and problem-solving sessions are held over video calls. Sometimes, we connect on video just to share a coffee break. Informational updates or quick questions are exchanged in chat.
If a meeting or training session cannot be attended live, it can be recorded for later viewing. This applies to my studies as well: although there are occasional online classes, the study schedule is flexible enough to balance with my work. Recorded lectures are available to revisit as needed, which also enables our team to stagger training schedules so that everyone isn’t tied up at once.
The Future is Here
Every day, I use a range of information systems to manage my work. It’s hard not to think about how different my job would have been ten or twenty years ago. Nowadays, almost all information is online, with nothing stored in file cabinets at the office. Back then, working from home would have seemed out of reach – and to be honest, it still felt that way in the summer of 2019. Moving from 100% on-site work to 100% remote work wasn’t even on my radar.
Gaining Freedom through Remote Work and Study
What have I gained through digitalization and the opportunities for remote work and study? Freedom. Freedom to choose where I live, as work no longer dictates where my home should be. The freedom to begin my master’s studies and challenge myself, something that might not have happened without the flexibility of remote learning. At the very least, it would have required significant changes to my life. The threshold for investing in my education would have been much higher. I’ve also saved time and money. Before remote work, I commuted 100 kilometers daily, driving on ring roads to and from the office. Now, that commute time goes toward my well-being.
There’s a lot of discussion about the challenges of remote work, such as potential isolation, communication difficulties, or employee burnout. It’s true that working remotely brings challenges and requires a lot from both the team and its leader. But when done well, remote work gives back so much more.
