Remote Work: Empowering Accessibility & Productivity
Sometimes when I sit at my desk, surrounded by the familiar comforts of home, I think about how happy and grateful I am to be doing the work that I’m doing in the way I’m doing it.
It wasn’t long ago that I was terrified that working for myself would somehow be a downgrade from working for someone else. Don’t get me wrong; in some ways, it is more challenging. I don’t have a partner or a team, and that can get lonely even for an introvert.
But I am doing my best work and have unlocked the ability to learn and iterate at a pace that feels more natural to me. I have complete control of my time and how I get work done - two privileges that sometimes make me wonder where the adults are (it certainly can’t be me who is in charge around here).
As I reflect on the nearly three quarters of a year since I’ve been self-employed, knowing that this is the happiest and most fulfilled I’ve ever been by my career, I give so much credit to my ability to work with my clients remotely.
It has been a transformative shift for me. I can do my best work on my own terms, and meeting with people virtually provides all of the benefits of human interaction (connecting, collaborating, and so on) without any of the drawbacks (sensory overload, the weird posture my body takes when I’m out in the world, the inevitable migraines that result from those two things).
There was a time early in my career when I realized that in-person work was very challenging for me. I thought that meant there was something wrong with me and that I may never able to be to successful. Now I know that there’s actually something wrong with a world that believes that accessing work and one’s full potential looks a certain way. I’m very grateful that we’ve collectively been learning that’s not true.
Remote works benefits both folks with accessibility needs and those with geographic barriers, opening doors for people who may have been previously excluded from the workforce and giving organizations a larger pool of qualified candidates.
In a lot of ways, remote work levels the playing field and creates pathways to employment that were once out of reach.
As an advocate for remote work, I must play devil’s advocate and point out that working remotely brings its own set of unique challenges to overcome. Here are some to consider:
Communication and clarity become even more important for remote teams, and operationalizing trust is mandatory.
For some folks, it’s harder to access remote work than in-person work. Not everyone has a dedicated workspace in their home, and remote work can be isolating.
Working remotely is its own skillset, one that team members may need support to develop.
Evaluating job performance may look different when teams work remotely.
While working remotely can eliminate the cost of office space, there may be other “digital infrastructure” investments that need to be made to foster virtual collaboration and ensure cybersecurity.
Living and working in the same space can blur the lines between life and work. Effective boundary setting is important.
As we continue to navigate the evolving landscape of work, let’s start with equity and prioritize accessibility and belonging.
After all, remote work isn’t just about working from home — it’s about being open to the diverse ways individuals do their best work. Being open to these possibilities and ready to address the challenges they present proactively is how we’ll show up as our whole selves, build strong teams, and get more done.
