A happy remote workforce
Patricia Wiklund

A happy remote workforce

Working remotely gives the opportunity to have a happy workplace wherever you are. The technology makes it possible. It has never been easier to communicate and collaborate with people. All that’s required is an upgrade of the human mind, says Jason Fried. Here is how we at Invenire make the most of “no office required” and how we transform it to real benefits for our customers.

GOODBYE GREY OFFICE

To be honest, I see no point in sitting in daily traffic jams. I don’t like offices where you are constantly interrupted by co-workers and coffee breaks. I dislike the boring colour combinations of grey, greyer and the greyest- so typical for public spaces.

I used to work in a high tech centre for start-ups. I used to commute. I can easily recollect the different shades of grey in our office. But seven years ago, I made a decision. It was based on the recognition that I would never thrive in those kinds of work settings.

That decision turned out to be the first step towards our current and successful remote work strategy. I didn’t know it then, it just felt like a jump into the unknown. Today, in retrospect, it was the most obvious and clairvoyant choice we could have made. In June 2007, we got rid of our formal office, our team scattered to various places where they wanted to be – but work continued - remotely.

Working remotely is about quality of life. It also has saving effects. You save time, money and the environment .

Through the years, I’ve become aware that my creative mind needs inspiring, versatile surroundings. I value my time and I want to make the most of it. I like the idea that I can combine my lifestyle with my work - without compromises. I appreciate that I can do something good for the planet. I like working long stretches alone and focused, just as much as I enjoy days away, doing highly intense workshops, project sprints and customer visits.

THANK YOU, JASON

Sometimes it seems like remote work is still waiting for a breakthrough. Sure, it is more common today that people occasionally work from home, but we rarely see companies like ours that rely on a 100% remote workforce and virtual team. We are still perceived as a peculiar oddity. Everyone is always asking how on earth we do it. The major concerns seem to be related to having enough space, being distracted by housework, wearing nightwear during daytime, risk of cabin fever, missing gossip at the coffee machine or trusting the team to really work and not play computer games. If those would be pertinent concerns, I think the managerial problem would be more about an unmotivated workforce than a remote one.

It wasn’t until a few months ago that I happened to stumble over a talk by Jason Fried, co-founder of 37Signals and CEO of Basecamp. I found my kindred spirit. It turned out Jason had been applying the same kind of thinking as we have. And even written a book about it. I am thankful to Jason for putting our model into awareness of others. I hope it will inspire other companies to go the same route! In the future, companies like us will need more brilliant workers, who know the drill from the start.

HAPPINESS & WELLBEING AT THE CORE

For us at Invenire, working remotely is mainly about two things:

  • Prioritising health, wellbeing and personal development, in combination with
  • Creating ideal settings for getting work done.

Based on our experience, I think that there are three sources of a good life that really benefit from remote work:

  • Emotional fitness: Remote work makes you very aware of your strengths and weaknesses. If you know yourself well, are connected with your emotions, and at ease and grounded, you can make use of your emotional capacity in a smart and positive way. By applying a positive mind-set, you get better at both seeing opportunities, being in the moment, and being constructive.
  • Physical fitness: Our body and our mind are connected. When the work pace gets hectic and pressure is on, it’s too late to start thinking about getting a gym membership. You need to get yourself fit before the battle begins. A workplace can do many things to support team members in being active and boosting their wellbeing. Working remotely is connected to having more control over your own time. Everyday we should reserve time for being active, but also relax and rest. If the best time for you to go for a run is between 10 and 11AM, be it. Work when you have the best energy for it. If you want to catch the daylight in late November and go for a stroll in the early afternoon, do it. Being active makes us happier and makes us work so much better.
  • Goal focus: Goal focus isn’t so much about optimal results and performance. We don’t have to be workaholics or strive for 120% each day. It is more about being able to prioritise and to recognise what is important. Especially being able to see the difference between important and just urgent is a skill that is needed. Being able to focus and not being distracted is also important. A focused mind is a productive mind. If you feel that the wheel is spinning too fast, your days are chopped into small parts, and that you are a victim of circumstances – you are not in a good place.

KEEPING THE WORK IN THE PRODUCTIVE ZONE

Remote work helps us avoid too many meetings, distractions and unnecessary interruptions. Invenire’s work culture requires internal performance drive, discipline, organisation and structure. However, effectiveness is not only about managing time, but also energy levels. By building personalised routines we can distribute the hours according to own natural energy levels. The toughest challenge is to release oneself from the office hours’ mentality and to understand that checking in and out from work is a mental mode – not a physical place.

Doing meaningful and important work is always a boost for energy levels. With high energy levels a task gets done in no time. Workaholics always seem miss the point. Few problems are fixed by throwing countless hours at them. 5 minutes of a sharp and disciplined mind is always better than an hour of intellectual laziness.

Mindful, focused and present in the moment.

High energy levels are always tangible when the team meets in person. Those rare occasions are our true quality time here at Invenire! We talk shop, we laugh, eat well and discuss the future. We really value those face-to-face moments. We always try to project that same energy to our customers. We keep ourselves available through the projects and when we meet we are 100% there. Mindful, focused and present in the moment. Ready to do purposeful, important work!

Read more about why happiness is at the core of our business in my latest post. Keep yourself updated of Invenire's business news, subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

Christine Forde

Psychic Healer for Relationships | Supporting successful CEOs, Executives and Entrepreneurs | Women who want to find Love and have Healthy Fulfilling Relationships

9y

Agreed! It does take some discipline to ensure work does get done when you aren't in a traditional office, more so if you own your own business, but I agree it's a better way to spend your time (especially when it comes to long commutes in bad weather and distracting coworkers or meetings). I love remote work because you truly can discover where you thrive best. One of my favourite entrepreneurs (Gina Devee) regularly goes to France and Italy to be immersed in beautiful settings while she works. I certainly dream of that! :)

Like
Reply
Daniel Green

Managing Director at Frontline Manufacturing/Mills Group

9y

Great post Patricia. I'll be interested to know what you think about coworking spaces and their link to productivity? I discussed this recently on my blog, and was amazed with the different spaces catered especially for creatives, entrepreneurs, etc http://www.getserio.com/blog/productivity-rise-coworking-freelancers/

Like
Reply
Ali Barış Bingüler

VP of Delivery at EVAM | Mentor

9y

agree with you Sinem

Like
Reply
Sinem Ozcan

Oracle Applications Developer • Contractor • Freelancer

9y

I believe forcing to work in the office everyday kills most of the creativity and imagination we have. Why dont we let people to work hard and still enjoy the life ? Everything can be possible with a good planning.

Like
Reply

To view or add a comment, sign in

Insights from the community

Explore topics