What We Can Learn From People Who Worked Remotely Pre-Pandemic
Clear guidelines, open communications, and transparent scheduling are key.
For anyone unaccustomed to working from home, the last few months have been a rough transition. With more companies each day announcing they’ll allow remote work for the indefinite future, it’s time to make another shift: from seeing work-from-home arrangements as temporary to considering them a long-term reality.
Organizations where work-from-anywhere is the norm can offer tips on how to make this not only bearable, but pleasant and productive, says Barbara Larson, a professor at Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business. She has three takeaways—and an important caveat.
Set clear guidelines
Work-from-anywhere teams are more explicit about their processes and norms—things such as how they handle conflict or make decisions. In an office, these norms often go unspoken. But in a virtual setting, they can take some effort to establish.