Why Aren’t We Talking About What’s Not Working in Remote Work?
Why Aren’t We Talking About What’s Not Working in Remote Work?
Remote work isn’t new. I managed remote teams long before 2020, and certain challenges were apparent even back then. One of my go-to responses when a consultant struggled to meet deadlines was simple: “Send me a picture of your desk.” More often than not, the desk was a mess—piles of papers, gadgets, books, and clutter. In a paperless, tech-driven world, such disorganization spelled trouble.
Fast forward to today, and clutter extends beyond desks. . As we approach 2025, it’s time to confront what’s not working about remote work.
Questions to Ask Yourself and Your Remote Team?
How Many Non-Urgent Texts Do You Get Daily? Seriously. Go count how many not-so-serious texts you got last Thursday or for the whole week? Was it more than 10, over 100? Break them down by work and personal categories. How many are truly important, life-altering, or can wait until after hours? Probably 99%...Constant notifications are productivity killers. No, you do not need an endless catalog of pics of your child at daycare or a pic of what your boyfriend had for lunch. Save personal updates for dinnertime with your family and curb the constant text messaging and social media updates. Remember when personal calls were discouraged during work hours? Be honest—you wouldn’t be texting non-work contacts so frequently if you were in an office. Solution: Disable notifications during work hours. Let family and friends know you’ll check messages at designated times—say, 12 PM and 5pm. If something is urgent, they can call twice.
If You Want a Home Office, Make It Look Like an Office. Create a space that is presentable with good lighting and a professional background—or download a virtual one. A clutter-free, organized workspace helps maintain productivity and focus. Consider how you’d present yourself in an in-person office environment and aim for the same standard at home. It will improve your mindset and your output.
Are You Treating Work Hours as Actual Work Hours? Remember when doctor’s appointments, haircuts, and errands happened after work, or at least after 2 pm (and you skipped lunch) or on weekends? Remote work shouldn’t blur those lines. And for the love of remote work, do not put personal errands—Gym, run club, Betsy’s soccer practice, or nail appt—on your work calendar.
Do You Attend Every Extracurricular Event for Your Kids? At the risk of being a “horrible boss,” you do not need to attend every one of your child’s practices, games, or rehearsals. This modern parenting trend may not be as beneficial as it seems. Children can learn valuable lessons from seeing their parents prioritize responsibilities and maintain a strong work ethic. I raised three human beings and built Hunter Ambrose. My rule was 1:4 when it came to my kid’s events and I was my own boss. They survived and had a great time going to Italy during their high school Christmas vacation. (You see my point?)
Are You Using a CRM or Work Management Platform? Don’t rely on endless chats and meetings. Even a simple Google Doc can streamline project management. In a world where Phyllis no longer sits across from Stanley with a flow of office information, we do not need that replicated in a thread of emails exceeding 100 words. It’s like a bad soap opera that won’t stop—implement better processes and have more productive conversations.
Are Your Meetings Productive or Just Noise? If you are required to attend a meeting, it should have your full attention and engagement. If your meetings are ineffective, step up and share ideas. Here’s a basic framework to start improving meetings:
Turn on the camera. Be present and engaged.
Dress as if it’s work. Show respect for the professional setting.
Disable notifications. Focus entirely on the meeting.
Have an agenda and an objective. Know what the meeting is meant to accomplish.
Set a time limit and stick to it. Ensure the meeting produces results that drive information, business, revenue, a project or a decision forward. If that doesn't happen, you don't need a meeting.
7. Do You Leave the House? As in ever? Vitamin D deficiency is rampant among remote workers. Reclaim your pre-remote routine: take a walk, hit the gym, or join a fitness class before work. Prioritizing your physical fitness will always translate into a better, happier and more productive human being. All that time saved from not texting your contact list during work? Use it to recharge! Go for a walk or a run during your lunch hour. Or try the 5 AM Challenge—remember when people hit the gym early and still made it to work by 8 AM, showered and in a suit and tie? No need to go that far in today’s remote world, but we can all do better.
Raise the bar for yourself and your remote team in 2025. I love working from home or from anywhere I choose to be. I hope that I am still bringing my best in-office self to this remote world.
