It’s your first month at your new job. Your new employer allows you to work remotely, and you’ve decided that working from home sounds like a convenient arrangement. Your first week goes smoothly – you wake up early, stick to a strict schedule, and produce great work.
Now fast forward four weeks. You’re waking up later, running personal errands throughout the day, and while you’re still completing your assignments, it feels like something is missing.
While this example is simplified, it reflects the experience of many remote workers who thrive in more interactive environments.
Many companies are offering flexible work schedules to employees, whether it be partial work-from-home opportunities or hiring virtual teams that work remotely from across the country.
Such arrangements are designed to boost productivity and employee morale, but they aren’t always the best solution for every employee. If your remote job has you feeling unmotivated or disconnected, here are five ways that virtual offices can enhance the remote work experience.
- 1. Personal office space creates a sense of purpose. Routines can quickly break down when working from the comfort of your own home. Commuting to your virtual office creates routines that add structure, limit distractions, and boost productivity.
- 2. Modern office equipment provides the infrastructure for business success. Technology has enabled remote positions to flourish, but not all employees have access to all of the necessary equipment in their homes. Office space ensures that employees can effectively communicate with coworkers, clients, and prospects. It also safeguards sensitive data that could be at risk in home networks.
- 3. Professional environments make a good impression on clients and prospects. You probably don’t want to host clients and prospects at your home, and the local coffee shop isn’t much better. Meeting clients and prospects at your virtual office space creates a professional environment and projects a professional image that will make a lasting impression.
- 4. In-person interactions encourage creativity. Some of the biggest companies in the world, including, Facebook, Samsung, and Yahoo, have changed their work policies to facilitate in-person employee interactions. The idea is that casual interactions are often the starting point of innovation. Your next great idea could be waiting at the water cooler – not in your home laptop.
- 5. Personal office space builds trust with coworkers. Working from home requires mutual trust, and coworkers may be skeptical or simply unaware of each other’s roles from day to day. A virtual office space can help showcase your work habits and production while creating a more connected company culture.
Why does working in an office work better for you? Let us know in the comments!
