Remote Work: Looking Back on 10 Years of Practice

The following article was written by the founder of Brome Conseil, Simon Chamberland, who has been working in the field of information technology since 1995 and has about twenty years of experience in information technology and management. Please note that this article was first published on the blog of the Brome Conseil firm and is now being re-shared on our blog, with the author's agreement. Remote work consists in carrying out a professional activity in whole or in part remotely thanks to ICT. It can be carried out from many places: home, shared spaces (coworking) or even in a satellite office (source Wikipedia). Due to the digital transformation, more and more professions are concerned, and the trend is only going to accelerate. The tools necessary for good implementation are now widely available and accessible, both for communication and for online collaboration.

What brought me to remote work

Personally, I have been practicing remote work intensively for a good ten years. This began with a few days a week to end up with full weeks, due to a mutual desire to increase productivity, drastically reduce commuting times and better balance work / family life (we just had our first daughter at the beginning of this experience). Being naturally independent and autonomous, this way of working immediately suited me. Not once did I want to go back. In fact, when I recently changed jobs and started working in a more conventional way, I had to admit after a few months that I could no longer work under such conditions in the long term; so I switched back to full-time remote work when the opportunity presented itself after 6 months. Of course, this is my own experience, everyone has to find their balance.

The downsides of remote work

I often hear people around me say, "Oh, I couldn't work like that, I would always be tempted to do this or that in the house." That's indeed what one might think. However, once you start and the tasks are clearly present, you quickly realize that the reality is quite different. If you want the work to be done, and well, you have to take it seriously... Of course, it is always possible to use breaks in a constructive way. Another aspect often mentioned is isolation. Here again, things have evolved and it is appropriate to nuance. Over 10 years ago, the only "active" interactions with people were made by phone (or via softphone, before the era of Skype and the like). Then video was added, making things a little less impersonal; even if, in the end, we manage very well without it. Most of my calls are without video but make intensive use of screen sharing. But all of this can change very quickly. With technology evolving as it does, we can imagine the use of holographic systems or virtual reality in the near future...

On the benefits side

For me, a clear advantage is the flexibility of working hours that can accompany remote work, not just with the goal of reducing stress or balancing professional and personal life. It is also a way to regain control more effectively of one's own rhythm/cycle of life, while keeping in mind the imperatives of work and the inevitable constraints that this can bring.

Some tips to conclude

In addition to the material and equipment specific to your profession, always plan to have access to a separate room. You need to be able to isolate yourself if necessary (for teleconferences, to focus, etc.). Also establish clear rules to limit access. This will avoid funny or embarrassing situations (barking dog, child intrusion, etc.). If you are teleconferencing or using your computer to make phone calls, plan for a headset with a long enough cable (or even a wireless model if possible). This will make life easier to reach a distant object. The same applies if you are the type to get up and move around when you are in communication. A small insignificant detail but it removes many frustrations.