Difficulties of working remotely

Although living in Portugal while earning a Dutch salary is a really nice thing, there are some downsides to having a physical distance to your employer and team.

1. Accountability
   Whether it makes sense or not, sitting behind a desk 8 hours a day earns you instant accountability. You are present (whether you are emotionally present is another thing…). Since the corporate/public sector still very much evolves around the hours worked equals pay instead of output equals pay, being present at the required hours gives your colleagues the idea that you work. If you are working from home or abroad you have . At least, I had the feeling that I constantly needed to prove that I was indeed working. Sending updates, constantly showing new work, checking my inbox during lunch… In the office I would not check my mail for the whole morning if I was working on a complex price equasion. Now, I never really feel comfortable being tuned out.
2. Time difference
   I got used to the one hour difference within a few days. My tools not so much. My online schedule (Office365) randomly jumps between Dutch time and Portuguese time. I have been too early for Skype meetings. And too late, also. That is quite embarrassing because availability is essential in remote work. I even stressed the importance of availability and reliability in my remote working proposal, so it is extra painful I fail in that.
3. Workflow/team structure
   The energy company I work for is quite traditional in its workflow and communication. Most communication goes via email or Skype, which are absolutely the worst tools to keep track of projects. Suggestions to use better project management tools such as Slack were not welcomed. Apparently, it is really hard to change a company culture (which explains the whole Change Management industry out there). I totally underestimated that.

Having succes with a remote team is totally possible. However, it’s definitely easier if you’re not the only one in your team that works from abroad and if the company’s culture is either already adapted to remote working, or is able to accept the tools and methods that support a location/time independent culture.

More information and my personal experiences on remote working, remote working agreements and traveling on www.fixtrs.wordpress.com