For work, education, and training, the trend of telecommuting is growing. Since 2009, remote work in the United States has increased by a staggering 91%. By extension, the demand for distance learning and off-site job training is steadily on the rise (even before Covid-19). The benefits of remote work are well-known and highly sought after across a range of industries and generations of employees.
The ability to learn and work from home benefits the bottom lines of teachers and students alike. By skipping the time spent sitting in traffic (along with the added cost of car maintenance, parking, and gas), remote workers save an average of $4,000 per year. Employers save money, too, by circumventing the costs of renting and maintaining an office space. Productivity losses for sick days, car problems, and bad weather are significantly reduced when employees aren’t required to put in face time around the office or attend an off-site conference.
Despite the apparent benefits, common questions and fears continue to linger for many managers and employees who are considering the leap to work-from-home. Managers may be wondering if productivity, collaboration, and teamwork will suffer without face-to-face interactions. Employees may fear becoming isolated or disconnected from their team. Without active participation in office politics, will an employee who is working from home be passed by for a promotion? These are legitimate worries emphasized by the nuance of remote working agreements.
Contrary to common misconceptions, there are many examples of remote work and distance learning building relationships and connections. When done the right way, telecommuting allows for an equal work culture that values objective productivity and quality results over favoritism, gossip, and inherent biases.
Here are three critical ways that remote work and distance learning foster clearer communication, deeper self-actualization, and positive work cultures.
#1 Encourages Greater Frequency of Communication
Remote work and training are nothing if not convenient. By removing the stress of commuting, employees can start their day in the comfort of their own home (and maybe even sneak in an extra hour of much-need sleep or a morning workout). Without being confined to a designated work station, employees are free to work and learn from wherever (and sometimes whenever), they feel most comfortable. Employees can sip a latte while listening in for training at a local coffee shop, or take a business call in the comfort of their living room. This flexibility enables a more seamless flow between work and everyday life. As a result, communication can happen on a more frequent basis, especially for teams who are working in different time zones.
Remote workers are more inclined to touch base with their employers and teams on a regular basis because face time isn’t a given. We all know that simply seeing someone regularly doesn’t guarantee effective communication. Distance working takes away the façade of superficial interactions and replaces them with an actual need to touch base, seek feedback, and discuss ideas through written and spoken words. Active participation in meetings is a must when working remotely, whereas office workers may be physically present but mentally checked out. Scheduling planned opportunities to touch base, combined with easy access to employees through phone, email, and chat programs, encourage more frequent and purposeful communication.
#2 More Focused Productivity & Collaboration
Let’s face it; not everyone is going to jive with their coworkers. Instead of forcing people to work and train side-by-side, why not allow people to play to their strengths and communicate on work-related issues as needed? Keeping the focus on the task at hand (rather than whether or not you enjoy being around your coworkers) helps maintain a higher sense of professionalism and respect. Remote work reduces negative interactions like gossip and office politics. Equipping remote employees with the right tools to collaborate effectively is an essential step to having everyone feel heard and included. The extra breathing room and quiet time gives workers a greater sense of freedom and personal space to grow.
Furthermore, most employees do not like being micromanaged, especially high-performers. Micromanaging builds resentment and breeds negativity. Unfortunately, micromanagement can be unavoidable for some managers in an office environment where physical workspace is shared. Giving employees the trust and space to complete their work independently and learn at their own pace enables better autonomy and prevents overlapping efforts.
When performance reviews are objective, rather than influenced by personality clashes, the work environment becomes a more fair and pleasant experience for everyone. In the case of distance learning, the privacy and freedom to tackle assignments and tests without the pressure of performing in an in-house environment can make all the difference for learners who are developing their skills and absorbing new concepts for the first time.
#3 Improves Employee Retention & Student Access
It’s hard to feel connected to your employer and teammates when the faces around you keep changing. Now more than ever, the office has become a revolving door, especially when flexibility and remote work are discouraged. Employee retention is a marker of a successful business. Statistics show that employees favor the option to do their work in their chosen environment. So much so, that they are willing to take pay cuts or make other sacrifices in order to have this option.
By keeping your employees around for longer, they can get to know each other and develop more effective working relationships. Managers can become familiar with the unique strengths and weaknesses of their team. Rather than continually introducing new faces, a group that has a history together can gain loyalty and a sense of community within the company. Welcoming remote work allows companies to reap the benefits of a workforce that chooses to stick around for the long-haul.
Additionally, distance learning benefits students of all walks of life. Gone are the days when higher education and training were reserved for fresh-faced high school graduates. Today, older workers are heading back to the classroom to develop new skills, and professionals are changing careers by taking advantage of online training courses. Distance learning makes it easier for everyone to participate in education, even those who already have established careers and families to juggle. Virtual set-ups enable individuals to access knowledge without the constraints that typically accompany in-person class attendance requirements. Instead of having to move to the location of a university, distance learning is a cost-effective model of skill development for people around the world.
Virtual Learning and Working Successfully
Upwork’s “Future Workforce Report” predicts that by the year 2028, 78% of all departments will have remote workers. This trend isn’t going anywhere. The proven effectiveness of remote work only fuels its popularity among employers and employees alike. See remote work as an opportunity to build more cohesive teams, promote deeper connections, and foster a more dedicated sense of community. There are obvious benefits for everyone involved if we can set aside common fears of change.
Distance learning is the wave of the future. Even if companies haven’t embraced this concept for their workers today, younger generations entering the workforce are sure to be expecting it. Online degrees and continuing education programs via the internet are becoming more and more common for a good reason. Non-traditional students are a valuable asset to a diversely growing economy. By utilizing the expansive networks and resources that the internet has to offer, we can make way for more individualized learning and a greater contribution towards progress and growth.
