Remote Working Part 1 – Overview

Posted on September 26th, 2009

Obviously not all of us can work remotely as many types of employment require employees to consistently attend their office or travel to perform their work face to face. But for those of us given the opportunity to work remotely then I thought it would be useful to share what I have learned and offer some practical advice by distributing it on the net with the sole objective of providing valuable ways for adapting to remote working or managing remote workers.

I can tell you that there are groups of so called ’experts’ online who will try and make you purchase online education for significant sums of cash, take my word for it you don’t need to do this.

I am blessed to be allowed to work in whatever location I choose and just about everyone who asks me what work I do wants to understand how I am able to work remotely. Don’t get the wrong idea I am still perfecting the science of remote working as each day I find people on the net who teach me new approaches and I am continually finding new software and methods that make my life simpler and make me more effective.

During the past 7 years I have substantially adapted my working processes to let me to do the majority of my work remotely with a portfolio of internet tools and solid self management. One lunchtime whilst searching the Internet I discovered Quickbooks online and this inspired me as to what just might be possible. The discovery of online ‘on demand’ small business accounting software was a significant event for me and the start of my ‘remote working journey’.

I should inform you up front that productively working remotely is as much about the tools as it is about self discipline. Working remotely also means putting it to your team members, supervisors and clients as to what they can expect and how they will interact with you.

In ‘Remote Working Part 2 – Managing yourself’ I discuss how to focus.