Real Talk on Remote Work
Let’s face it: remote work is no longer the future – it’s the present. For many organizations (including our team at transform.forward), working remotely has become the new normal. But just because we’re not commuting doesn’t mean it’s all sweatpants and smooth sailing!
We’ve learned a lot over the past few years, both from experiencing a remote workspace firsthand and observing other organizations in in-person, hybrid, and remote environments. In this post, we’re pulling back the curtain on what it really looks like to navigate remote work successfully, both as individuals and as a team. Whether you’re fully remote, hybrid, or figuring it out day by day, we hope these insights resonate and spark ideas for you and your team.
Remote work isn’t a vacation – it’s a shift in mindset.
One of the biggest myths about remote work? That it’s somehow “easier.” In reality, it requires an entirely different approach to time, communication, and collaboration than traditional office settings.
We’ve found that remote work demands more intentionality – about how we structure our day, how we stay in touch with colleagues, and how we manage our energy. It’s easy to let boundaries blur when your workspace is steps away from your comfy bed and Netflix-ready TV. That’s why we encourage teams to create routines and boundaries. Creating boundaries in your home to help shift in and out of “work mode” is a lifesaver. Here are some examples we’ve heard of recently, and even some we’ve used ourselves:
Taking a morning walk to signal the start of the day
Closing your laptop at a consistent time each day for a “lunch break”
Lighting a candle or turning on a specific lamp when starting the workday, and blowing it out or turning it off when logging off – a sensory cue that helps mark transitions
Setting calendar holds for “focus time” to prevent nonstop meetings – creating protected space for deep work
Creating a dedicated workspace in your home – whether it’s a full office or a dedicated table or desk
Starting or ending the day with a 10-minute mindfulness or journaling session
Communication is everything.
When you’re not bumping into coworkers in the hallway, communication isn’t organic. It takes effort to make conversations and collaboration more deliberate. We use tools like Slack, Zoom, and Google Meet, but these can’t always replace the nuance of in-person conversations.
That’s why we use a layered communication approach:
Asynchronous updates (via Slack or Asana) to keep work moving forward in real time
Google Meet team meetings, power hours, and one-on-ones, where our cameras and mics are on and we’re actively communicating as a team – we need synchronous communication, too!
Biweekly Deep Dive Sessions to focus on specific topics, new projects, and big ideas for our organization’s future
We also leave space for informal connections – virtual coffee dates to talk about our latest reads; lunch hours to chat about upcoming vacations; and fun photos from weekend activities, pet shenanigans, and memes in our #watercooler Slack channel. Remote work can sometimes feel isolating, and making space for personal connections keeps us grounded and human.
Flexibility is a feature, not a bug.
One of the biggest perks of remote work? The ability to work in a way that fits your life, not just your calendar. At transform.forward, we trust our team to get their work done, whether that’s during a traditional 9-5 window or in a schedule that flexes around childcare, health appointments, travel, or creative energy bursts at 10 pm. Flexibility may also include where team members are working – not just from their “home,” but potentially from a coffee shop, coworking space, back patio, or vacation rental.
Of course, this flexibility only works when paired with accountability. We’ve found that clear expectations, shared project timelines, and transparent workload discussions help everything stay aligned without micromanaging.
And recently, we’ve started something new: power hours. Twice a week, our team commits to spending two hours, twice a week, in a synchronous online setting, where we can collaborate across time zones and without getting booked over by external meetings. We know that it’s easy to fall into back-to-back meetings - this new initiative is one way we protect our focus. We also encourage “unavailable” blocks, provide asynchronous feedback when possible, use Slack status settings, and discuss shared norms about notifications and notification pauses.
Onboarding remotely? It’s possible – and meaningful.
Starting a new job remotely can feel like drinking from a firehose (in your pajamas… have you ever had that nightmare?!). We recommend developing an onboarding process to make sure every new team member feels welcomed, supported, and connected, no matter what time zone they’re in.
Some practices we recommend include:
A shared onboarding task and checklist in your project management platform that includes both task-based and relationship-building items
Scheduling a “get to know you” video call with every team member you’ll regularly be interacting with
A buddy system, so new hires have a go-to person for questions (no matter how small)
Remote doesn’t mean flat. Keep growing.
Professional development can easily fall to the back burner when you’re not in a physical office with visible learning opportunities. But remote workforces thrive when people keep growing.
Carve out time for:
Monthly learning hours, where a team member shares a topic or skill
Funding to attend in-person or virtual trainings or conferences
Peer coaching sessions to troubleshoot challenges and practice facilitation techniques
Webinars you attend or books you read as a team, plus time to discuss and debrief
Learning doesn’t have to be formal; it just has to be ongoing.
Don’t forget to celebrate.
Remote work can make it easy to jump from one project to the next without stopping to reflect or celebrate. We try to do both – often.
This may look like:
Shoutouts in our Monday team meetings
Surprise snail mail (stickers, treats, or handwritten notes)
Documenting wins in Asana (for projects) or Gusto (for employees)
Additionally, don’t forget to celebrate your team members on a personal level. It’s common for workplaces or coworkers to surprise someone with a birthday cake, baby shower gift, or graduation celebration in the office. Don’t forget to acknowledge these personal milestones in your remote environment!
Final Thoughts
At transform.forward, we don’t pretend to have remote work all figured out. Much like other organizations, we began cultivating a remote team and workspace during the COVID-19 pandemic and have continued to adapt and evolve ever since. We’ve learned that when we lead with trust, empathy, and intention, working remotely can be just as connected, fulfilling, and effective as working in person, with the bonus of flexibility.
If you’re navigating your own remote or hybrid work journey – whether as an individual contributor, a manager, or an executive leader – know that you’re not alone. Remote work is a continual practice of learning, adjusting, and finding what works for your team. We’re all figuring out how to make things better as we go along!
And, if you’re ever interested in a thought partner for that journey, we’re just a Google Meet away.
