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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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How to Thrive in the Virtual Workplace summary
Robert Glazer with Mick Sloan
Simple and Effective Tips for Successful, Productive and Empowered Remote Work
18 mins
Table of Contents
How to Thrive in the Virtual Workplace
Summary of 6 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 6
Remote work has great benefits for both companies and employees.
In March 2020, COVID-19 turned remote work into a new normal for people across the globe. But clocking in from the comfort of your own home isn’t all that new. Remote work has been on the rise for years. In America, for instance, it increased by more than 90 percent in the last decade.
And the reason for this growing popularity is simple: remote work actually works! Many people question how productive employees can be if they’re left unsupervised, while others believe that brick-and-mortar offices give companies credibility. But early adopters have known for years that there’s a lot to gain from remote work.
The key message here is: Remote work has great benefits for both companies and employees.
So, what exactly makes remote work so great? First, not having to commute to an office every day saves employees valuable time. Rising housing costs around the world mean that many people can’t afford to live close to their workplaces. So they spend more and more time commuting. Workers in the United Kingdom, for example, commute for an average of two hours a day.
Traveling to work isn’t the only thing that’s not ideal. The office itself is full of distractions that reduce productivity, and working from home eliminates many of these. Think of how often you’re pulled into chats with colleagues, or of how office noise and activity can make it hard to focus. That time adds up! In fact, a study by the Guardian found that employees lose almost 90 minutes of productivity a day due to office distractions.
In addition to improving productivity, working from home gives employees flexibility and autonomy, both of which are in high demand. People want work arrangements that allow them to spend quality time with family, travel around the world, and even take up hobbies and side projects. Companies that offer such arrangements are more attractive to potential hires.
Speaking of hiring, remote work also creates a larger talent pool for organizations. The authors’ company, Acceleration Partners, has benefitted from this. Being fully remote means it can hire anyone, regardless of location. As a result, it boasts 170 employees in eight different countries. And it’s not just employers who win. Companies based in expensive cities like London and New York can be inaccessible for people with limited economic resources. Remote hiring evens the playing field for these candidates, many of whom are people of color.
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What is How to Thrive in the Virtual Workplace about?
How to Thrive in the Virtual Workplace (2021) is a guide to working remotely. With tips for both organizations and individuals, it covers everything from the benefits of remote work to steps for implementing it successfully, and the tools and tricks that make it easy.
Best quote from How to Thrive in the Virtual Workplace
If your meeting involves one person talking 90 percent of the time, it should have been replaced with an email memo or video message.
—Robert Glazer with Mick Sloan
Who should read How to Thrive in the Virtual Workplace?
- Organizational leaders interested in going remote
- Employees who want a fulfilling remote experience
- People who are curious about the future of work
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