As an entrepreneur, I've always been proud of my decision to go remote with my business from day one. When I launched my first business in 2014, I made a conscious choice to avoid the traditional office setup, and I haven't looked back since.?
At
Scalto
our team enjoys the flexibility to work from wherever they want, as long as they adhere to our core values, which include several principles like "Commit to your commitment" and "Eye on the big picture" (which I will delve into in future posts).?
There are several reasons behind my approach to remote work:
- I despise the concept of "butt time." I once had a boss who would shout from his office, "What do you think this is, a country club?!" whenever someone walked in at 9:05 AM. This not only led to poor morale but also resulted in abysmal productivity levels. I vividly remember sitting at my desk, staring blankly at my computer screen, trying to appear busy while my brain was utterly drained.
- I learned to work in harmony with my energy levels. When I started my business, I decided to pay close attention to my brain energy fluctuations and take breaks or refuel when necessary, without feeling guilty. This approach significantly boosted my productivity and the amount of work I could accomplish each day. I want the same for my team and expect them to be self-aware, understand when they are at their best and worst, and plan their work accordingly.
- Going remote allowed me to expand my talent pool. In 2014, this wasn't a "cool" trend, but I began hiring the best fit for my business from anywhere in the world, making the pool of potential candidates virtually unlimited. This experience taught me the ins and outs of hiring and managing a remote team well before the pandemic forced many companies to adapt.
- Having a remote team naturally shifts the focus to results. According to a survey by Owl Labs, remote workers are 22% happier than their office-based counterparts, and 91% of companies report better retention rates among their remote employees (Owl Labs, 2021). By emphasizing responsibilities and outcomes, we've seen a significant positive impact on our business. It's about sharing the responsibility for client happiness and ensuring that every team member in the production chain is engaged and responsive.
- Striking a healthy work-life balance is much easier when you don't have to punch in and out of an office. Happy teams make happy clients; it's that simple. A study by FlexJobs found that 97% of employees believe that having a flexible job would positively impact their quality of life (FlexJobs, 2020
).
Embracing remote work before it was the norm has been a game-changer for my business. By prioritizing results, trusting my team, and fostering a culture of flexibility and accountability, we've built something that I am truly proud of, not an office to check in and check out every day.?
FlexJobs. (2020). FlexJobs Survey: Productivity, Work-Life Balance Improves During Pandemic.?
It's inspiring to hear about your journey with remote work, especially since it's becoming increasingly important in today's business landscape. Embracing flexibility from the get-go shows a forward-thinking approach to entrepreneurship. Looking forward to reading your article and gaining insights into how remote work has contributed to Scalto's success!