Is Work From Anywhere The Future of Work?

Working from anywhere sounds incredibly appealing to a large number of people. Many would jump at the chance to ditch the cubicle life for a life of travel and adventure, or even just the simple pleasure of waking up an hour later because they don’t need to commute to work.

The work from anywhere setup would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. The traditional office setting was the only place you could go to work for a long time. While there are many different theories on the future of work, one thing is certain: the traditional office is no longer the only way to work. Thanks to advances in technology and the growth of remote working opportunities, more people than ever can work from anywhere they want.

So with work from anywhere on the rise, the future of work is definitely changing. More and more people are discovering the freedom and flexibility of working from anywhere.

But is this the future of work?

Defining Work From Anywhere

It’s not that complicated — it’s all in the name.

Work from Anywhere means being able to work anywhere you want — at home, in the office, in a cafe, or wherever you’ll be most productive. Employees receive the freedom and flexibility to choose where they work, but it doesn’t come without any responsibility. Remember that you’re still there to work. So you’ll need to pick a place where you’ll be able to perform your tasks and deliver the required output. It’s a two-way street. You have the choice to work wherever you want and fulfill your duties and responsibilities.

The Benefits of Work From Anywhere

The Work from Anywhere setup could reshape the way people work. It encourages sustainability, flexibility, and well-being for employees and employers alike. There are other benefits, so we’ve written a detailed article on why WFA is likely the future of work setups, “50 Reasons Why the Future of Work is Work From Anywhere”. For an overview, here are some significant benefits that Work from Anywhere presents.

Reduced Costs

Because employees are not required to come into the office to work anymore, you can generate significant cost savings across multiple areas, such as technology and facility expenses. Work from Anywhere reduces or eliminates a company’s costs from physical facilities, office equipment, and maintenance services.

Increases Productivity

Work from Anywhere encourages employees to work where they are most productive. Allowing your employees to enjoy greater autonomy and fewer workplace distractions helps them engage fully with their work and produce higher quality output. WFA setups help them remain focused on the tasks at hand, as well as practice more efficient time management.

Saves Time and Resources

We’re all familiar with the line, “This meeting could have been an email.”

Unnecessary meetings could waste your business’ time and resources, taking your entire team away from their priorities. Work from Anywhere reduces unnecessary meetings, thus eliminating delays that are associated with attempting to schedule people across multiple departments into one meeting space.

Creates Diversity

It’s possible to obtain employees from around the world in a Work from Anywhere setup. Breaking the barriers that geographical limitations present enables you to hire the best talents from every corner of the world. An online recruitment process is more cost-effective and can also allow you to focus on other recruitment aspects (for example, aptitude assessments, catering to various time zones, multiple language proficiencies, etc.)

Reduces Attrition

Nowadays, employees value freedom and flexibility at work. By offering Work from Anywhere in your business model, you’ll make your company more appealing to job seekers.

Michele Curlee, the Administrative Assistant at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Montana, points out, “Profit at any cost, especially the wellbeing of the citizens and workforce of a country is a recipe for downfall! We are not truly free until we can aspire to a life of balance and well-being. With that as a foundation, we can return to the pursuit of achievements and dreams. Without hope in what we were once promised… is it any wonder people no longer wish to cooperate?”

Some people may even be willing to take a pay cut for more workplace flexibility, better work-life integration, and greater freedom. Other employees claim that being able to work from anywhere makes them more motivated to work harder and stay with their employer longer.

Employee Comfort and Convenience

Perhaps the most significant benefit of the work from anywhere model is being able to work on your own terms. No rush to work in the morning or set up a workspace at home; you can sit in your favorite chair, open your laptop, and work.

But home and office are not your only options when working from anywhere. You’re free to go to your favorite cafe or even take a trip to the beach and work from there—as long as you’ll deliver the outputs expected from you. You could work from anywhere that you feel comfortable.

The Challenges of Work From Anywhere

Work from Anywhere sounds like a dream come true.

But although it seems like a win for both employers and employees alike, there are still possible challenges when implementing a Work from Anywhere model.

Employee isolation

Since employees aren’t in one place, they will likely spend more time alone. While that may be peaceful and relaxing to some, others might end up depressed, especially those more productive when collaborating with others. For those people, their motivation is also bound to take a hit.

Moreover, it may also be harder to develop relationships with leaders and colleagues. That lack of camaraderie could lead to a reduced sense of belonging. But you can take the Head of Sales at Reef, Beckie Jones‘ advice: “Companies who have a proper policy in place for remote work, have employees that don’t feel stressed out, burnt out, lonely and isolated. They also have a fab culture, and are still fully developing their employees too.”

Potential Lack of Technology and Resources

Finding the right tools and software will help your team to connect and collaborate virtually. But some employees may not have access to such resources or lack the knowledge and proficiency to use specific tools and software.

Communication Gaps

Effective communication is a must. But when your team is scattered in different places and even working in different time zones, it can be challenging to communicate with each other. You may encounter cultural and linguistic barriers if you hire people from various backgrounds.

Blurred Line Between Personal and Professional Lives

Working from anywhere might lead to no distinct separation between home and work. And if that happens, you might find it harder to unplug. It could lead to employees putting in more hours and feeling more burned out, which results in decreased productivity and poorer quality of work.

Cybersecurity Concerns

Employees must study proper cybersecurity protocols, including using a VPN on public networks and not saving confidential information on their personal devices. You will also need to keep company information confidential and secure.

The Successes of Work From Anywhere

Now that you know the benefits and challenges, you may ask, “These are great benefits, but what companies have actually implemented Work from Anywhere?”

You’ll be surprised to learn that many progressive companies have adopted the policy change to allow their employees to work from anywhere. Many companies are affording their employees the flexibility to work wherever they want to accommodate the new age of flexible work.

Here’s a list of companies that have successfully transitioned to a Work from Anywhere setup:

Ford – With the goal of personalizing work schedules to fit their employees to maximize efficiency, they have given their employees access to flexible hours, only requiring them to show up to work for meetings and group projects.
Salesforce – Deeming that the “9 to 5 workday is dead”, they are giving their employees three options on working from anywhere.
Shopify – They encourage potential employees to apply and work from anywhere, priding themselves on a “digital by design” approach that helps employees communicate and connect without having to commute to the office.
Spotify – They allow their employees to work from home, in the office, or a combination of the two and provide flexibility with work locations, giving employees the freedom to work from anywhere.
Amazon – While not fully Work from Anywhere, virtual locations are available for people who meet certain qualifications and live in areas close to specific locations.

Work from Anywhere policies can be different. It all depends on the structure and needs of your company. For a starting point on the best guidelines for WFA policies, read our article, “Work from Anywhere Guidelines“.

Braden Douglas, a professional speaker, author, and the Founding Partner at Crew Food & Beverage Marketing Partners, claimed, “We’re not doing it perfectly, but we’re constantly improving. Remote work is not for everyone, but I believe it’s here to stay and the sooner companies embrace it, the better they’ll be.”

With the changing work landscape, companies and even roles previously unavailable in some locations are now open to candidates everywhere. Work from Anywhere opens many doors for people to try new jobs, progress in their careers, learn and polish new skills, and achieve better work-life integration.

How to Make the Most of Working From Anywhere

Working from anywhere is awesome right up until the cat knocks a glass of water onto your laptop.

Or your next-door neighbor starts firing up all sorts of noisy power tools.

Or that large group sitting at the table next to yours at the cafe gets a little too loud—not the ambient noise you wanted.

Many people fantasize about working from anywhere. With how it enables better work and life integration, it’s understandable why people want to work from anywhere. However, external factors may make it difficult to focus on actually working.

According to Mariah Flores, a news reporter at LinkedIn, “Having the proper tools and knowing how to effectively work from home will make you a more well-rounded employee or job candidate. Additionally, knowing how to advocate for yourself and your needs goes a long way in any career — remote, hybrid, or in person.”

So how can you remain focused and healthy while working from anywhere?

Stop Multitasking

Multitasking can be tempting, especially if you choose to work from anywhere. Simultaneously sitting in on a meeting, doing the dishes, and mentally starting on your next task might make you feel productive. But it’s the opposite — multitasking reduces your productivity, making you less efficient in all the tasks you’re trying to do at once.

Constant multitasking is unhealthy for your brain and can affect your quality of work. As much as multitasking seems tempting, try to focus on one task at a time.

Minimize Distractions

Wherever you choose to work, there will always be a unique set of potential distractions. And it’s all too easy to give in to these interruptions rather than focus on your tasks. You could minimize these disruptions by putting your phone on silent mode, getting noise-canceling headphones, or communicating with the people you’re with that you’re “at work”.

Communicate Effectively

Share your working hours with your colleagues, friends, and family. Doing so could prevent any confusion about unanswered emails or calls. It’s best to put in the effort to communicate with your coworkers while respecting their time.

Thus, team members need to know each other’s working hours, ideal communication method, and days off. It’s also beneficial to have regular team check-ins.

Set Concrete and Realistic Goals

Write down your daily goals for working from anywhere. There’s nothing wrong with reaching for the sky. But setting realistic goals makes you more likely to achieve them.

Once you have your goals in place, you should start planning. It helps you become more focused and productive. You could create a “to-do” list and a specific schedule—whatever works best for you.

Set Boundaries

Your family and friends may feel they have access to you 24/7. They might think that since you’re not working from your office, then you have plenty of time to run errands for them. On the other hand, your boss and coworkers might think you’re always available for rush jobs and tasks — even at odd hours and on weekends.

Set boundaries with your friends and family so you can get work done quickly and efficiently. It’s also important to set boundaries with your boss and colleagues—if you’re done working for the day, let them know; if it’s your day off and you can’t work, don’t hesitate to say so.

Recognize Your Needs

Taking care of yourself is vital. If you don’t, you won’t be able to produce your best work. Identify what you need to feel balanced. Are you an extrovert? Seek out opportunities to be with other people, such as getting coffee with a friend. Feeling antsy from being cooped up? Get out and walk your pet or take a stroll around the neighborhood.

Self-care looks different for everyone. Figure out what you need to feel good and replenish your energy — then do it. It’s essential not to overwork yourself — that includes getting the proper nutrition and sleep you need to remain healthy and functioning.

For a more in-depth dive into the best ways to work outside the office, we’ve written an article: “The Best Ways To Work From Home” explaining our top tips.

Is Work From Anywhere the Future of Work?

Our new world of work is ushering in a revolution in technology, culture, and business. It opens up talent pools for businesses and breaks geographical barriers. And with the financial benefits, increased productivity, freedom, flexibility, and so much more benefits of Work from Anywhere, there’s no question that it’s the future of work.

As Angelo Garcia, Junior Recruitment Specialist at Phoenix Virtual Solutions puts it:

“If you’re ready to give up your commute, and maybe even your actual job, you should consider working from home permanently. After all, if you’re already traveling for work — which most of us are — why not make that travel a little more productive? You can go anywhere in the world! And with a laptop and an internet connection, you can work from anywhere in the world. So what’s stopping you?”

Employees can work from anywhere, the office, local coffee shops, vacation homes, and even on the road. As organizations across the globe adapt to the new work landscape, it’ll be so exciting to see the rate of innovation, flexibility, and inclusion accelerate.