To remote or not to remote, it is not a question
By Gregory Ronczewski, Director of Product Design at Ibbaka. See his skill profile.
On my way to work today—from the kitchen to my office upstairs—I realized that the idea I had in 2005 still works well. It was a simple plan to move to an island, work remotely, avoid costs related to renting an office in the city and maintain freedom from the working environment that was typical at the beginning of the new century. I wrote a post in 2018, Working from home on this subject. I remember my colleagues and business partners looking at me with disbelief when I told them we had bought a house at the end of the road on an island. It did not matter that the ferry ride takes only 20 minutes. It was as if I had moved to the moon. And yet, eighteen years later, I can't help but smile at the naysayers. It was challenging, especially at the beginning, to participate in collaborative projects, but with enough conviction and a desire to succeed, the distance did not matter. A decision regarded by my friends as radical is now a mainstream reality, with many jobs being offered as remote opportunities. Was I a trendsetter? No, probably not. Still, it gives me a warm feeling to indulge in a moment when a crazy idea turned not so crazy.
At the beginning of the year, many articles discuss the skills needed for the coming year mixed with, of course, a good dose of predictions. I'm not too fond of forecasts, except for marine forecasts. I think predictions spoil the fun of the unexpected. Besides, life always turns out to be not the way we plan. But I know I will be fine if I stay truthful and maintain integrity and resourcefulness. I realized I just listed a few essentials for remote working. I would be lying if I said that I don't miss the in-person interactions, meetings (ok, not all meetings) and being around my team. However, with Google meets or Zoom, I spend more time with them than I used to. Still, I think there is a particular joy in being independent and responsible for organizing time and resources without sacrificing freedom.
As a result of working from home, I was able to spend every day with my son and experience his first steps on Bowen Bay beach. I went to the same beach for a Polar Bear swim on January 1st, 2023. Those are priceless moments (not the swim, the steps) that would not be possible with a traditional commute-work-commute structure.
Why am I writing about it now? Because I feel that the remote aspect of many teams will grow, including my practice, sharing a few tips from a seasoned remoter—is this a new term, remoter?—could help newcomers to get traction in something that I immensely enjoy.
I always start with a purpose. A clear intention towards the project with responsibilities and deliverables listed. Next is the schedule, either in the form of a fancy mapping tool or a basic pen and paper gives me a timeframe. Assessing how long it takes to complete my part is always good, and I am pretty good at estimates. Planning is essential, but don't forget to take the team plans into your timeline. Do you depend on someone's else work? Or, even more important, does someone rely on your work? With everything in place, you can enjoy independence as I do—small things like lunch change into short culinary journeys that I take with my wife and son if he is at home. It saves a lot of money, and I enjoy the food I know is good for me. If you haven't read T. Colin Campbell's The Future of Nutrition, look it up. It is worth every penny.
What I also like about remote work is the ability to have fewer distractions and to own the creative space that I claimed for my office. Of course, sometimes the bedroom is the office, so I am very fortunate with the space I own, but with a bit of creative thinking, any space can motivate and instill a sense of pride. After all, it is an ongoing adventure, one step at a time, nurturing resilience and upgrading skills to a whole new level. Speaking of skills, Ibbaka Talio is an excellent vehicle to organize and learn about so many talents and skills that we all have. From individual, team or company perspectives. For now, integrity and clear purpose top my list, with perhaps the ability to see things from a different perspective. A mindset that opens up when you dive into the ocean—physical or metaphorical— of remote collaboration.
