Everything you need to know about remote working

In Recent Years, Everything Has Changed

Remote work has gone from being an exception to becoming an expectation.

Not necessarily because everyone has to work from home full time — but because we now expect our employers to offer the option.

In other words, it has become a hygiene factor — something that helps companies retain talent and attract new employees.

In this post, we’ll go through everything from the basics to more advanced strategies, so you can go from beginner to black belt in remote work.

What Is Remote Work?

Simply put:

Remote work means working from a location that is not your employer’s office.

So if you’re working from home, your summer cabin, the beach, or even on a train — that counts as remote work.

It’s all about having the freedom to choose your work environment.

Before and After the Pandemic

Remote work isn’t a new concept — it’s been around for a long time, just in less structured ways.

Before the pandemic, it was mostly digital pioneers who worked remotely.

Sure, some people occasionally worked from home, but it was the exception rather than the rule.

Then came the pandemic — and everything changed overnight.

The number of people working from home skyrocketed, and even after restrictions lifted, the new “normal” remained.

Many employers realized the value of offering flexibility, both in terms of productivity and employee satisfaction.

Today, research clearly shows that remote work can boost productivity — provided it’s done right.

The Pitfalls of Remote Work

We’ve left the industrial age behind and entered the

“Anders! We can see you, but we can’t hear you!” era.

Remote work means flexibility, freedom, and often higher productivity —

but it also requires structure, accountability, and the right setup.

Here are a few challenges to watch out for:

How do you maintain clear internal communication when not everyone is in the office?
How do you keep engagement alive in virtual meetings?
How do you ensure transparency when most collaboration happens digitally?
Are your current systems and tools good enough to support hybrid work?

You can read more about the common pitfalls of remote work [here].

The Pros and Cons of Remote Work

Working from another location is easy — all you really need is a laptop.

Doing it well, however, without sacrificing productivity or team cohesion, is the challenge.

✅ Advantages

Easier to balance work and personal life
Less commuting = saved time and a smaller carbon footprint
Increased equality in the workplace
Reduced office costs for the company
Higher productivity (with the right strategy)
Lower risk of burnout

❌ Disadvantages

Risk of becoming a “remote zombie”
More meetings = more fatigue
Remote workers tend to take fewer breaks and shorter lunches
Harder to disconnect when home is the office
Loss of productivity if digital tools and routines aren’t in place

How to Build a Successful Remote Team

Beyond having the right strategies (more on that below), it’s crucial to set the foundation for a healthy digital work environment.

Fostering team spirit is harder when you don’t see each other in person.

During the pandemic, we learned that psychological safety drives performance — and that recognizing, supporting, and being present for one another is key.

For us, this came down to structured chat channels and clearer routines — which made a huge difference.

You can read more about how we organize our internal communication [here].

Remote Work for Managers

Just like employees, remote leadership requires a new mindset.

What should you focus on when leading a fully or partially remote team?

Our experience shows that availability, clarity, and setting expectations are more important than ever.

You can read more about management support for remote work [here].

Strategies for Successful Remote Work

Succeeding with remote work means doing the groundwork.

Simply working from home or the countryside won’t automatically make your team more productive or happier.

At lynes, we’ve been working remotely for years, with offices across Sweden — and we’ve built a platform specifically designed to support hybrid work.

Here are a few of the strategies we’ve refined and tested over time:

Choosing the right communication method — when to work asynchronously and when to meet in real time.
Developing an efficient meeting culture to avoid wasting time.
Streamlining project workflows to maximize focus and productivity.
Adapting fully to the hybrid workplace and its unique needs.
Finding ways to activate and engage teams across different cities (and countries).