What happened in 2020 cast a completely different light on remote workers. It's like an experiment for everyone to deal with different environments. Some people say that their stress is reduced compared to regular office work. Others said their collaboration decreased when they were away from the office. But all impressions were more than positive, so remote work is here to stay.
The entrances to remote work are vast, allowing almost anyone to define their workflow. Some enterprises have even decided to change the style of a hybrid office. This change will impact the budget and work culture of employees.
If you're new to remote work environments, you've come to the right place. In this article, we'll look at six types of remote workers and their challenges to face them. Plus, we'll keep diving to know their personality and what tools support them.
Remote Workers Challenges
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Several challenges arise despite all the perks you can enjoy as a remote worker. A survey from Statista in 2020 yielded the most common problem working remotely:
- Poor time management
- Difficult collaboration
- Loss of motivation
- Loneliness
- Much distraction
- Burnout
When supporting remote workers, employers and employees need to ensure they can overcome these challenges.
Remote workers based on how they work
We divide remote workers based on how they divide their work day. Whether those who spend their working days at home or even those who spend on business trips. Find out some of the categories below.
1. Home Office Hero
It is also known as full-time remote workers. Home Office Heroes usually go to the “real office” once every few months to check in or attend events. But most of the time, their presence is virtual.
2. On-the-Road Warrior
Unlike the Home Office Hero, this type of worker spends their time on business trips. They become mouthpieces to make presentations, attend business conferences, or perform customer service. Becoming an On-the-Road Warrior is the best choice for those who like to travel while working.
3. In and Out Butterfly
This type is well known as a Hybrid. In and Out Butterfly is a worker who balances time between working at home/anywhere within the office. They use up more days in various places, but several times to the office to catch up with the team.
4. Flex Schedule Superstar
This remote working model requires a bit of flexibility. When the weather doesn't allow, or some problems prevent them from going to the office, they are free to work from anywhere.
5. Moonlight Remote Workers
You have on-site jobs but take remote jobs to earn more cash. Simply put, this term is often known as a side hustle. The main advantage of Moonlight is that you can work in different fields, such as your hobby.
Meet the 6 Types of Remote Workers
Now that we know the variation of remote workers based on the length of time they work. So let's get to the heart of it: the taxonomy of remote workers, the most common specimens of this environment.
As a remote worker, you just see a bunch of profile circles or accounts with tasks on the Kanban board. You don't realise that each profile works uniquely, according to their personality.
So it's time to explore what lies beneath the surface. Explore different types of remote workers when on duty.
1. Ghost Reader
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You must have coworkers who never comment in the office chat group. They limit communication with others and only convey what is necessary.
They are the type who likes to work alone but still work in a team. Their strengths lie in discipline and full of innovation, but they don’t really like to communicate or share something in the work chat group. As long as their work is done, there's nothing wrong with them not commenting in the work chat group.
2. Minimalist
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Maintaining remote teams is hard, especially when it starts to lose trust. Are they working, or do they slack until the last minute? Minimalist types want to get work done quickly but often lose their sense of detail. Sometimes they find an easier way to do things. Using a time management app can be an excellent choice to manage time better.
3. Jack of All Trades
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Jack of all trades is those who can do anything. They can build websites, do copywriting or fix app bugs. Many teams rely on the Jack of All Trades type because of their skills. A problem solver who can save the day and help co-workers but often loses focus due to too many skills. They need to be informed about their roles and responsibilities for a better direction.
4. Little Miss Sunshine
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This type is those who are new to the remote working environment. They want to learn about many things from seniors. Unaccustomed to long-distance culture, they try to make it look more life-like.
As the name implies, this figure tries very hard to be little sunshine in this environment, including being “fresh-baked cookies” to make a rough day easier. Simply put, this type is synonymous with those who are always cheerful, even in a meeting or virtual chat. Little Miss Sunshine is inquisitive, hardworking, and a milestone in the team spirit.
Give them more space to share ideas and chances to organise office activities. Let them grow and allow them to make mistakes as you can try redirecting them back to the goals. Providing constructive feedback can be a good choice for them.
5. Overthinker
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Have you ever imagined all the worst-case scenarios of a project? Congratulations! You are the remote overthinkers type. This type is a perfectionist who will list potential problems in each project. Their timelines are neat and regularly updated. They are analytical and well-organised.
When dealing with Overthinkers, you will need to appreciate their effort. Reassure them that they need to have a work-life balance.
6. Night Owl
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A Night Owl is a remote worker who becomes active at night. This type is dominated by freelancers or those who work in different time zones. This figure turns caffeine into creativity. For Night Owls, inspiration might come at 1 am.
A Night Owl is responsible and happy to help. They like flexibility because it allows free expression. The more flexibility, the better they work. Give them room to express their creativity. Provide good feedback for their work.
Tools to support
For all types of remote workers, what you need most is a computer and internet access.
Beyond that, every position and situation has its requirements. For example, if you are a virtual assistant, you need a headset and a webcam. Or, if you are an overthinker type, what you need is time management tools.
All types of remote workers need time management or project management applications. These two applications will facilitate mobility and work tracking, so you don't miss the deadline.
Wrapping Up
Each type of remote worker requires a different approach, a dose of understanding, and specific needs. Don't let distance create gaps between workers. If you are a business owner, give them a bonus when they achieve the target. Don't overwork them either. But if you are a remote worker, look for a company that gives you enough room to grow and values each type of remote worker.
