The Pandemic Has Elevated and Validated Remote and Freelance Workers

A silver lining for remote workers and service providers.
One of the silver linings of the pandemic has been the pivot to working remotely. For those who have operated a business or worked outside of an office setting, until recently there was a certain stigma attached to not having a brick and mortar office situated in a business district. An impressive location gave immediate credibility to a business.

I worked in advertising agencies for 20 years. It provided a solid foundation of experience, systems and tools before I chose to start a small business. Over the years, well-meaning advisors suggested renting office space and hiring staff. Adding rent, equipment, utilities and staff to operational overhead requires doubling or tripling the fee scales of a small business. There is a valid reason why a full-service advertising agency with a main street location charges significantly higher fees than a freelance designer, copy writer, photographer or videographer operating from a home office. Carrying less overhead gives freelancers a competitive edge and the ability to be more responsive to clients without the layers of administration.

The pandemic has also prompted many displaced workers to start a business. The technology to build a digital presence via a website and social media and set up an online portfolio, course or shop has provided extraordinary opportunities for business startups. As my 20-year anniversary of working from a home office approaches this month, it feels like an opportune time to reflect on and celebrate the freelancer life.

My first work-from-home experience.
My first experience of working from home happened literally by accident while being laid up with a broken leg. Within a week of coming home from the hospital, my employer had set up a computer and a stack of work at my bedside. I was able to chip away at work deadlines between hours of daily rehab therapy. It turned out to be a win-win situation for my employer, because I was able to carry my full client workload. I discovered how efficient working from home was after reviewing client work logs from this period. Remote work did involve a bit more planning for office staff to package and deliver assignments. However, staff workloads did not increase, production and billing quotas were met, and the advertising agency did not have to hire, equip and train a new art director.

It dawned on me that being away from the distractions of office chit chat and interruptions greatly enhanced productivity. Back-to-back meetings with clients and production staff ate up a significant number of billable work hours. The annual statewide advertising awards contest revealed another bonus. Remotely produced work collected more awards than any of my previous years of work. Eliminating office distractions enhanced my capacity to be creative. When I returned to working in the office, I began shutting my office door in an attempt to establish a creative atmosphere and limit distractions.

Are open floor office environments contributing to the move from office-based work?
Open floor plan offices may be contributing to the appeal of remote work. Some office workers are exhausted from the overwhelm associated with exposure to noise and interruptions. When I worked at an in-house advertising department, corporate decided to relocate the graphic design team from private cubicles into a large shared space in a systemwide team building effort. From my perspective, the initiative backfired. The giant cubicle blocked floor-to-ceiling window so that our workspace felt more like a cave. All of the design team donned headphones to block noise and distractions. One visitor to the shared workspace could now disrupt five designers and productivity decreased. When the corporation initiated staff cuts and outsourcing work to third world countries, I took the opportunity to set up a business and work from a home office.

Remote work skills.
What are vital skills for working from a home office? Basically, you need to be a self starter. The worker who struggles to meet deadlines in a structured office setting will have to develop discipline as well as good communication and time management skills. These skills are essential to working remotely with teams and clients in order to clearly communicate expectations and meet deadlines. Embracing change and lifelong learning is necessary in order to adapt to ever-changing work situations and technology.

Benefits for remote and freelance workers.
Here are some highlights of benefits that I have experienced while working as a freelancer:

• Fast and flexible: The ability to tackle your most important tasks during your prime production time is a priceless benefit of setting your own work schedule.. Approaching work strategically can free up your schedule and crush deadlines.

As a freelancer, you can be more responsive to client deadlines and more flexible with direction changes than a large agency. Your next assignment depends upon delivering great service and results and building relationships. You are passionate about what you do and want to do work that you are proud of. You can build a network of skilled contractors with other areas of expertise for collaborations.

• Reduced commute: I commuted to work for 21 years and I don’t miss it at all. Hopping on the phone or a Zoom call for in-person conversations and meetings has become a standard tool for staying in touch. Limiting in person meetings to essential gatherings improves productivity and makes meetings more intentional. While meetings are important for team building, it is important to respect the value of everyone’s time. “This meeting could have been an email” is one of my favorite mottos.

• Optimal working environment and increased productivity: You have the power to design your optimal workspace. Fewer distractions, a flexible schedule and discipline translate to improved productivity.

• Optimal tools: You can invest in a computer with the processor and memory that you need instead of limping along on an outdated system provided by your employer. You can use the latest version of software and try out new software. When I worked in ad agencies, productivity was constrained by outdated software and gutless computer processors that labored to complete minor Photoshop tasks.

• Lifelong learning: Remote work allows you to take advantage of the many opportunities available to increase your skills. Using downtime for continuing education is one of the best investments you can make in yourself. You can adapt more quickly to new technology, try new things and further develop your competitive edge.

One of advertising agencies where I worked set expectations for designers to invest time in continuing education but required that it be completed off the clock. Another ad agency I worked for embraced technology at a snail’s pace, making it challenging for workers to maintain competitive skills.

• Outsourcing projects: Businesses and organizations are embracing outsourcing projects to remote and freelance workers with specific skill sets. They can achieve professional production value without hiring an employee and furnishing a workspace. Remote workers can bring new perspectives, innovation and a wealth of experience to the table. Online employment boards are increasingly filled with remote hiring opportunities. Organizations want to recruit and retain skilled workers who prefer to not work in an office setting.

Thank you
I would like to thank all of the clients and vendors that I have worked with over the years. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with you. I look forward to working with you in 2022.