I am someone who has been working remotely myself for years, and also I have managed remote teams. The lessons I've learned from my experience have not only improved my own productivity but also strengthened the teams I've led, helping us thrive in the remote work environment.

About 22 million working adults in the U.S. are fully remote, representing roughly 14% of the adult workforce. As remote work continues to grow, my own experience offers valuable insights into its challenges and rewards. I'll share those with you below.

Related: Remote Team Management: 7 Best Practices

A significant challenge for remote teams is maintaining productivity. According to recent surveys, 35% of agencies have experienced a drop in productivity since shifting to remote work. This decline highlights a critical issue: While remote work offers flexibility, it also introduces distractions and disrupts established workflows. As teams adapt to new ways of working, finding effective strategies to sustain productivity and engagement remains a major hurdle for many organizations.

To address productivity challenges in remote teams, set clear goals and encourage structured daily routines. This helps reduce distractions and keeps team members focused on their tasks. In some cases, I've noticed that productivity improves when remote teams work from co-working spaces, which are available worldwide.

One of the key challenges of remote work is maintaining team cohesion. In industries like Information Technology, where 30.15% of job openings are remote, professionals often struggle to foster a sense of unity and collaboration among dispersed team members. Additionally, 40% of remote workers miss face-to-face interactions with their colleagues, which can lead to feelings of isolation and hinder spontaneous communication that usually strengthens team........

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