Recent studies have shown that an escalating number of people worldwide are inclined towards remote working, either as an exclusive option or in union with other flexible work schemes. The International Workplace Group reported that nowadays, seven out of ten professionals work from home at least one day per week.
As the drift of remote working is continuing to grow, more and more professionals are considering shifting their work life to their own domicile. With the assistance of tools such as Skype and mobile Wi-Fi hotspots, the option of flexible and portable work is becoming more widely accessible. If you believe you possess the required expertise and proficiency, feel free to send us your CV. Are you a remarkable employee? If yes, then communicate with us and explore potential job prospects.
As per the study carried out by Baylor University and printed in the European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, it seems having a significant degree of independence and emotional resilience are both vital for a fruitful remote working journey. This is evidently a crucial facet for both businesses and employees.
Here’s What Our Research Unveiled
This study aims to examine the impact of remote working on employees’ mental health and provides an array of remedies to assist administrators in setting up remote work surroundings that are advantageous to both their staff and the organization.
The writers of the research emphasize that it is crucial for all businesses to prioritize the welfare of their employees while initiating more malleable work arrangements, irrespective of how much remote working is incorporated.
In a comprehensive evaluation of over 400 remote workers, researchers from Baylor University scrutinized an array of aspects such as stress levels and personality traits. To gauge personality, the investigators evaluated the participants’ level of emotional resilience, indicating their capacity to deal with hardships, and the amount of independence they have in their job, signifying the degree of freedom they possess.
Meanings of Autonomy and Mental Well-being
Autonomy
The notion of autonomy often signifies the extent of independence that employees possess in accomplishing their job responsibilities without being constantly monitored. Granting employees substantial leeway in how they approach their work can often result in a heightened sense of responsibility and increased job contentment. Additionally, when presented with more autonomy, employees are likely to exert extra effort and display authentic ardor for their duties.
Endurance in Dealing with Challenges
According to a press release, Dr. Sara Perry, the chief investigator of the analysis, has stated that emotional stability plays a crucial role in how individuals handle the difficulties they face in their job. She contends that “if an unfavorable scenario arises in the workplace, an emotionally resilient individual would handle it calmly, maintain an upbeat perspective, and find a means to tackle it”. Those who lack emotional stability may become disheartened and distressed, directing their concentration and energy away from the predicament.
The Findings
Proficient telecommuters have been observed to exhibit significant levels of independence and emotional resilience. Those who possess an experience of remote work will appreciate that it can be challenging to maintain regular communication with their supervisors, thereby demanding the necessity to make judgments autonomously. Remote employment can prove to be a test if one lacks a sturdy sense of autonomy and the capacity to operate without close monitoring.
The conducted research has brought attention to the fact that an inequity between workplace autonomy and emotional stability may ultimately result in stress. It is vital to guarantee that remote workers maintain a suitable level of independence to preserve their welfare; nonetheless, if emotional resilience is insufficient, it could cause complications. Those who expressed a considerable measure of job autonomy but inadequate emotional stability were discovered to be at a higher risk of experiencing stress.
Although it is commonly believed that individuals with lower emotional resilience would struggle to perform in a demanding work setting, the study conducted by Baylor University shows the opposite to be correct. Their discoveries imply that people who scored poorly in both aspects of emotional stability and independence were more susceptible to experiencing negative impacts from stress. These results signify that even if an individual places a high value on independence, they may still face tension and difficulty when working from home if they struggle to handle trying circumstances when they occur.
Guidance for Managing Dispersed Teams
Supervising a remote team or seeking advice on how to do so requires you to conduct frequent performance evaluations of your employees. As Perry elucidates, an individual who has difficulty managing stress in a typical office environment is also likely to struggle managing stress while working remotely. If an individual finds it challenging to handle the demands and pressures of their job, they may not have the ability to effectively manage the job responsibilities and stress associated with remote working.
While people who are self-driven and emotionally resilient are ideal for remote work, they may not always be easy to find. Therefore, the group conducting the research has recommended the provision of additional resources and aid to aid employees in developing trusting relationships with their colleagues and maintaining productivity in their jobs. Supervisors should also prepare their teams for remote work by delivering adequate training, outlining explicit procedures and performance goals, and ensuring consistent, virtual communication.
When deciding on the most suitable approach for providing flexible work arrangements for their employees, companies should take into consideration their workforce’s personalities and individual characteristics. Supervisors should evaluate each employee’s traits meticulously before granting them the liberty to work remotely. While making a hiring decision, it is critical to consider various factors, such as an individual’s personality and character. If your business is seeking new employees, it is important to reach out to potential candidates to guarantee the recruitment process’s success.
