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11 traits you need to be an effective remote worker

Natalia Lusinski,Natalia Lusinski   

11 traits you need to be an effective remote worker
Strategy1 min read

businessman working phone call

Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/Getty Images

Remote workers should be clear communicators.

  • Working from home or outside of a traditional office setting can be ideal for some people who want to make their own schedule.
  • But working remotely is not for everyone. It requires certain skills like discipline and strong communication skills.
  • Business Insider spoke with experts to uncover the traits that make someone a successful remote worker.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Although working remotely can sound like a dream come true, the truth is that not everyone is cut out for it.

In an office setting, you likely have your manager or boss sitting nearby and regular in-person meetings and check-ins with them. But when you're several or even thousands of miles away, you need self-discipline to stay on track and meet your deadlines.

As more and more companies are allowing their employees to work remotely - there was a 159% increase in remote work between 2005 and 2017, according to a recent report - it's important for workers to consider the type of work environment that's best for them.

"Remote work is increasingly popular and it's natural for commute-stressed professionals to think working from home is the end of all their troubles," Brie Reynolds, senior career specialist at Remote.co, told Business Insider. "But to be successful working remotely, you have to be well suited to this way of working."

Related: 9 remote jobs that let you travel around the world

There are certain traits and skills that are essential to remote work, she said, from being openly communicative to being process-improvement oriented.

"The good news is that they're also traits you can build and strengthen, and they'll help you be a better professional regardless of where you work," she said.

Here, Reynolds and two other experts reveal traits you need to be an effective remote worker.

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