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

Around 22 million working adults in the US are completely remote, representing approximately 14% of the adult workforce. As remote work continues to grow, my experience provides valuable insight into its challenges and rewards. I will share them with you below.

Related: Remote Team Management: 7 Best Practices

1. Productivity suffers

A significant challenge for remote teams is maintaining productivity. According to recent polls, 35% of agencies have experienced a drop in productivity since switching 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 support 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 that are available around the world.

2. Maintaining team cohesion

One of the main challenges of working remotely is maintaining team cohesion. In industries like Information Technology, where 30.15% workplaces are remote, professionals often struggle to foster a sense of unity and collaboration among distributed team members. Furthermore, 40% Remote workers miss out on face-to-face interactions with their colleagues, which can lead to feelings of isolation and inhibit the spontaneous communication that normally strengthens team bonds.

To address this, organizations need to enforce strongly virtual team building activities and put regular, structured checks in place to ensure remote workers remain engaged and connected, thus maintaining the spirit of collaboration essential to effective teamwork.

3. Fatigue from communication

WHEREAS 78% remote workers are highly engaged, relying on video conferencing can cause disconnection and communication fatigue. Although 67% find virtual meetings as productive as in-person meetings, maintaining team cohesion remains difficult. Furthermore, the flexibility of remote work can blur the boundaries of work and life, leading to potential burnout. Thus, balancing the advantages and challenges of telecommuting is essential for both employees and employers.

THE solve communication fatigue in remote work, use less video meetings and rely more on written communication. This gives employees more control over their time and reduces the need for constant real-time interaction.

4. Encouraging employee engagement

Remote work can present challenges such as isolation and communication gaps, affecting productivity and job satisfaction. Training programs help address these issues by fostering engagement and equipping employees with essential skills. Since when 69% dissatisfied employees do not feel valued, focusing on training can significantly improve this aspect. By investing in tailored training, organizations can increase engagement, boost performance and ensure employees feel valued and connected.

Related: Are remote workers doomed to feel isolated and sad? An HR strategist shares how to overcome the challenges of working from home.

5. Pay equity

A significant challenge in remote work is insurance pay own capital across geographic locations and across genders. Additionally, the shift to remote work has highlighted persistent gender pay gaps. According to research by the Pew Research Center, in 2022, American women typically earned 82 cents for every dollar earned by men. This disparity extends beyond wages, even affecting business ownership. Female founders often face significant challenges in achieving fair valuation when selling their businesses. For every $1 million a female founder receives in a business sale, a male founder can they get $1.5 million for a similar business, reflecting a significant disparity in output results.

These disparities can lead to feelings of demotivation and a sense of undervaluation among remote workers and entrepreneurs. To foster a fair and inclusive remote workplace, companies must ensure that compensation and business opportunities are equal for all employees, regardless of their location or gender, while focusing on the quality and impact of their work .

6. Time zone differences

MANAGEMENT time zone differences is a significant challenge in remote work, often affecting communication and productivity. with 31% of remote workers who report a mix of asynchronous and synchronous work, reconciling schedules across different time zones can be complex. In fact, 19% remote workers face time zone challenges, which can lead to response delays and hinder collaboration. To mitigate these issues, companies can implement strategies such as changing meeting times and using asynchronous communication tools to ensure that all team members remain engaged and informed, regardless of their location.

7. Ensuring cleanliness in remote work spaces – the hidden challenge

Remote work often extends beyond the home office into shared spaces such as coffee shops or co-working spaces, where cleanliness can be an important issue. Many remote workers find themselves working in less than ideal conditions, with inadequate hygiene standards in public or shared areas. This lack of cleanliness can lead to increased health problems, such as frequent illnesses, which in turn result in more sick days and decreased productivity.

or STUDY found that employees in clean workplaces had an average of 24% fewer sick days compared to those in less clean environments. Addressing these cleanliness concerns is essential to maintaining a healthy and efficient remote work routine, as workspace cleanliness directly affects overall work performance and well-being.

8. The decisive role of temperature in remote work productivity

As someone who has been working remotely for several years, I've learned that the right environment is crucial to productivity. Although I've tried different settings – from home offices to beachside co-working spaces – one factor that has consistently influenced my work has been the temperature. In 2018, I decided to explore a co-working space in Ko Lanta, Thailand. While working in a waterfront workspace with enticing ocean views, I found the fluctuating temperatures to be a significant distraction. The heat caused my productivity to drop, as my focus wavered and tasks took longer to complete.

According to research conducted by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the ideal temperature in the workplace ranges between 70°F and 73°F – that is between 21°C and 23°C. When the temperature rises above this range, cognitive performance can drop significantly. By addressing the temperature issue with adjustments and schedule changes, I was able to restore my productivity and enjoy the coastal environment without compromising my work. This experience underscores the importance of maintaining a comfortable temperature to increase focus and efficiency in any remote work environment.

Related: 7 Hidden Challenges of Remote Work – and What Leaders Can Do to Solve Each

In conclusion, remote work offers flexibility and new opportunities, but also brings challenges that require thoughtful solutions. By addressing issues such as productivity, team cohesion, communication fatigue, and fair compensation, organizations can create a supportive remote work environment.