Working from home – Can you make your mark and succeed up the career ladder?

The changing world of work looks set to continue for the coming months and, for some, home working looks set to become permanent. 

Accountancy Firms may look to split time between the office and working from home but none the less the majority of teams will be spending a large portion of their time away from the office.

This poses the question - what does this mean for your career progression?

We are firm believers that the office is not dead. These spaces play a pivotal role in creating a firm’s culture as well as being beneficial for your team’s social wellbeing and their professional development. 
 

Impact on Integration

Not being around colleagues on a daily basis makes it more difficult to get to know each other.

Through the investment of time colleagues become a part of the firm, spending time with your team in the office helps individuals to buy into the vision and values.

All accountancy firms need to consider how can you create and nurture a culture without the office?

With a central space to come into, your team don't get to know you both personally and professionally. Working alongside a colleague regularly, you are able understand capabilities and strengths of your team and vice versa which enables your team to develop and grow.

Granted - there will be time spent in the office but uncertain of the frequency. Days may be heavily structured in meetings which will not allow for that downtime with the team.

It is important to remember that your people are the business.
 

Out of sight, out of mind

If you aren't in the office on a daily basis, seen in the coffee shop or pass in the corridor, you limit the number of colleagues you are in contact with, especially senior individuals.

Being constrained to working from home and communicating via Teams or Zoom is quite a restricted method of engaging with your colleagues. It makes the impromptu conversation redundant.

This reduced visibility can have a knock-on effect in relation to your career progression. There is great value in the spur of the moment conversation with senior colleagues to share advice, ask questions, gather intelligence, build relationships.

You aren't privy to internal discussions as you are only having prearranged meetings via video with colleagues who you are working closely with.

This prompts the question around career progression within current role and firm?

What could remote working mean for long term career?

The lack of exposure to senior individuals reduces the potential to build your network, make yourself known which may lead to you missing out on promotion.

These are both the more formal career opportunities and the hidden roles within a firm.

The delivery and technical work can be done at home and we are hearing teams are more productive with this area of their role as there are less distractions and time in meetings.
 

It does the beg the question of how will you win work if you aren't out and about? How will you build your network?

Working remotely long term may result in teams becoming disengaged from firms’ culture. Once this happens there is a risk of falling behind colleagues.

The opportunity to learn and develop skills is reduced, creating the need for a comprehensive training plan. Individuals then become technically sound but what about soft skills and becoming a more rounded professional?