Remote Work: Lessons in Trust & Processes

As someone whose career has been heavily influenced by asynchronous work, I’ve come to understand the immense value of this approach. Long before the world was forced into an asynchronous model, I was fortunate to experience this flexibility early on, thanks to one of my employers—a privilege I’m truly grateful for. This experience taught me that while the work itself is important, a few things matter even more: documentation, processes, and the trust and autonomy that are often withheld from employees.

I share these insights from my perspective as someone who has worked not only asynchronously but also in hybrid and synchronous office environments. These three elements—documentation, processes, and trust—are often overlooked or underemphasized by many companies I’ve encountered, both in my reading and through personal experience. The issue isn’t that everyone needs to be in the office these days; the issue is the lack of documentation and well-defined processes that help teams succeed. We struggle to give trust and autonomy to employees because managers themselves are often unsure of how the work is done or where to find the "process or documentation" that explains it. In reality, they know that documentation often doesn’t even exist.

Documentation

So, how do we fix this and embrace asynchronous work today? We need to document. Documentation is, without a doubt, your new manager. It not only outlines how tasks should be completed but also establishes a rhythm for the workflow. With proper documentation, you no longer need a manager to walk you through the process—the documentation itself should do that. Good documentation will save you hours, if not days, of frustration. I’ve faced countless roadblocks due to a lack of proper documentation, and I’m sure many others have, too.

Documentation benefits everyone, including you. It should be practiced not just at the team level, but individually as well. I’ve documented my own best practices and processes to streamline my work and improve efficiency. These processes may not apply to everyone, but I’m always happy to share them when asked.

One more thing about documentation: it serves as a point of reference or evidence. Nothing is worse than being asked for a document or process and not having it ready in an instant. No one enjoys that sinking feeling—I know I didn’t, especially early in my career.

Documentation provides the historical context that will inevitably be needed again, whether it’s a project for a client or notes from a meeting months ago. Having it is a relief; not having it can be a nightmare. It also prevents you from reinventing the wheel every time. If something can be reused or recycled, documentation ensures it’s readily available.

Processes

This leads me to processes. Oh, the joy processes bring to my soul! While I’m a creative designer at heart, nothing excites me more than efficiency and a solid process that maps out how to complete work from start to finish. Processes are the direct result of good documentation—because without proper documentation, how can you expect to build processes or frameworks to share with others? Processes should be crystal clear and always evolving.

You’ve probably heard the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But instead, you should ask, “If it isn’t broken, how can we improve it?” Processes and systems always have room for improvement, and that should be the goal. Your processes should be so simple to understand, follow, and share that they become effortless. If they’re not, there’s room for improvement—which applies to all of us.

Processes create clear lines of communication that don’t need to be constantly reiterated. They provide a visible, signposted path that leads your team through the most efficient route, free from roadblocks. This, in turn, gives them the autonomy to work with more confidence and trust. Processes are like your fairy godmother in a world that depends on repeatable steps to get from point A to point B quickly. They answer questions for you and empower you to work more independently.

Autonomy & Trust

You might wonder why I’m emphasizing trust and autonomy. I’ve been fortunate enough to work for companies that gave me both without hesitation, and I can tell you, they were the best companies I’ve ever worked for. On the other hand, I’ve also worked for companies that didn’t offer this trust, leading to uncertainty about my job due to where or how I chose to work. These companies held a worldview that insisted we still needed to share a cubicle and be physically present in the office to produce impactful work.

Let’s be honest—the most impactful work of my career has come from my home office, without water cooler interruptions or the looming feeling of being micromanaged. Trust is a two-way street, and nothing is more reassuring than knowing someone trusts you. We need to stop ignoring the reality that the “office” no longer exists solely in a physical building where we spend hours commuting. The office now exists online, in platforms like Zoom, Google Slides, Slack, Email, Vidyard, Figma, Notion, Miro, and many more that I’ve used throughout my career.

Our conference rooms are video calls on a screen, and even if you’re in the office, you’re still looking at a screen and sharing your work online. Collaboration happens in tools like Miro or FigJam, and documentation and processes now live in platforms like Notion. Stop pretending the office hasn’t been online for years. You don’t need me sitting next to you in the office to achieve my best work. We need to be trusted that our work is often stronger outside the outdated office model, which is on its way out the door.

Remote work isn’t just a trend—it’s a transformative shift in how we approach our jobs and structure our lives. My experiences have shown that success in this new environment hinges on three key elements: thorough documentation, well-defined processes, and the trust and autonomy that empower employees to do their best work. As we continue to embrace remote work, it’s important to recognize that the “office” is no longer a physical space but a mindset rooted in clear communication and mutual trust. By focusing on these fundamentals, we can not only thrive in a remote setting but also create a work culture that’s more adaptable, efficient, and fulfilling.