The pandemic was real, and it forced a real change. One day, we were all working in offices with desktops. Only managers had laptops. The next day, almost overnight, everyone was sent home with a laptop, Teams access, and the expectation that projects would keep moving.
As an engineer, I still had to be on site quite often. COVID tests before each visit. Vaccination requirements. Mask protocols. But the pandemic also opened my eyes to something else: the undeniable benefits of remote work.
Even when I was running projects from my home office, they didn’t stop. Weekly and daily meetings still happened. Deliverables still got done. And in many cases, those meetings were actually more efficient. Coworkers sitting in near rooms preferred to join via Teams because the environment was structured: agendas were followed, time was respected, and everyone had a voice.
What the Numbers Say
- 22% higher productivity: Studies show that remote workers are, on average, 22% more productive than their in-office counterparts (Stanford University, 2022).
- 40% fewer distractions: Remote employees report fewer interruptions, allowing for deeper focus (Owl Labs, 2023).
- $11,000 annual savings per employee: Companies save on overhead, while employees save on commuting time and costs (Global Workplace Analytics).
- Retention advantage: 54% of employees say they would leave their job if not offered flexibility (Gallup, 2023).
My Takeaway as a Project Manager
I believe site presence is important for key personnel — inspections, safety, construction walkdowns. But creativity, problem-solving, and strategic planning don’t need to be confined to a desk from 7:30 to 4.
If anything, my travels, my leadership style, and yes, even my smarty-pants way of connecting dots, have taught me that creativity thrives with space. Remote work has given me the flexibility to bring my best ideas forward without the ceiling of four office walls.
The pandemic didn’t just change where we worked — it proved that productivity is a mindset, not a location.
La pandemia nos obligó a trabajar desde casa, pero también nos enseñó una lección más grande: la productividad no depende de un escritorio fijo, sino de la mentalidad y la confianza con la que lideramos.
Want to go deeper? Discover The Catalyst Blueprint — my leadership model for engineers and project managers who lead with heart.
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