Why Sensitive People Make Excellent Remote Workers

One of the biggest trends in today's working world is working from home/remote work. And it didn’t just start with the coronavirus outbreak. According to U.S. Census data, eight million people worked remotely in 2017, representing 5.2% of the working population. That number has been slowly but steadily increasing over the past decade, but experts believe the pace will only accelerate. In 2018, a Switzerland-based service found that 70% of workers worldwide work from home at least once a week, showing that the trend is not unique to the United States.

There are many factors contributing to this trend, such as: Such as the easy connectivity that people now have at home, allowing them to set up a virtual office that is effective and productive, and the fact that employees can rent smaller office spaces as fewer employees are present in person.

Employees who work from home are proven to be more productive because they are happier and less stressed, and many employees are even willing to accept a lower salary if they can work from home.

Given the rising numbers, it's easy to assume that everyone would do well with remote work - but that's not true. Remote work is suitable for everyone in some ways, but there are certain personalities that thrive in this environment.

Sensitive and introverted people in particular make the best remote employees. Any why is this the case? Let's take a closer look.

It's a controlled environment

For sensitive people, especially those classified as Highly Sensitive People (HSP), an uncontrolled work environment can be really difficult to cope with. There is constant noise, the lights can seem too bright, it can be stressful, and it can be hard to concentrate because there are always distractions.

All of this can leave HSPs feeling quite agitated and completely out of control, which can negatively impact their work and productivity. When working from home, all of these distractions are eliminated, the worker can control noise levels, soft lighting or natural light can be used, and suddenly the environment is stress-free.

There is no pressure to make friends with colleagues

Another problem that can affect sensitive people is the pressure to make friends with colleagues and show that you are "part of the team" and one of them. A sensitive person may like every single employee, but that doesn't mean they feel comfortable or confident in a group.

You're probably not the type to join in the discussion at the water cooler or meet with a group of co-workers in the break room to have a lively discussion about last night's sports game.

This is not to say that when you work remotely you will no longer have working relationships and collaborate with others. That will still be the case, but it will be done virtually, which can be a lot less intimidating for sensitive, introverted types. Additionally, relationships are usually much stronger and more meaningful and are built through face-to-face conversations.

Creativity can develop more freely at home

Sensitive people tend to be creative people, meaning they pursue careers that match their talents. Professions such as graphic designer, animator, copywriter, etc. are very common among these artistic, sensitive types.

However, it can be difficult to tap into the creative juices when you're in a busy office with lots of other people. Working remotely often allows creativity to flourish more freely, giving employees the opportunity to do their absolute best work in their chosen environment.

Sensitive people tend to think through their actions first

Sensitive people are usually not the type to go through projects without thinking through each step and how it affects the entire process and project. With all the extra thought they put into their work, the privacy of a home office can be a welcome escape. From the employer's perspective, the fact that the employee thinks so much about his work is excellent because there is less chance of making mistakes.

It is also normal for the employee to only want to work on one task at a time while keeping track of all the tasks at hand. A home office allows them to set up a system that works for them in terms of organization and planning and to focus on work without pressure from colleagues or the way things are typically handled in an office environment.

Interactions are usually one-on-one

We have already mentioned this. When it comes time for meetings or interactions with colleagues and their boss, these usually take place in private. Again, this is much less intimidating and overwhelming for a sensitive guy.

The interaction can take place via an online chat, a video chat or even a phone call. For a sensitive person, this is definitely better than a session in a busy boardroom or meeting room.

These one-on-one conversations can also be more productive because you are not talking over each other, not being heard, and not having a say since there are only two people involved.

Are you a sensitive person?

Would you like to know whether you are one of the sensitive people who would be suitable for remote work? Why not take a personality test that can shed some light on you? This test takes about 10 minutes and is intended as a personality indicator that shows you some peculiarities of your own personality. You will be surprised by the results.

Look for this trend to continue
While there are many workplace trends that come and go, the trend of more people working remotely seems to continue and grow every year.

Just a few days ago, Gartner reported that nearly three out of four CFOs plan to move at least 5% of previously on-site employees to permanent remote positions post-COVID 19.