Warning: My shift to full remote has me questioning our team's problem-solving speed

I've been working from home for six months now, and while I love the comfort, I'm noticing our ticket resolution times are slipping. On one hand, I save hours on commuting and can focus better without office noise. On the other hand, when a complex server issue pops up, the back-and-forth over chat slows us down compared to just huddling around a screen. For instance, recently we spent an hour fixing a network config that would've taken 20 minutes in person. I'm torn because the flexibility is great for work-life balance, but I worry about our efficiency as a team. What do you all think? Is remote work worth the potential hit to collaborative speed?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_lucas3mo ago

You know what's funny, I see this same trade-off with stuff like food delivery. The app is super convenient, but you're definitely waiting longer than if you just drove to pick it up yourself. Maybe we just have to accept that some forms of convenience naturally come with a small speed cost.

gray_ramirez3mo ago

Isn't it weird how that works? You pay more for the app and tip the driver, but you still end up waiting longer than if you did it yourself. For me, that trade-off is totally worth it on a busy night. The convenience of not having to get dressed, drive, park, and go in is a huge relief. I just have to plan ahead and accept my dinner will be a little late. It's the price for staying on my couch!

jones.logan2mo ago

Oh man, that speed cost is so real. I fully get what gray_ramirez is saying about planning ahead, but my planning is always "I'm hungry now." So I order, then stare at the app watching the driver go the wrong way for 20 minutes. The convenience is fantastic, but my lack of patience is my own fault. I guess that extra wait is just the price we pay for being lazy.