Remote Work as a Culture: Lessons from Kinsta's Global Team
By Carlo Daniele, Business Development Manager, Kinsta
I am sitting in a hotel lobby near the Old City of Prague. I just finished recording an interview that I will share on LinkedIn this afternoon. I have an in-person meeting with my team tomorrow, but I still have time to explore the Old Town while enjoying a "trdelnÃk." Next, I will be moving to Greece for a few weeks of work and vacation, or as they call it, "workation."
Working remotely, whether as an independent professional or an employee, has its advantages. On one hand, you are not tied to a specific workplace, allowing for freedom of movement and flexibility in working hours. This setup helps balance professional and personal needs while enhancing communication skills and sensitivity to cultural diversity.
Remote work also changes one's perception of responsibility, one's role as a colleague, one's career expectations, and one's overall understanding of work itself.
What I love most about remote work is the ability to collaborate with people from all over the world. I can easily connect with colleagues in the US or Japan, reach out to clients in Argentina, and craft success stories that showcase the work of Spanish and Danish companies — all in the same week from my little corner of Hungary. This flexibility has made me more productive and allows me to stay present for my family without compromising my professional goals. It’s also broadened my perspective, especially when working across time zones, languages, and ways of thinking. These experiences constantly remind me how much we grow when we listen and stay open to learning from one another. - Anett Friedrich-Szekeres, Multilingual Content Team Lead, Kinsta
But it's not just about work. Working remotely means not being subject to the rhythms of the city, not having to rush to catch a train or subway, and not getting stuck in city traffic.
Getting rid of all this improves your quality of life, reduces the stress and fatigue of the workday, and the environment thanks you: you consume less and pollute less.
However, working remotely is not without its personal and professional challenges.
Working from a position away from your teammates deprives you of essential components of work: sociability, sharing, and direct and immediate feedback. How many work-related ideas can come from playing pool or foosball with your colleagues?
If I had to name one downside of remote work, the first thing that comes to mind is the lack of spontaneous interaction. You don’t bump into someone at the coffee machine or have those quick side chats that make connections feel effortless, and at times, it can feel a bit isolating. Replacing those moments remotely isn’t always easy, and staying connected definitely takes more intention than it used to. At the same time, working from home also makes it a challenge to switch off. It takes boundaries — and a bit of discipline — to really disconnect and protect your personal time. Remote work has its ups and downs, but over time, I’ve settled into a rhythm — and honestly, I wouldn’t want to go back. - Anett Friedrich-Szekeres, Multilingual Content Team Lead, Kinsta
Uncertainty about how your work is perceived can be another source of stress. How often do you ask yourself, "Am I doing a good job?" or "Should I have done it differently?" Therefore, learning to explicitly ask colleagues and superiors for feedback on your performance or ideas is essential.
And what about separating work time from rest time? Working in an office creates a clear separation between working hours and free time. But this is not always the case when life and work are in the same place. If you cannot mentally separate yourself from your job, you risk being overwhelmed by your work and possibly burning out.
Let's call it a challenge, not a problem. I believe the greatest challenge is that working remotely requires a high level of discipline. You're essentially on your own while working, and there are plenty of distractions out there. For me, working remotely works well because I can enter a "superfocus" mode and be highly productive, often more productive than in an office. - Marcel Bootsman, Partnerships & Community Manager EMEA, Kinsta
The bottom line is that the advantages and disadvantages of working remotely are diverse: they can be organizational, cultural, relational, and personal. Everyone finds their pros and cons in remote working, depending on their aptitude, lifestyle, and the organization they choose to work for or with.
To make it work, remote organizations must adopt a value system compatible with their cultures' diversity and the need to keep employees and contractors motivated and engaged. At Kinsta, we say, "We don't micromanage," which means that everyone is responsible for achieving their goals and that no one exercises strict control over what you do daily. This philosophy only wins if all the conditions are in place, from personnel selection to the reward system.
If you are a solopreneur, you are the organization, and therefore, you are responsible for making things work.
What is the best thing about remote work? Freedom and focus. I love the place I live, but it's very remote, so I would not be able to live here if I had to commute. I also enjoy working in solitude; it helps me focus. The toughest challenge is the lack of random conversations and spontaneous creativity that grows out of those. - Teodora Vegh, Culture Team Lead, Kinsta
To wrap up, if you want to be a happy remote worker, consider your aptitudes and the work environment in which you will work. If your personal attitudes and organizational culture match, there is a good chance you will never return to an office job.