Remote Work: A Tale of Work Ethics and Personal Values
If you had come to me at the end of 2019 and told me that our current work settings would shift to remote work – I wouldn’t have believed you. Back then, my work life involved traveling at least twice a month to meet clients in different cities – face-to-face meetings were the norm.
Fast forward a few years later, remote work has transformed the landscape. Offices that were once the epicenter of daily activity now coexist with virtual tools like Zoom and Google Meets. While some businesses have returned to the traditional 9-to-6 office model, many have embraced this flexibility, giving rise to hybrid systems where “WFH” (Work From Home) is way more common than business trips.
Adding to that, many cities around the world have opened their doors to digital nomads, simplifying residency visas and mobility for professionals from all walks of life. These shifts reflect a growing awareness of the economic, social, and personal needs of today’s workforce. As a result, the return to a 9-to-6 office routine is no longer the default – it’s a matter of personal choice and company culture.
Coana sits firmly in the latter camp. We’re a collective of former colleagues who’ve chosen to work together again – this time, from opposite sides of the world. From Vancouver, to London, to Dubai to Mexico City, we operate remotely, but always collaborating.
That said, it raises a fair question: Why would clients who operate in traditional office settings choose to work with a fully remote team?
The answer lies in shared values – especially work ethics rooted in personal integrity. Our commitment to deadlines, creativity, and excellence isn’t driven by office culture or managerial oversight. It comes from within: purpose, ambition, and a deep respect for the work. Just this week, for instance, I had a strategy meeting with Oxfam Lebanon – 3pm Beirut. 6am Mexico City! Working across time zones isn’t always convenient, but collaborating with amazing teams across the globe? Absolutely worth it.
The Collective: Community Values
I once heard an insight from a therapist explaining how we often mirror the same relationship dynamics at work that we have with our families. In this analogy, bosses represent parents, and colleagues become siblings. This is why, even in the flattest organizational structures, employees often seek validation from their superiors beyond the paycheck they receive.
So what happens when there’s no hierarchical boss figure? Do we transform into a collective of siblings, accountable to one another?
In my experience, I hope we do. My sibling is one of my favorite people, and I aim for that same level of mutual respect and connection within the Coana Collective. Our interpersonal relationships, built on friendship, shared values, and genuine care, create an unbreakable social mesh that supports the structure of our work, where we no longer look to a singular authority for validation, but instead, hold ourselves and each other accountable, and ensure we never let one another down.
Our collective relationships, built on mutual respect, accountability, and shared values, are what sustain us in a world where traditional workplace hierarchies have given way to fluid, remote work models.
Relying on these bonds is essential to support each other through the inevitable ups and downs of remote work. But then, what happens when the collective isn’t there, when collaboration isn’t required, and it’s just you, working alone?
Individual: The Self
Working independently, especially remotely, calls for strengthening inner qualities like self-discipline, motivation, and perseverance. These aren’t just abstract concepts – they form the backbone of real autonomy and personal growth. The more you nurture them, the more confident you become in what you contribute, even if it’s during a virtual meeting.
In my own experience, spending more time with myself has been a space for discovery. It’s where I’ve tested my limits, defined my values, and deepened my understanding of what truly drives me. This process hasn’t been about pushing myself to the point of exhaustion but rather about growing in ways that foster personal development and resilience. It’s this inner evolution that strengthens us, no matter where we are physically.
So, I leave you with this: Whether you’ve returned to an office or continue working remotely, how are you building these inner qualities – those that lead to genuine personal and professional growth?
And as a client, does it really matter where your team is located if their values, ethics, and commitment remain intact?
If remote work values like autonomy, ethics, and trust resonate with you, let’s talk!
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