Many people jump into working from home without considering the characteristics that make remote workers successful. Don’t worry, we have the 6 personality traits for success in remote work!
There’s just something about working from home — or remote working — that resonates more with some people than others. And while we can’t really know whether we’ll love it or hate it until we leave an office and set up a workplace where we live, research shows that certain personality traits make it more likely to succeed working from the comfort of home rather than in a cubic farm.
Although there has been some decline in the number of people working remotely since the end of the pandemic, there are still millions — some 34.6 million to be exact — of American workers in remote positions (through August 2025), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Current demographic survey.
Among these millions of people are certain personal qualities that help ensure productivity, happiness and success in their role. Here are some of the individual qualities – many of which are soft skills – that people who successfully work in remote roles often possess.
1. Consciousness
It’s probably safe to say that those who are conscientious, which often means a tendency to be organized and dependable, with the ability to plan ahead, are likely to succeed in remote or non-remote jobs.
Conscientiousness is strongly linked to higher productivity among employees who work remotely, according to the findings of a recent research paper from the IZA Institute of Labor Economics. The study shows that workers who score higher on conscientiousness are more likely to report being more productive at home than in a traditional office and to prefer to continue teleworking beyond the pandemic. After accounting for other influencing factors, the study found an 8.4 percentage point gap in reported home productivity between people with high and low conscientiousness.
IZA researchers called the difference significant, given that about 31% of workers overall reported greater productivity when working from home. Another longitudinal study found that conscientious people generally demonstrate better work engagement and better health outcomes, although remote work can sometimes blunt this effect when done full-time.
2. Self-motivation and self-discipline
When we think of personal motivation and self-discipline in a remote workplace, we often think of those who have the ability to set personal parameters and professional goalsto stay focused, be independent and move forward without the direct supervision of supervisors. After all, without a boss or colleagues in the same workspace, remote employees often have to initiate tasks and maintain momentum independently despite obstacles. non-work related distractions.
Research published by Frontiers of psychology shows that “employees’ self-control positively influences their remote work self-efficacy, which in turn positively increases their remote work effectiveness.” » Additionally, according to the study published in 2023, “perceived organizational support, interaction with supervisors, and family support strengthen the effect of self-control on remote work self-efficacy.” This is likely why so many remote positions highlight autonomy and time management as differentiators when looking for remote positions.
3. Adaptability and flexibility
It’s probably no surprise that those who are comfortable with change, including using new technology tools, and those who can easily manage shifting priorities and changing work styles, have the adaptability and flexibility to thrive in a remote work environment. This is likely because remote environments sometimes require rapid adjustment to new technologies, such as communications platforms and changing workflows.
According to data from IndeedBeing adaptable (and flexible) in a workplace, remote or otherwise, is essential because employers value those who can successfully manage changes at work. Plus, the more adaptable you are, the more productive you’re likely to be, Indeed notes. Examples of flexibility can be anything from the ability to pivot mid-project to ending a process that isn’t working in favor of another path forward.
4. Top-notch communication skills
It’s probably no surprise that another important indicator of remote work success is the ability to communicate well with others across a variety of channels with clear and concise written and oral abilities, depending on data from Forbes. It’s also helpful to have the ability to communicate your alignment with colleagues – including supervisors – without in-person facial and body cues, as these are typically lacking in the work-from-home environment.
Beyond that, recent workforce research also shows that remote work productivity and employee engagement often depends on effective communication and trust. Indeed, remote workers often have to replace face-to-face conversations in hallways and break rooms with chat, email, and video calls, all of which require clear communication. Additionally, it is essential to maintain open lines of communication with supervisors and co-workers who are not all working remotely.
5. Willingness to collaborate
Except in rare circumstances, people who work from home – or remotely – must still be able to work well with others, whether in small groups or as part of larger teams.
According to Flexible jobsremote employees must be able to collaborate effectively in a variety of situations, including when working with colleagues across time zones. Successful remote workers also make a point of connecting with their colleagues, notes FlexJobs, just as they would in a traditional office.
Unfortunately, not everyone is born a collaborator. If you could use a little help in this area, take heart. Human resources firm Robert Half offers several tips to help people sharpen their collaboration skills in the workplace. Those who want to become better collaborators should consider participating in team building activities when offered, volunteer for projects step out of their comfort zone and find a mentor who can help them develop these skills.
6. Emotional intelligence
There’s something to be said for the ability to see things from someone else’s perspective in the workplace and beyond. Those with emotional intelligencealso known as emotional awareness, is often sought after in various fields and careers. It’s a quality that many employers look for in their employees, whether they work from home, in the office, or a hybrid combination of the two. People with high levels of emotional intelligence often have the ability to manage their own emotions and understand others, which can be helpful in navigating team dynamics, giving and receiving feedback, and even managing stress.
In remote teams, some subtle emotional cues can be harder to perceive, so people with high emotional intelligence (and a healthy dose of intuition) can help cultivate strong working relationships through digital channels. A recent study from the custom development company From Lumenainvolving more than 900 IT leaders, found that emotional intelligence (also known as EQ) is a critical, but often overlooked, factor in technology innovation and remote work success.
The study also reveals that while 90% of IT leaders view emotional intelligence as “critical to performance,” about 40% of workplace challenges stem from a lack of emotional intelligence. Interestingly, other recent research shows that remote work can sometimes weaken the influence of positive traits, like extroversion, making emotional intelligence and awareness even more important.
Personality Traits for Successful Remote Working Conclusion
When it comes to the personality traits workers need to succeed in a remote environment, domestic and international research shows that certain personal qualities are more valuable than others. Since the COVID-19 pandemic swept across much of the world beginning in 2020, more studies have been done to help determine what types of people thrived in remote settings during this time and beyond.
You probably won’t need a personality test to determine which camp you fall into. Many people who are good communicators, adaptable and flexible, are conscientious and demonstrate emotional intelligence, and have what it takes to succeed in remote work environments. And while you may not have been born with all of these traits, there are strategies you can use to strengthen certain traits that can potentially lead to better performance. Remember that where there is a will, there is a way.
