[notacoward]

> working remotely depends on the team itself as much as it depends on the individual

Very true both in my experience and according to everything I've read. Being the only remote member of a team, and especially a team that has never had a remote member before, can really suck. Gotta break 'em in a bit. ;) Even with the best of intentions on all sides, it can be tough. Add in the possibility that people in another timezone are deliberately deciding stuff in hallway conversations or merging controversial patches while you're asleep, and it can be much worse. My last team was (and is) terrible this way. If you find this happening to you, your best bet is probably to get out like I did. My new team's much better, despite less experience and a company generally less friendly to remote work.

Another thing I rarely see mentioned is that you really need to stay on top of your internet connection and videoconferencing setup. Everything can seem fine during regular work, but it can rapidly become frustrating if your VC sessions are awkward or lossy. Get a good camera and microphone (headset if you prefer). Ensure good lighting and position the camera so people don't have to see up your nostrils. Consider upgrading to a faster internet connection. If you have other family members, also consider getting a router with good QoS capabilities in case they're binging on YouTube or Netflix while you're trying to talk to your colleagues.

Both of these bring up my real point: little bits of friction add up. Pay attention to every little thing that annoys you or might annoy your coworkers about the arrangement, and make a positive effort to improve it. Remote work can be awesome, but it's rarely that way by itself.