Working in a Virtual Consulting Environment
Consulting remotely isn’t just working from home, it’s working differently. At Omni, our fully virtual model offers flexibility and autonomy, but it also requires intentionality, structure, and proactive communication. This guide outlines what makes virtual consulting unique and how to thrive in it—not just to do the work, but to build connection, sharpen your craft, and sustain yourself along the way.
You Are Your Own Office Manager
In a remote world, no one walks by your desk to see how you’re doing or notices you’ve been heads-down for 6 hours. You are responsible for:
- Structuring your day: Time-blocking, prioritizing, and pacing yourself are essential.
- Protecting your time: Too many back-to-back Zooms will eat your soul if you let them. Use Slack statuses, calendar blocks, and “focus mode” wisely.
- Setting boundaries: Without a commute, the workday can sprawl. Define your work hours and unplug — for real — when you’re off.
If your meeting doesn’t demand a shared screen, go old-school and pick up the phone. If you don’t need to be in front of a computer, take that call while you go out for a walk.
Visibility Requires Intentionality
In an office, visibility happens by default (in meetings, hallways, even the lunch line). Remotely, you have to create it:
- Post regular updates on Slack (progress, blockers, wins).
- Speak up on calls—even if it’s just to echo someone’s point or ask a clarifying question. It also helps to have your Zoom video turned on.
- Participate in our virtual “donut” sessions to casually get to know your colleagues.
- Be proactive about asking for feedback. Don't assume silence means "good job."
You’re not being a bother. You’re being a good teammate.
Collaboration is a Digital-First Skill
You’ll be working on shared deliverables across time zones, calendars, and working styles. Here’s what that demands:
- Overcommunicate structure: Use our tools (Confluence, Trello, Slack) to communicate and manage your projects and tasks.
- Use asynchronous tools wisely: Loom, Slack, etc — these aren't “extras.” They are your team’s communication muscle.
- Tag people, set deadlines, be specific: Assume no one sees anything unless you make it obvious.
“Let’s hop on a quick call” still works. Just be mindful of Zoom fatigue.
Learning Is Slower Without Osmosis
In traditional consulting firms, new hires absorb some norms via physical proximity. Remotely, that doesn’t happen, so you need to simulate it.
- Ask for examples to help you get started.
- Debrief meetings out loud (“Why did we do it this way?”) and ask for feedback after a meeting.
- Take notes not just on what was done, but how it was communicated and managed.
- Treat in-line document edits as a learning opportunity to see how other structure information and communicate it.
Consulting is a craft and apprenticeship still works... we just do it on Slack and Zoom.
Your Wellbeing is a Strategic Asset
Burnout is a real risk in both consulting and remote work. Omni’s mission thrives when you do. So:
- Take your PTO and holidays to recharge.
- If something’s not working (your schedule, your bandwidth, your ergonomics), speak up and talk to someone about it.
- Trust that we don’t see rest as weakness. We see it as sustainability.
We want you to take care of yourself, and if you need something we want you to ask.