Wondering if a flexible work arrangement is right for you? Whether you’re interested in flexible hours, telecommuting, working from a satellite office, coworking, or participating in a ROWE, flexible work isn’t a good fit for everyone.

Here are 10 characteristics you must have—or develop—to thrive in a flexible work environment:

1. Strong Work Ethic

Flexible work is all about the results. Do you have a strong enough work ethic to consistently produce results without the structure and stability of a job in a traditional work environment?

2. Knows It’s NOT About Sleeping In & Wearing Your PJs All Day

You may want to telecommute or work from home so you can sleep in and wear your pajamas all day. Truthfully, there are days I do this, but it’s not the norm. If your primary reason for wanting flexible work is to work in your pajamas, see items number one and three.

3. Disciplined

Working flexible hours isn’t necessarily about working less—it’s about working differently. You still have a job to do, clients to please, team members to support and everything must be done in a timely manner. The self-discipline to get up, get to work, and get your job done is essential.

4. Self-Motivated

If you need your coworkers or your boss to constantly motivate you, flexible work may not be right for you. Self-motivated individuals thrive in a hands-off work environment and are motivated by freedom of choice. Complete control to decide how, when, and where you work should be motivation enough.

5. Proactive

Successful flex workers are proactive. They don’t procrastinate and put off doing their work. They accomplish their work quickly and efficiently so they can benefit from control over their time. When a problem comes up, telecommuters or virtual team members do whatever they can to resolve it immediately. They know problems will quickly get worse in an unstructured environment.

6. Flexible

Yes, flexible work requires being flexible. Brilliant, I know. But if you receive flexibility from your employer, you should be willing to be flexible with them as well. It goes two ways—you do what you need to do to make the arrangement a success for both parties.

7. Willing to Learn

Changing your work environment from a traditional office to a virtual or remote office may require some learning on your part. Learn new technologies, techniques, and skills quickly and be willing to teach your team and colleagues what works.

8. Willing to Change

More and more people are telecommuting and moving into flexible work arrangements and virtual teams. The workplace is changing and flexible workers are willing and able to quickly adapt and change. They welcome new ideas, technologies, and innovative ways to collaborate. They are quick to leave the old, limiting beliefs of the traditional workplace behind and replace those beliefs with a new flexible alternative.

9. Focused

Speaking from experience, it’s easy to get distracted at home—especially when you don’t have set office hours. I may take a break for lunch, realize we don’t have enough milk for my afternoon coffee, head to the grocery store, and by the time I get back I’ve lost the whole afternoon. Flexible workers that do well are focused every day on the results they must produce as well as project timelines and deadlines. They actively work to make things happen by putting on blinders and avoiding outside distractions.

10. Organized

You must be organized when you work flexibly. Do you have access to all the files, information, and contacts you need to do your job? Can you collaborate with team members and clients effortlessly? Do you have a dedicated office space that isn’t part of the kid’s playroom? Take the time you need to set up an organized space for you work and make sure you have easy access to all the tools and information you need to do your job.

This list is just a few of the characteristics you need to excel in a flexible work environment. What other traits or characteristics do you possess that have made you a successful flexible worker?

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