If you’ve ever felt burned out in a remote job, chances are it wasn’t the work—it was the guessing.

Remote work is filled with gaps. Gaps in information. Gaps in relational and emotional cues. Gaps in all the little informal signals that, in an office, help us know where we stand.

The Hidden Cost of Missing Cues

Think about how much you pick up from a passing comment in the hallway, a quick smile across the conference table, or even the way someone closes their laptop at the end of a meeting. These subtle cues tell us how things are going, what’s important, and how others feel about us.

When we lose those informal signals, we’re left with silence, and silence invites guessing.

We start asking ourselves:

• What are they thinking?
• What do they mean?
• How am I doing?
• Are they mad?
• Do they respect me?
• Should I be doing more?

That constant second-guessing isn’t just uncomfortable. It’s exhausting. And over time, it’s one of the biggest contributors to burnout in the remote workplace.

Why Clarity Matters More at a Distance

Here’s the truth: when you know exactly what’s expected, you don’t waste energy covering every possibility.

Clarity frees you. Instead of chasing approval or trying to decode cryptic Slack messages, you can focus on the work that actually matters—in a way that works for you.

And clarity doesn’t just protect your energy. It also fuels accountability and trust. When roles, expectations, and goals are clear, team members know what they’re responsible for and how their work contributes to the bigger picture. That shared understanding is what allows distributed teams to function, even when they’re separated by time zones and screens.

Building Trust at a Distance

Clarity is more than a “nice to have.” In remote work, it’s the foundation of accountability—and ultimately, of trust. Without it, teams drift apart and frustration builds. With it, people gain confidence, feel supported, and know their contributions matter.

The leaders who thrive in remote contexts are the ones who don’t assume their teams “just know.” They overcommunicate expectations, check for understanding, and make accountability visible. They create systems where no one has to guess.

Where to Go From Here

Trust starts with clarity: clear expectations, clear communication, and clear accountability.

Because in the end, it’s not distance that wears us out—it’s uncertainty. And once we replace that uncertainty with clarity, trust, and connection, remote teams don’t just survive—they thrive.

I recently shared more on this topic in the Thrive Remotely newsletter (my new favorite online community).