Here at virtualofficeworld.com we know that virtual offices often go hand-in-hand with remote or flexible working.

Small businesses and start-ups utilise the benefits of virtual offices to project a more successful image of their company, but behind the scenes, businesses will often do without renting a physical office and opt for a hot-desk or home-working environment instead.

For many, this is a perfect solution. It keeps overheads down, enabling smaller businesses and start-ups to concentrate on investing time and money into growing their business. Remote working is also welcomed by many employees, who appreciate the advantages that working from home can offer.

But the title of 'digital nomad' is not for everyone. Do you have a virtual worker personality, or do you need an office to keep you on the straight and narrow? virtualofficeworld.com looks further into the growing trend of remote working, and finds out which personality is most likely to succeed...

Types of virtual working

A virtual office gives you all the benefits of a physical office, except for the bricks and mortar. Instead, the most popular working environments associated with virtual offices are setting up an office at home, working remotely - as in the case of the digital nomad - or hot-desking.

Working from home means that businesses spend the majority of their time using their house as a base. Generally, individuals working in this kind of environment benefit the most by converting a spare room into a makeshift office - but for those that don't have a spare room available, there are other alternatives. See our top tips to help make the most out of your home-working environment.

Working remotely means that individuals will often use a variety of locations to work from. This can include their home, but is also likely to involve working from any location with Wi-Fi, such as cafes, hotel lobbies, office reception areas and the like. See our digital nomad article for further information.

Hot-desking is a form of flexible working which can enable a business person to use a desk at set times during the week. The idea is that a number of desks are available for use, but these are shared between workers. A rotation system is often used so that when one worker is out on business, another can step in and use the desk in that person’s absence.

The virtual worker personality

The 'workplace of the future' is said to be no workplace at all, as more and more businesses allow their employees to work remotely. The idea is that the work will go to the talent, rather than the talent having to commute in order to reach a centralised workplace. And thanks to the excellent progress of mobile technology, this is now being put into action by businesses all over the world. Take a look at our article on how web technologies help make your virtual office a success.

But, as highlighted in a report by Business Week, some managers are overlooking the fact that not everyone is suited to this lifestyle: "Some of us are simply not - by temperament, psychology, or personality type - wired for the life of the digital nomad."

Pearn Kandola - a psychological research and consulting company - carried out research of hundreds of workers at technology firm Cisco, as well as employees at other global client companies around the world. Interestingly, their results were not as expected.

Researchers assumed that the type of personality best suited to working from home or remote locations would be those of a quiet, studious and shy disposition - as these are the ones who "keep their heads burrowed in cubicles at work". But research showed that it was actually the more extrovert types who were better suited to going virtual.

This is because the more bubbly and sociable types are naturally more able to chase communication with others - be it clients, colleagues or managers. The article states that: "Left on their own, these types of workers are the ones who work closely with clients, chum around with colleagues, and talk it up with bosses. They stay connected no matter where they are."

For the more introverted individual, research shows that they often find it easier to communicate effectively in a physical working environment, as it doesn't require much work to keep up basic relationships when workers are all in the same place.

However, even the most successful business person - whom one assumes would be naturally outgoing and confident - often prefer to mix up their virtual environment with a more solid base.

Tim Stone, European Marketing Manager of global company Cisco, says: "I'll be candid with you: If I work at home for more than two days, I feel a bit isolated. I tend to go to the office a couple of days a week just to have human interaction."

One of the advantages of a virtual office is that meeting rooms can be booked at a discounted rate as and when needed. So if managers feel the need to bring the workforce together to boost communication or keep track of projects, it can be done quickly and easily. In the meantime, many businesses are choosing to harness the benefits of technology to keep in touch with their team - by utilising low-cost or free tools such as video conferencing.

Do you have ideas or experience of using a virtual office? If so please tell us your stories by using the comment section below.

To find out more about renting a virtual office in the UK, visit our website at virtualofficeworld.com or speak to one of our consultants for free, expert advice.