Getting More Done by Not Going To Work

I have the best boss in the world.

She doesn't let the trappings of authority get in the way of reason and practicality.

As a product manager, I attend a lot of meetings during the week. I also accrue a lot of action items from the meetings, and I'm responsible for doing long-term planning and strategy that is hard to do in a cubicle with a lot of distractions.

About a month ago, I started working at home on Thursdays. This happened to be the day that was lightest on meetings, and the one regular meeting I have on Thursdays is a call-in with people in another city, anyway. So for the last month my productivity has gone through the roof. And I'm more relaxed and have more time for people at work.

Now everything I come across that requires concentration and doesn't require collaboration with others goes on my "Thursday List." This includes at least an hour of brainstorming and future planning that would NEVER get done if I were in the office. I get a lot of items checked off my list on Thursdays, since I have almost eight hours uninterrupted (I do answer the phone and check email several times during the day so that I'm available for those weird little emergencies that always happen.) And I'm less stressed about getting work done during the week, so I'm free to linger and chat after meetings and I'm more welcoming to visitors to my cube who drop by with an idea or a concern.

As we all know, those conversations are often the most enlightening and valuable part of the day.

The expensive gas I save, the fact that I'm not adding to the summer smog, the extra hour that I'm not spending in my car, and being able to work in jeans and sneakers is a beside the point as far as my boss is concerned, but it means a lot to me!

For some tips on how to make telecommuting work for you, see Virtual Teamwork - Long Distance Collaboration on the Ravenwerks site.

Have a great day!

Work at home agreements

I was asked by a friend for input on a work at home agreement, and thought it might be helpful to our readers (those who work at home and those who manage people who do.)

A good work at home agreement could be a simple checklist or a more formal document, depending on the needs of your organization, but it should include most of the following, depending on the circumstances:

• What days/hours of the teleworker's regular schedule can be worked at home?
  
• Are they discretionary or mandatory? (If you're sharing office space it would be awkward if both showed up to work in the office at the same time.)
  
• What tasks can be done remotely, and which need to be done in the office?
  
• Under what circumstances should the teleworker be called into the office?
• What hours does the teleworker need to be available by phone and/or email?
• What meetings should the teleworker attend in person?
  
• Will the company supply any equipment (laptop, phone, etc.)
  
• Will the company reimburse for expenses such as phone calls, internet bills, faxes, postage, etc.?
• Are status meetings or check-in points required? (This might be a good idea, especially for new teleworkers or new managers of teleworkers to ensure that objectives are being set and met.)
• Is it okay if the teleworker works irregular hours? (Do you care if he's golfing all day and working all night, for example.)
  

The more of these things are worked out in advance, the less potential for issues later.

Best wishes,

-Paula