remote

I read REMOTE last year.  It was a very interesting read.  It goes through, point by point, and explains why showing up at an office every single day as an information worker in 2016 is sort of stupid.  It can be dumb, stupid, lame, unnecessary, and wasteful.  And stupid.  It's an out-dated way of getting results.  What it stresses is that the only true way to measure productivity, if your type of work allows it, is to measure your results.  That's it.

It's that simple.  And simple doesn't necessarily mean that it's easy.  There are plenty of pitfalls on the way to remotely working in todays information age.  People are still people and we need a sense of connection.  There are all kinds of nasty human traits that might bubble up if you don't keep yourself in check: depression, jealousy, alcoholism, loneliness, overeating, etc.  You'll no longer be getting that ever necessary human connection via face-to-face communication.  But there are so many ways to make contact nowadays with your co-workers and keep your spirits up: video conferencing (super cheap to do nowadays via Skype for Business, or BlueJeans Network, or FaceTime), Instant Messaging, SMS, and of course good old-fashioned phone calls.  

Personally, I find that if I am in the office, I make less of an effort to interact with people.  I figure, well, I'm here.  So if you need something from me, come on over.  And I'll do the same with you.  But when I am working remotely, I tend to reach out regularly via some sort of interactive channel like IM, or SMS just to say 'hi'.  I'll even pick up the phone and call people.  I am at home and not in a cube farm, so I have a sense of privacy which is really nice.  I don't use email so much because there isn't as much of a sense of immediacy to it.

Anyway, it's a quick, easy read.  Lots of good pointers on how to manage a distributed workforce.  I highly recommend reading it if you regularly work from home, or are a full time WFH person.

​And besides, how the hell else am I supposed to borrow my nieces desk with the ultra cute kitty picture on top if I don't work remotely?  I think being able to see that desktop and get a smile put on my face every day does more for my positive psychology and positive mental attitude than any of those stale leftover doughnuts in the break room ever did.