I hesitate to write this because it goes against everything I wake up for each day, but I’ve get to stick with the truth when it’s . . . the truth. Even when it hurts, but I wish it never came up.
This week Yahoo’s new CEO came out against her Yahoo people telecommuting and started to initiate steps to bring them back to the office or find somewhere else to work. This is the part that hurts, I think she is right. Mostly. The mostly part is the equivalent to the classic non-committal: “It depends.”
In this case it depends on the job role. Even the biggest cave-dwelling introvert should know that spending time around people in order to hear their daily issues or to have someone to bounce ideas off of will lead to more “aha!” moments, either for you or for someone else that may be on the brink of a big breakthrough. If you haven’t experienced this, then I would argue that you are missing your big moment
Now, here is where I need to drop in a counter-argument, but like most discussions I have – a conversation in my head, because no one else is around — Survey Says: Telecommuters Happier, Healthier, Better Balanced.
Honestly, I think this survey is all well and good, but if I were the Big Company then I would have to say: I’m glad you’re happier, healthier and better balanced, but where’s my game-changing idea.
One of my telecommuting benefits that I have been able to work into roles is that I have give my employers proximity to New York City conferences and clients that would not have been possible. This should also apply to working on projects with companies in NYC, but so far none have seen the benefit of farming out a project and letting me split time between the main office to research and collaberate and my cave where I can bear down and generate results without the daily commute and office interruptions.
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