Working from home? Great. Now, think about the slobs who are schlepping their way to the office โ coffee mug and newspaper in hand but resentful of the image of you in jammies!
Our focus on technology driven strategy often stops at the technology โ we neither get a strategy nor intended results. Business impact analysis is a must in any strategy but that is not why we are here today. We have more interesting things to ruminate!
In this age of the internet โ globalization is upon us. Location independence is the imperative. So you have also jumped in. It used to be Fridays to work from home but now it is always work from home. Ubiquitous connectivity cost sales people their offices โ why waste money on real estate when the slob can work from his car? Neelesh in India โ who goes by Neil to his US customers โ is on your team and you donโt even miss a beat. It is as if he were next door.
Yes, we live in a connected world where we work with people across the globe but do not know our neighborโs name. The workforce is mobile and proudly moving ever faster. Business I booming and we will all live happily ever after. Thank God almighty, we are free at last!
Unfortunately, we live in a world whose underlying and most enduring principle is equilibrium. Like a pendulum, everything that moves too much to the right, has a counteracting force that brings it all the way to the left. Then back and forth till all energy is dissipated and the pendulum stands still. There is one eternal truth and this is it.
So the forces that drive mobility โ 24×7 ease of business – are being countered by other forces โ we have just not acknowledged them yet! Are these forces powerful enough to get us to mobile equilibrium? Time will tell.
So what are these forces? For starters, people who work in the office are resentful of the people who work from home โ theyย are more likely to be dissatisfiedย with the company and leave.
Then there is the issue of collaboration. How effective are you leading a team over the phone? Donโt know about you but I am comfortable with the remote model. However, I have to see people once in a while. The team has to get together, in person, often. The bond that develops when you occupy the same space; go for that dinner while working late on a project just cannot develop talking to someone over the phone.
There are many more issues. The move toward greater mobility is undeniable โ it will happen no matter what I say. However, your strategy should not just focus on the technology challenge. It must factor in the human challenge and its impact on business results.
Remember, we are all connected and so is everything else in business!
