Working Remotely and Doing It Right
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The document provides guidance on working remotely effectively. It discusses defining remote work, the pros and cons for employers and employees, setting up an effective home office, developing routines and discipline, maintaining communication, and having discussions with bosses about remote work arrangements. The keys to success include establishing clear boundaries, communicating regularly, avoiding bad habits, meeting deadlines, and working hard to overcome stereotypes about remote employees.
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Working Remotely and Doing It Right
- 1. Working Remotely And Doing It Right scott stroz
- 3. scott strozscott@boyzoid.com About Me • Software developer/architect for Booz Allen Hamilton • Working remotely for over a decade • Full time for over 8 years • Avid, but not very good, golfer. • Proud parent of these 2 guys → Obligatory ‘I ♥ me’ Slide “I appreciate that the glass is half-full, but, would enjoy it so much more were it not half-empty”
- 4. scott strozscott@boyzoid.com What will we cover? Working Remotely And Doing it Right • What do we mean by ‘remotely’? • Pros/Cons of working remotely •For you and your employer • ‘Building’ your home office •What you need to get started • Keys to success • How to talk to your boss
- 5. Section What do we mean? 2
- 7. scott strozscott@boyzoid.com Shared Space Cafe Home What do we mean by ‘remotely’? Working Remotely And Doing it Right Even here…
- 8. scott strozscott@boyzoid.com What do we mean by ‘remotely’? Working Remotely And Doing it Right Basically, anywhere but here…….
- 9. Section Pros & Cons (real & perceived) 3
- 10. scott strozscott@boyzoid.com • Can lure talent from anywhere • Increased productivity • Better work-life balance • Lower costs • Office space • Relocation • Employee retention • Fewer missed days Pros For The Employer Working Remotely And Doing it Right “Salad isn't food; it's what food eats.”
- 11. scott strozscott@boyzoid.com • Increased infrastructure costs • One-time technology cost per teleworker • Lack of social interaction • Disconnected from company • Employees are not really working Cons For The Employer Working Remotely And Doing it Right “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is all you need.”
- 12. scott strozscott@boyzoid.com • Save money • Gas & Tolls • Wear & Tear on vehicle • Auto Insurance • Tax breaks • Greater productivity • Fewer interruptions • More flexibility • Better work-life balance • Less exposure to those who are sick • Lower stress Pros For The Employee Working Remotely And Doing it Right “Anyone who says money can't buy you happiness, obviously does not know where to shop.”
- 13. scott strozscott@boyzoid.com “Maybe money cannot buy happiness, but, it can buy bacon, and that is pretty much the same thing.” Cons For The Employee Working Remotely And Doing it Right
- 14. scott strozscott@boyzoid.com • Feeling disconnected from team • Boundaries between work and home get blurred • Need strong dedication and discipline • Not just from the employee • Need to develop a routine • Can become a hermit Cons For The Employee Working Remotely And Doing it Right “Unlike the post man, opportunity rarely, if ever, rings twice.”
- 16. scott strozscott@boyzoid.com • You need dedication • From everyone in the household • You need discipline • Successfully working remotely is not easy • You need a plan • For everything from power outages to Internet disruption to personal emergencies First and foremost…. Working Remotely And Doing it Right
- 17. scott strozscott@boyzoid.com • Your family, roommates, etc. need to understand you are actually working. • Communicate effectively with those in the household • Set up barriers or cues to when it is imperative you NOT be disturbed. Dedication Working Remotely And Doing it Right “Common sense, like common courtesy, is, unfortunately, not all that common”
- 18. scott strozscott@boyzoid.com • Inconsistency is the greatest enemy of discipline • Work ‘regular’ hours • Avoid temptations and distractions • Deviate from routine only when necessary Discipline Working Remotely And Doing it Right
- 19. scott strozscott@boyzoid.com • Have a contingency plan for everything • Power outages • Internet outages • System failure • Backups • Have a general plan for your week • Update as necessary • Have a specific plan for your day • Touch base daily • Daily scrum works great Planning Working Remotely And Doing it Right “To hell with hindsight and its perfect vision.”
- 20. scott strozscott@boyzoid.com Desk should have enough room for you to work comfortably. Be careful, too big of a desk may attract clutter. Desk Chair should be comfortable, but also durable. Don’t buy one until you have tried it. Chair You need a reliable way to communicate. If using mobile phone as primary, make sure you have good coverage. Phone Kind of hard to do development work anywhere without a computer. Make sure you have off site backup. Computer Getting started The Basics
- 21. scott strozscott@boyzoid.com • Reliable, high speed Internet connection • Dedicated space – big enough for you to work • Windows are a plus! • UPS for network equipment • Alternate site • Make sure you know their hours of operation Other things you will need/want Working Remotely And Doing it Right
- 22. scott strozscott@boyzoid.com • Other communication tools • IM, Email, Video conferencing, alternate phone • Backups • External hard drives • Offsite services • Version Control • Headphones Other things you will need/want Working Remotely And Doing it Right
- 23. scott strozscott@boyzoid.com “If necessity is the mother of invention, laziness it its drunk step father.” The single most important thing you will need Working Remotely And Doing it Right Makes sure it has a lock!
- 25. scott strozscott@boyzoid.com • Set and enforce boundaries/rules • Wake/start work as consistent time • GET DRESSED!!! • Communicate with boss/client on regular basis • Daily ‘scrum’ works great • Take regular breaks • Start/maintain after work activities • Learn how to ‘turn off’ work Get into a routine Working Remotely And Doing it Right “Men think in 8-bit color, women think in 32-bit color.”
- 26. scott strozscott@boyzoid.com • Make sure you communicate effectively and consistently. • If there is an issue/emergency, let your boss/client know as soon as possible. • Notify boss/client when you will be away from your desk. • Regular face to face time • Even if over video chat Maintain Communication Working Remotely And Doing it Right “We have the right to 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness', not 'life, liberty and happiness'. You need to work for the happiness, it should not be given to you.”
- 27. scott strozscott@boyzoid.com • Don’t deviate from routine unless absolutely necessary • Inconsistent start/end times • Too much ‘away from keys’ time • Long lunches • Working in PJs • Go outside!!! Avoid bad habits Working Remotely And Doing it Right “Beer is like the blue jeans of the beverage world. It goes well with everything.”
- 28. scott strozscott@boyzoid.com • Meet Deadlines & complete tasks • Manage expectations as work progresses • Be on time for meetings • And be dressed if video meeting • Answer phone/IM/Email in timely fashion • Be proactive • Maintain clean work area Be Responsible Working Remotely And Doing it Right “Sometimes it does take a village to raise a child, but, unfortunately, that means the village idiot gets to take part.”
- 29. Section Talking to your boss 6
- 30. scott strozscott@boyzoid.com • Discuss the advantages to the company/project first • Use ‘us’ and ‘we’ rather than ‘I’ and ‘me’ • Suggest a ‘trial’ of maybe one day a week for a few months • With possibility of expanding • Have your plans ready to discuss Start With the ‘Pros’ Working Remotely And Doing it Right “Sometimes, the first step in turning and enemy into an ally is to stop treating them like an enemy.”
- 31. scott strozscott@boyzoid.com • They will come up – talk about them • Discuss about how your plans can mitigate them • Show your contingency plans for Internet/Power/communication disruption Don’t Ignore the ‘Cons’ Working Remotely And Doing it Right “If you gave some people $25,000 in small, unmarked, non-sequential bills, in a greasy paper bag, they would complain about the bag.”
- 32. scott strozscott@boyzoid.com • Follow your plan exactly • At least initially • Meet deadlines • Be on time for meetings • Work your butt off • You may need to over-produce to shed stereotype of ‘working from home’ • Don’t ruin it for everyone else Work the Plan Working Remotely And Doing it Right “Bacon is so good, some vegans do not even consider it meat.”
- 33. scott strozscott@boyzoid.com The best thing about working ‘remotely’….. Lastly…. Working Remotely And Doing it Right
- 34. thank you