Well nearly. Well, yes. It was a disaster. Last Thursday, I drove in to use the office as a tool that day - I had a sales demo to conduct and wanted to make certain I had good internet connectivity and a fast machine so I could impress the prospect. When I arrived at 7:50 I was rather shocked at the number of cars already there. And I was even more shocked when I walked in and they were all standing around - "Internet and network are down - we've just been standing here since we got here." Uhhhh - did anyone call the network admins? Nope. So I sent a hurried text off to one of the guys. He was there in a matter of minutes - assessing the situation.
Evidently there had been some type of power surge which resulted in blowing out all the ports or something or other and the ISP needed to come out and fix the internet. I raced home to conduct my demo. And somehow all those people pulled together - without management making decisions and just got the shit fixed! Amazing! See. They ARE smart and they DO know what to do. And I could sit at home and continue working toward results all day without having to listen to the headache or get involved in the fiasco. I'm no help when it comes to stuff like that. It's all magic to me.
It's been a little awkward so far - being in the ROWE. Part of me wants to ask who is at the office. How are the phones getting answered? Who is tending the sheep? But I don't dare. I have to sit back and just release all control of those types of things and not worry about them. I have to focus on results. Are they meeting their results? And in my universe - I can't really determine that only a week into it. I see activity and I see movement. So I know people are working to achieve results. And I've been trying to stay out of the office - to give people time and space to absorb and adapt and not feel awkward by my presence. But I do feel a little disconnected. Like I'm shirking my responsibilities - even though I know I am not. Curious if they're shirking theirs.
My boss continues to come into the office 3 days a week. So then that has me on edge - he can't "see" me - does he know I'm working? Is he okay with this? Does he think I'm being remiss by not being there? Here I go - getting myself wrapped up in anticpation sludge. But it's difficult. When it's been ingrained in your head for years that you must be present in order to prove your worth. Hopefully this part of it gets easier.
I did have a couple of staff members who were confused over how to meet results - but after some lengthy conversations, I think they better understand it. The consultants told me to slow down and give them time to catch up to me. So that's what I've been trying to do. Letting them figure things out without my involvement as much as possible. I'm married to the results - NOT to the processes or activities that meet those results. I hope they are doing alright and embracing this new freedom.
Tomorrow we have manager's lunch and that always eases my mind some- seeing and interacting with my boss and my colleague. We are going to be hashing through our current employee handbook (laden with verbiage about hours and time) and also our culture guide. It should be a good session and hopefully an energetic one!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
The Day AFTER ROWE Implementation Workshop
This is a copy of the post I made to my other blog. So if you checked in there first - this is the same entry! But if you don't follow that blog (which I can't blame you if you don't - it's horrendously obsene and shouldn't be read) - then read on!
I am. I'm a pioneer. And it's exhausting. Absolutely emotionally and physically exhausting. I wish someone had told me that ahead of time. But I guess nothing fantastic comes easy, and I'm up for the challenge. Once I get rested, that is.
See. Here's the thing. I come from a long line of pioneers. So do you. You likely have just never thought about it much. But I did. I gave it quite a bit of thought after my mom posted on my Facebook that she was proud of me for being a pioneer. But you know what? Had it not been for women like my grandmother, who forged their way into the workforce when women just didn't do those kinds of things, then I would have never gotten the opportunity to even be on this blazing trail.
And if it weren't for women, like my mother, who continued to push and work and fight and prove that women deserved a right in the workplace beyond basic typing and fetching, then I also would not be on this blazing trail.
See, those women were TRUE pioneers. And there are many others - they are not the only two, nor do I mean to imply they are. They are just the two I'm using as an example. They blazed a trail for me. The one on which it was norm for women to achieve great things in the workforce. The one on which it wasn't unheard of for women to hold high positions in the workforce. The trail isn't for everyone to travel - it's a personal choice. And that's okay. We are all individuals and have the right to make our own choices based upon our individual needs and desires. I chose this path.
When I first started walking along the path they'd blazed for me - it was awesome! Clear and smooth. Easy to travel. Then... I had the prodigal son. And all of a sudden, the path was cumbersome and bumpy and all sorts of unpleasantries were attacking me. I remember when I told my boss (a COMPLETE bitch - yes a woman - single mother, no less) that I was pregnant. She laughed with hysteria. Then she became quite somber. Irritated with me. And from that point forward she did everything in her power to make my life a living hell. Sending me out on audits that lasted for weeks and months upon end, which required I board a plane on Monday morning at some unGodly hour of the morning and not return until late Friday night. Hauling around a 75 lb auditor's bag, dressed in a suit, toting a suitcase and 6 months pregnant. 7 months pregnant. 8 months pregnant.
When I was about 7 or 8 weeks along, my placenta detached. Afraid to tell her I had a serious medical condition, I kept it a secret and just continued to plow through my duties, risking the life of my unborn child and myself. Must keep this job. Cannot mention medical complications. Too risky. Too taboo. (Everything turned out fine in the end and I won't bore you with the full details of the entire pregnancy - I promise).
I took my 6 weeks of maternity leave. When the prodigal son was but 10 weeks old, he contracted viral meningitis. But at the time, we did not know it was viral - we had to wait 48 hours to see if the culture would grow and determine if it was viral or bacterial. I called the bitch in the evening and alerted her to his sudden illness and hospitalization and that we were told that if it was bacterial, he would likely die. Do you know what that bitch said to me? "So, will you be in the office tomorrow or not?" I vowed right then and there I would immediately start looking for a new job. And I did. And within weeks I had found one and left.
The new job offered a bit more flexibility and since it was a government job, I was fairly well protected from any more antics like what I had experienced with the bitch. And it helped that one of my bosses was suffering with a terminal illness. (And I don't mean that in a bad way - he was empathetic). During this job, I became pregnant with the brunette and I was treated fairly and justly and not placed under undue scrutiny or assigned to horrible punishing projects. Again, being a government agency - I was protected. And through their amazing leave donation program, I was able to take a 7 week maternity leave and get paid through the entire absence!
Later, that post ended and I moved back into the private sector. And I had very little wiggle room. I soon found myself as a single parent with two very small children. I had a 30 mile commute to work and was always strapped for time. I remember one time, I had issues with the prodigal son that resulted in numerous morning melt-downs and screaming and spankings and just the most hideous sight I'd ever seen. And even after a 30 mile commute - my heart was racing so badly I thought I might have a heart attack - but I was panic stricken that morning - he was misbehaving and I was at risk for being late to work. I drove 90 that morning. To get to work on time. To sit in a room full of people and transcribe their words to paper so that the conversation could be logged for eternity.
And then one of the kids might get sick, so I would scramble to find someone to watch them while they were ill. Fortunately the local hospital had a sick child program on their pediatric ward and if they had the space - they would take your child for the day. It was such a Godsend. But then the brunette was hospitalized. And then she got chicken pox - TWICE. And at my next performance review - I found myself scoring in the top 5% of all officers across the national organization - yet written up - for shitty attendance. I remember being so sick, personally, one time that I could barely function. But I HAD to drag myself into the office - I could not risk missing a single other day. Driving, 30 miles, in a fever-induced fog. Praying I wouldn't pass out somewhere along the way. Sitting at a desk, so ill that my entire body shook. But by God - I was THERE. And they saw my dedication! And they approved.
When I first started at Company X - they were rigid. Most of the execs came out of banking and we pretty well adhered to banking ways of conducting business. Because we are a technology company, though, most of the staff started pushing for more freedoms and over time the ties were loosened some. But we would be chastised for wearing funny hats while working on Fridays. We were having "too much fun" - and certainly we couldn't be getting a damned thing done - what, with that silly hat on our head. You can't work, or think, or be creative with a hat on your head. And then, they decided we needed to push through more work. And soon many of us found ourselves at the office for 80-100 hours EACH WEEK. At one point, Company X paid for me to have a nighttime nanny. So here were my babies - under 10 years old - being shuttled to a daycare during the day - retrieved by a nanny at 6:00 and the only time they saw me was in the morning when I would wake them to shuttle them back to daycare. 80% of the employees of Company X were on some type of anti-depressant medication during that time. Gee. I wonder why.
Then we got a new boss and he was nuttier than the prior boss. And the reins were tightened again. He would retrieve me from my house in inclement weather - to make certain I got to work safely. He would play with us like puppets all day and when he grew tired of us - he would throw us aside and we'd be left lying there - wondering what in the hell just happened. I spent most of my day entertaining him - keeping him away from the staff so they could actually get some work done and achieve something. I shopped with him. I went to lunch with him. If he had a whim to go buy a vase - I'd go with him. He loved me. I was present. And yet, because I am a responsible adult, I was STILL working endless hours so I could get the results we needed to survive. When the blonde was born, I also got to take 7 weeks of maternity leave. It was paid time off also - because the nutcase had found that "in his experience, women in my condition have a propensity to sue employers and it was just less costly to pay me and appease me." Nevermind the entire issue was a matter because when he took over, he wiped out everyone's accrued vacation and I'd not had a day off in years.
I hated to see him go. I really did. I miss him every day. NOT.
For the last few years, we've been pretty loose at Company X. We have incorporated flex time; comp time; floating holidays; remote work; compressed work week. We have tried them all - trying to find something that made sense for EVERYONE. Yet we could feel it - we could sense it - the morale was dropping and getting lower and lower. What could it be? And it took us MONTHS to figure it out - people were sick. Sick from trying to balance their lives. We were offering what we thought were viable solutions and options - but it wasn't helping. Finally, I tripped across ROWE. And it made sense. It just had to work - it had to be the answer.
And as I sat yesterday, in our ROWE Implementation Workshop. I regained my hope. I looked around the room - at the young people - with young children and those that don't yet have children. And I felt PROUD - PROUD to be a progressive thinker and willing to take risks - so that THEY can have a different life than I had when my older kids were young. I felt sad for those of us that didn't have this opportunity and lost time with their children. And sent our kids here, there and everywhere - hiding them - keeping their existence virtually mum - in hopes of keeping our jobs and not being overlooked for bigger things because we had kids. But my happiness and pride FAR surpassed my sadness for what I had lost. Because I knew in my heart - I was on the bleeding edge of a new movement in the workplace - and the inertia will build and this thing will take off - across the world. And I was a part of the movement in the early stages - I got on board when fewer than 100 companies in the US have adopted it. We are likely the FIRST company in Kansas to migrate to ROWE.
When I got home, I told the prodigal son and the brunette that I had just joined a movement that would forever change the way they worked and that they could thank me later. They just looked at me like I was nuts - which is pretty typical. But I did. And it will.
And so for those women (and men) that blazed the trail ahead of me - each generation widening the trail and changing its shape and direction - THANK YOU. And hopefully you will view what I've done and what I've stood up for - LIFE BALANCE - as keeping the flame alive. I proudly accept the torch you passed on to me and I hope you are proud of what I've done with it. And for those of you who have not yet embraced ROWE - follow it - watch it - join it - get on the bandwagon with me - because TOGETHER we can move this giant old rusty wheel much quicker and with much greater ease!!!
I am. I'm a pioneer. And it's exhausting. Absolutely emotionally and physically exhausting. I wish someone had told me that ahead of time. But I guess nothing fantastic comes easy, and I'm up for the challenge. Once I get rested, that is.
See. Here's the thing. I come from a long line of pioneers. So do you. You likely have just never thought about it much. But I did. I gave it quite a bit of thought after my mom posted on my Facebook that she was proud of me for being a pioneer. But you know what? Had it not been for women like my grandmother, who forged their way into the workforce when women just didn't do those kinds of things, then I would have never gotten the opportunity to even be on this blazing trail.
And if it weren't for women, like my mother, who continued to push and work and fight and prove that women deserved a right in the workplace beyond basic typing and fetching, then I also would not be on this blazing trail.
See, those women were TRUE pioneers. And there are many others - they are not the only two, nor do I mean to imply they are. They are just the two I'm using as an example. They blazed a trail for me. The one on which it was norm for women to achieve great things in the workforce. The one on which it wasn't unheard of for women to hold high positions in the workforce. The trail isn't for everyone to travel - it's a personal choice. And that's okay. We are all individuals and have the right to make our own choices based upon our individual needs and desires. I chose this path.
When I first started walking along the path they'd blazed for me - it was awesome! Clear and smooth. Easy to travel. Then... I had the prodigal son. And all of a sudden, the path was cumbersome and bumpy and all sorts of unpleasantries were attacking me. I remember when I told my boss (a COMPLETE bitch - yes a woman - single mother, no less) that I was pregnant. She laughed with hysteria. Then she became quite somber. Irritated with me. And from that point forward she did everything in her power to make my life a living hell. Sending me out on audits that lasted for weeks and months upon end, which required I board a plane on Monday morning at some unGodly hour of the morning and not return until late Friday night. Hauling around a 75 lb auditor's bag, dressed in a suit, toting a suitcase and 6 months pregnant. 7 months pregnant. 8 months pregnant.
When I was about 7 or 8 weeks along, my placenta detached. Afraid to tell her I had a serious medical condition, I kept it a secret and just continued to plow through my duties, risking the life of my unborn child and myself. Must keep this job. Cannot mention medical complications. Too risky. Too taboo. (Everything turned out fine in the end and I won't bore you with the full details of the entire pregnancy - I promise).
I took my 6 weeks of maternity leave. When the prodigal son was but 10 weeks old, he contracted viral meningitis. But at the time, we did not know it was viral - we had to wait 48 hours to see if the culture would grow and determine if it was viral or bacterial. I called the bitch in the evening and alerted her to his sudden illness and hospitalization and that we were told that if it was bacterial, he would likely die. Do you know what that bitch said to me? "So, will you be in the office tomorrow or not?" I vowed right then and there I would immediately start looking for a new job. And I did. And within weeks I had found one and left.
The new job offered a bit more flexibility and since it was a government job, I was fairly well protected from any more antics like what I had experienced with the bitch. And it helped that one of my bosses was suffering with a terminal illness. (And I don't mean that in a bad way - he was empathetic). During this job, I became pregnant with the brunette and I was treated fairly and justly and not placed under undue scrutiny or assigned to horrible punishing projects. Again, being a government agency - I was protected. And through their amazing leave donation program, I was able to take a 7 week maternity leave and get paid through the entire absence!
Later, that post ended and I moved back into the private sector. And I had very little wiggle room. I soon found myself as a single parent with two very small children. I had a 30 mile commute to work and was always strapped for time. I remember one time, I had issues with the prodigal son that resulted in numerous morning melt-downs and screaming and spankings and just the most hideous sight I'd ever seen. And even after a 30 mile commute - my heart was racing so badly I thought I might have a heart attack - but I was panic stricken that morning - he was misbehaving and I was at risk for being late to work. I drove 90 that morning. To get to work on time. To sit in a room full of people and transcribe their words to paper so that the conversation could be logged for eternity.
And then one of the kids might get sick, so I would scramble to find someone to watch them while they were ill. Fortunately the local hospital had a sick child program on their pediatric ward and if they had the space - they would take your child for the day. It was such a Godsend. But then the brunette was hospitalized. And then she got chicken pox - TWICE. And at my next performance review - I found myself scoring in the top 5% of all officers across the national organization - yet written up - for shitty attendance. I remember being so sick, personally, one time that I could barely function. But I HAD to drag myself into the office - I could not risk missing a single other day. Driving, 30 miles, in a fever-induced fog. Praying I wouldn't pass out somewhere along the way. Sitting at a desk, so ill that my entire body shook. But by God - I was THERE. And they saw my dedication! And they approved.
When I first started at Company X - they were rigid. Most of the execs came out of banking and we pretty well adhered to banking ways of conducting business. Because we are a technology company, though, most of the staff started pushing for more freedoms and over time the ties were loosened some. But we would be chastised for wearing funny hats while working on Fridays. We were having "too much fun" - and certainly we couldn't be getting a damned thing done - what, with that silly hat on our head. You can't work, or think, or be creative with a hat on your head. And then, they decided we needed to push through more work. And soon many of us found ourselves at the office for 80-100 hours EACH WEEK. At one point, Company X paid for me to have a nighttime nanny. So here were my babies - under 10 years old - being shuttled to a daycare during the day - retrieved by a nanny at 6:00 and the only time they saw me was in the morning when I would wake them to shuttle them back to daycare. 80% of the employees of Company X were on some type of anti-depressant medication during that time. Gee. I wonder why.
Then we got a new boss and he was nuttier than the prior boss. And the reins were tightened again. He would retrieve me from my house in inclement weather - to make certain I got to work safely. He would play with us like puppets all day and when he grew tired of us - he would throw us aside and we'd be left lying there - wondering what in the hell just happened. I spent most of my day entertaining him - keeping him away from the staff so they could actually get some work done and achieve something. I shopped with him. I went to lunch with him. If he had a whim to go buy a vase - I'd go with him. He loved me. I was present. And yet, because I am a responsible adult, I was STILL working endless hours so I could get the results we needed to survive. When the blonde was born, I also got to take 7 weeks of maternity leave. It was paid time off also - because the nutcase had found that "in his experience, women in my condition have a propensity to sue employers and it was just less costly to pay me and appease me." Nevermind the entire issue was a matter because when he took over, he wiped out everyone's accrued vacation and I'd not had a day off in years.
I hated to see him go. I really did. I miss him every day. NOT.
For the last few years, we've been pretty loose at Company X. We have incorporated flex time; comp time; floating holidays; remote work; compressed work week. We have tried them all - trying to find something that made sense for EVERYONE. Yet we could feel it - we could sense it - the morale was dropping and getting lower and lower. What could it be? And it took us MONTHS to figure it out - people were sick. Sick from trying to balance their lives. We were offering what we thought were viable solutions and options - but it wasn't helping. Finally, I tripped across ROWE. And it made sense. It just had to work - it had to be the answer.
And as I sat yesterday, in our ROWE Implementation Workshop. I regained my hope. I looked around the room - at the young people - with young children and those that don't yet have children. And I felt PROUD - PROUD to be a progressive thinker and willing to take risks - so that THEY can have a different life than I had when my older kids were young. I felt sad for those of us that didn't have this opportunity and lost time with their children. And sent our kids here, there and everywhere - hiding them - keeping their existence virtually mum - in hopes of keeping our jobs and not being overlooked for bigger things because we had kids. But my happiness and pride FAR surpassed my sadness for what I had lost. Because I knew in my heart - I was on the bleeding edge of a new movement in the workplace - and the inertia will build and this thing will take off - across the world. And I was a part of the movement in the early stages - I got on board when fewer than 100 companies in the US have adopted it. We are likely the FIRST company in Kansas to migrate to ROWE.
When I got home, I told the prodigal son and the brunette that I had just joined a movement that would forever change the way they worked and that they could thank me later. They just looked at me like I was nuts - which is pretty typical. But I did. And it will.
And so for those women (and men) that blazed the trail ahead of me - each generation widening the trail and changing its shape and direction - THANK YOU. And hopefully you will view what I've done and what I've stood up for - LIFE BALANCE - as keeping the flame alive. I proudly accept the torch you passed on to me and I hope you are proud of what I've done with it. And for those of you who have not yet embraced ROWE - follow it - watch it - join it - get on the bandwagon with me - because TOGETHER we can move this giant old rusty wheel much quicker and with much greater ease!!!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Today is THE Day
ROWE Implementation Workshop!! And yes. I'm awake at some ungodly hour of the morning. Plagued with inherited insomnia that has decided to kick in high gear - right now. I'll make it through. As I drifted off to sleep last night, I thought of the perfect Facebook status for today. And I considered getting up and writing it down - but decided it was so awesome that I would remember it. I did not. At 3:30 I woke up - wondering what that awesome thought was - and ever since I've been racking my brain.
Because my Facebook status is just that important.
Read a few emails from work that came in late last night - one of which mentioned that some people couldn't go ROWE until we had an alternative phone system. I'm sick of hearing that. I'm sick of hearing that so long as people must use the office as their tool to doing their work they cannot go ROWE. So I just shot off an email at 4:00 a.m. that reminded them ROWE has NOTHING to do with REMOTE - it has everything to do with RESULTS and the ROWE would go into effect immediately. Today is going to be very interesting for some. And for me - to witness. And I know that I will also learn so many new things - I'm certainly NOT the ROWE expert - but I do believe I have a far better grasp on the concept than some.
Who think this is a perpetual paid vacation. I wonder how long those people will survive in this environment. I'm happy to have some backup today with the consultants coming in. I wonder if they will punch people in the face? I doubt it. They only have to deal with people who don't get it in short spurts. I look to be inspired by them. Rejuvinated. The spirit I had when I first read the book rekindled. Strength and courage to continue this path of pioneerism. That's what I hope to get out of today.
I know I won't be disappointed! I'm ready!
Because my Facebook status is just that important.
Read a few emails from work that came in late last night - one of which mentioned that some people couldn't go ROWE until we had an alternative phone system. I'm sick of hearing that. I'm sick of hearing that so long as people must use the office as their tool to doing their work they cannot go ROWE. So I just shot off an email at 4:00 a.m. that reminded them ROWE has NOTHING to do with REMOTE - it has everything to do with RESULTS and the ROWE would go into effect immediately. Today is going to be very interesting for some. And for me - to witness. And I know that I will also learn so many new things - I'm certainly NOT the ROWE expert - but I do believe I have a far better grasp on the concept than some.
Who think this is a perpetual paid vacation. I wonder how long those people will survive in this environment. I'm happy to have some backup today with the consultants coming in. I wonder if they will punch people in the face? I doubt it. They only have to deal with people who don't get it in short spurts. I look to be inspired by them. Rejuvinated. The spirit I had when I first read the book rekindled. Strength and courage to continue this path of pioneerism. That's what I hope to get out of today.
I know I won't be disappointed! I'm ready!
Monday, August 30, 2010
1 Day to ROWE Implementation Workshop
It's the day before our ROWE Implementation Workshop. I should be excited. I should be on cloud nine. Or ten. Or even higher. I should have a huge smile on my face and greet everyone with enthusiasm.
But I am not and I do not.
I am in a foul mood. Irritated with everyone and everything. Anxiety? General fatigue from the weekend? General fed-upness with people that refuse to think outside of the box and instead of focusing energy on how they will make this ROWE work, they want to spend energy on coming with a million reasons why it won't? I think that is likely the best explanation for my overall foul mood today.
There is still not an answer on the alternative phone system. So really, what that means is that come Wednesday, there will still be a handful of people who will find themselves tethered to this office doing their work. And yet, it was in their control to find an alternative solution. I doubt they'll "get" that either. I'm certain that will just add fuel to their already burning heavily fire of negativity. I find their negative energy exhausting and draining. And worthless. Not to mention childish. I also find that I'd like to punch them right in the face.
I'm hoping that in our workshop tomorrow, the consultants pick up on this and really push those people to their absolute limit on changing their mindset. Here's hoping for a good night's sleep AND a wonderful day tomorrow.
But I am not and I do not.
I am in a foul mood. Irritated with everyone and everything. Anxiety? General fatigue from the weekend? General fed-upness with people that refuse to think outside of the box and instead of focusing energy on how they will make this ROWE work, they want to spend energy on coming with a million reasons why it won't? I think that is likely the best explanation for my overall foul mood today.
There is still not an answer on the alternative phone system. So really, what that means is that come Wednesday, there will still be a handful of people who will find themselves tethered to this office doing their work. And yet, it was in their control to find an alternative solution. I doubt they'll "get" that either. I'm certain that will just add fuel to their already burning heavily fire of negativity. I find their negative energy exhausting and draining. And worthless. Not to mention childish. I also find that I'd like to punch them right in the face.
I'm hoping that in our workshop tomorrow, the consultants pick up on this and really push those people to their absolute limit on changing their mindset. Here's hoping for a good night's sleep AND a wonderful day tomorrow.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
12 Days Left to ROWE Implementation Workshop!!
So I missed a few days in there - sorry about that. It's been an absolute flurry of activity since my last post. Moving. New phone system. New processes. Setting goals. Every single minute of my life seems to be consumed with work and seeking results. It's funny what you can actually accomplish when you stop filling up time and just getting busy on what matters. The husband says he hates ROWE because all I do is work - HA! I'll figure out how to balance it shortly. But right now, there is so much to do and to get done and I want to set a good example (and also I might be slightly OCD) so yes. Right now all I do is work. But I feel so productive. And my husband says that he hasn't seen me this excited about my job in a very long time. And I feel happy.
But I'll admit - I've also been VERY frustrated. Frustrated with staff. Who seem to think that ROWE is about how to be on a perpetual vacation. And I'll further admit that I've snapped a few times. Someone was complaining about being "tethered" to a phone. Uhhhh - we are in a service industry - specifically - the CUSTOMER service department - so if being tethered to a phone is a problem for you - perhaps this is not the job for you? Like I said - I snapped a few times. It happens I guess. My frustration lies with those who have NOT taken the time to read the book cover to cover (likely about 85% - 90% of the staff) - and are complaining and pushing back and digging their heels in. It's the exact opposite of what I expected. I expected the camp of naysayers to be much smaller - instead it's much larger. I suspect that is because the "leaders" of that pack are quite vocal and dominant. I've suggested to their followers that this culture may not work for everyone and some may not survive. I'm not kidding when I say it.
There has been the bitching about equipment at their homes - and suggestions that we pay everyone's cell phone bills. To which I've politely responded that we provide all the tools they need to meet their results at our office - if they CHOOSE not to work toward their results at the tool we provide - then that is their CHOICE and they will be responsible for the expense related to setting up their own environment elsewhere. We aren't mandating they work remote. We aren't mandating they use their personal cell phones to meet results. We aren't mandating they use their home computers to meet results. We are simply mandating they MEET RESULTS.
Then there was the bitching about the phones - yes - again. Always about the phones. When should they remove themselves from the queue? They wanted me to write an SOP around that - I refused to do so and instead suggested they use good, adult, professional judgment to determine when they should remove themselves from the phone queue. I provided a nice personal example: I'm RIDING in the car for 7 hours - with just my husband - I can likely stay in the queue. I'm attending a music program for my 8 year old - I likely cannot be in the queue. Use your best judgment and ask yourself, "Will I be able to FOCUS on the customer without distractions and provide excellent customer service?" If the answer is uncertain or no - then take yourself out of the queue.
I finally got so tired of the conversation that I told them that this would need to be something we all hash out during the ROWE Implementation Workshop - that I was done discussing it - they need to READ the book - and then we can hash it out with the experts on site.
I'm frustrated that they cannot see that what they sacrifice is so miniscule in relation to what they gain. "How can I ever do what I want when I want if I'm always tethered to the phone and our customers work standard hours?" I guess they're all forgetting the number of hours they spend socializing and facebooking throughout a normal business day and aren't realizing that they could run an errand during that time - without sludge. Or actually collaborate with one another on phone coverage and take days "off" and away from the phone. And it seems no matter how often or in what manner I explain it - they don't get it. Either I'm a horrible explainer - or they are just in a stage of not being willing to meet results and be accountable to those results. I think that's what it is more than anything, honestly.
And that's been a HUGE eye opener for ME as their boss. I've evidently let them get away with so much presenteeism that the thought of having to meet results scares them to death - they don't know how to do it. But they do. They just don't have faith in themselves yet.
I tested them on a project recently. They spent more than 2 weeks finding excuses to NOT meet the results. I held my ground. About week 3 they figured out their complaints and whining were not getting them anywhere and at my suggestion they started collaborating on the effort. They got it done - sort of. Not all of them did exactly what they were assigned to do or completed all the steps of the project - but for a trial run of "what happens when you force results" - I thought they did well. Although I know it was terribly painful for a few of them. Hopefully the next time it goes a little easier for them.
A few people are very distraught over "losing" their vacation time they have "earned" - as a matter of fact, one person is going ahead and taking some "deserved" vacation time next week so they don't "lose" it. That is frustrating to hear and watch. I hope in time they realize what a great gift they have been given - their time!
Now. There ARE some folks who have totally embraced this - and their enthusiasm is overwhelming! They are thinking outside of the box, preparing home offices, asking about goals, ready to ROWE. Some have already started the transition with our permission. I love it - they have personal commitments, and rather than asking for time off - they just ask if they can go ahead and ROWE now. YES!!! You can! We had one person apologize for ill behavior after he had read the book - said it was a total eye opener for him and how he had come to behave over the years. Said he felt like he needed a shower after finishing the book and pledged to commit 100% to this new culture. THOSE are the cases that warm my heart and excite me - the ones I KNOW will make this a success!
And we are throwing a ton of change at them at once - no doubt. Some are asking if we can slow down and do one thing at a time and then have a soak period, then move on to the next. No. We are going to do a total shift - all at once - so it's truely taxing on some. They'll live. I'm certain they've encountered more difficult things in their personal life and survived. In real life you don't get the chance, nor does it ever cross your mind, to request that things just "stop" so you can soak it all in. It's not how life works and it's not how work works - this isn't relaxation - it's WORK. And now that some have come to the realization that 8-5 is no longer a block of time you fill with shopping the internet or facebooking and that we have results to achieve and tons of new projects going on - it's just HARD on them.
But I can't help but think that at the end of the day they feel more successful. More productive. More engaged. And I can't help but think that makes them happier.
I know it has me!
But I'll admit - I've also been VERY frustrated. Frustrated with staff. Who seem to think that ROWE is about how to be on a perpetual vacation. And I'll further admit that I've snapped a few times. Someone was complaining about being "tethered" to a phone. Uhhhh - we are in a service industry - specifically - the CUSTOMER service department - so if being tethered to a phone is a problem for you - perhaps this is not the job for you? Like I said - I snapped a few times. It happens I guess. My frustration lies with those who have NOT taken the time to read the book cover to cover (likely about 85% - 90% of the staff) - and are complaining and pushing back and digging their heels in. It's the exact opposite of what I expected. I expected the camp of naysayers to be much smaller - instead it's much larger. I suspect that is because the "leaders" of that pack are quite vocal and dominant. I've suggested to their followers that this culture may not work for everyone and some may not survive. I'm not kidding when I say it.
There has been the bitching about equipment at their homes - and suggestions that we pay everyone's cell phone bills. To which I've politely responded that we provide all the tools they need to meet their results at our office - if they CHOOSE not to work toward their results at the tool we provide - then that is their CHOICE and they will be responsible for the expense related to setting up their own environment elsewhere. We aren't mandating they work remote. We aren't mandating they use their personal cell phones to meet results. We aren't mandating they use their home computers to meet results. We are simply mandating they MEET RESULTS.
Then there was the bitching about the phones - yes - again. Always about the phones. When should they remove themselves from the queue? They wanted me to write an SOP around that - I refused to do so and instead suggested they use good, adult, professional judgment to determine when they should remove themselves from the phone queue. I provided a nice personal example: I'm RIDING in the car for 7 hours - with just my husband - I can likely stay in the queue. I'm attending a music program for my 8 year old - I likely cannot be in the queue. Use your best judgment and ask yourself, "Will I be able to FOCUS on the customer without distractions and provide excellent customer service?" If the answer is uncertain or no - then take yourself out of the queue.
I finally got so tired of the conversation that I told them that this would need to be something we all hash out during the ROWE Implementation Workshop - that I was done discussing it - they need to READ the book - and then we can hash it out with the experts on site.
I'm frustrated that they cannot see that what they sacrifice is so miniscule in relation to what they gain. "How can I ever do what I want when I want if I'm always tethered to the phone and our customers work standard hours?" I guess they're all forgetting the number of hours they spend socializing and facebooking throughout a normal business day and aren't realizing that they could run an errand during that time - without sludge. Or actually collaborate with one another on phone coverage and take days "off" and away from the phone. And it seems no matter how often or in what manner I explain it - they don't get it. Either I'm a horrible explainer - or they are just in a stage of not being willing to meet results and be accountable to those results. I think that's what it is more than anything, honestly.
And that's been a HUGE eye opener for ME as their boss. I've evidently let them get away with so much presenteeism that the thought of having to meet results scares them to death - they don't know how to do it. But they do. They just don't have faith in themselves yet.
I tested them on a project recently. They spent more than 2 weeks finding excuses to NOT meet the results. I held my ground. About week 3 they figured out their complaints and whining were not getting them anywhere and at my suggestion they started collaborating on the effort. They got it done - sort of. Not all of them did exactly what they were assigned to do or completed all the steps of the project - but for a trial run of "what happens when you force results" - I thought they did well. Although I know it was terribly painful for a few of them. Hopefully the next time it goes a little easier for them.
A few people are very distraught over "losing" their vacation time they have "earned" - as a matter of fact, one person is going ahead and taking some "deserved" vacation time next week so they don't "lose" it. That is frustrating to hear and watch. I hope in time they realize what a great gift they have been given - their time!
Now. There ARE some folks who have totally embraced this - and their enthusiasm is overwhelming! They are thinking outside of the box, preparing home offices, asking about goals, ready to ROWE. Some have already started the transition with our permission. I love it - they have personal commitments, and rather than asking for time off - they just ask if they can go ahead and ROWE now. YES!!! You can! We had one person apologize for ill behavior after he had read the book - said it was a total eye opener for him and how he had come to behave over the years. Said he felt like he needed a shower after finishing the book and pledged to commit 100% to this new culture. THOSE are the cases that warm my heart and excite me - the ones I KNOW will make this a success!
And we are throwing a ton of change at them at once - no doubt. Some are asking if we can slow down and do one thing at a time and then have a soak period, then move on to the next. No. We are going to do a total shift - all at once - so it's truely taxing on some. They'll live. I'm certain they've encountered more difficult things in their personal life and survived. In real life you don't get the chance, nor does it ever cross your mind, to request that things just "stop" so you can soak it all in. It's not how life works and it's not how work works - this isn't relaxation - it's WORK. And now that some have come to the realization that 8-5 is no longer a block of time you fill with shopping the internet or facebooking and that we have results to achieve and tons of new projects going on - it's just HARD on them.
But I can't help but think that at the end of the day they feel more successful. More productive. More engaged. And I can't help but think that makes them happier.
I know it has me!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
And the count down to ROWE Implementation Workshop Begins - 27
Today was the first day back to work after the "big announcement". I didn't get to interact much with anyone other than the management team as my day was consumed with meetings, Web demos and enrolling my kids in school.
But I was able to reflect some and it occurred to me that the feedback I was getting yesterday, while terribly positive, seemed to mainly focused on and centered around working REMOTE. Not much chatter about getting RESULTS. I suppose this is a natural thing. They haven't read the book yet. And what they just heard is "you're FREE!" And I also suppose that having been chained to a desk all their working lives, they cannot imagine freedom can also be achieved from within the company provided work space - it likely seems foreign to them to consider doing work there, and just leaving whenever they feel like it to do whatever they feel like doing. It likely seems more comfortable to envision ROWE is achievable from the privacy of your own home - where no one can see you not-working during what we've come to believe are core working hours.
But it also tells me that we will have to immediately get busy on setting goals and results with these folk so it becomes clear that this doesn't mean everyone works 6 hours a week and gets paid the same salary as when they were present 40 hours a week. We still have WORK and we still have RESULTS that must be met. But I didn't want to kill their enthusiasm by pointing that out just yet. And as they read the book, things will become more obvious and clear to them. I think that the energy they exuded yesterday will propel them into wanting that freedom so badly, that being agreeable to achieving results will come naturally. I hope I'm right anyway!
Full speed ahead on the move - strange thing - I'm actually looking forward to being in the office a bit more tomorrow so I can interact with everyone and engage in conversations with them about ROWE and about the move. The next two weeks will be hit and miss for my availability to be on-site due to a million personal commitments on top of staying on task and meeting our goals at work. I feel almost slighted to have to be out as much as I'm going to need to be during this time. But I can and will make it work.
But I was able to reflect some and it occurred to me that the feedback I was getting yesterday, while terribly positive, seemed to mainly focused on and centered around working REMOTE. Not much chatter about getting RESULTS. I suppose this is a natural thing. They haven't read the book yet. And what they just heard is "you're FREE!" And I also suppose that having been chained to a desk all their working lives, they cannot imagine freedom can also be achieved from within the company provided work space - it likely seems foreign to them to consider doing work there, and just leaving whenever they feel like it to do whatever they feel like doing. It likely seems more comfortable to envision ROWE is achievable from the privacy of your own home - where no one can see you not-working during what we've come to believe are core working hours.
But it also tells me that we will have to immediately get busy on setting goals and results with these folk so it becomes clear that this doesn't mean everyone works 6 hours a week and gets paid the same salary as when they were present 40 hours a week. We still have WORK and we still have RESULTS that must be met. But I didn't want to kill their enthusiasm by pointing that out just yet. And as they read the book, things will become more obvious and clear to them. I think that the energy they exuded yesterday will propel them into wanting that freedom so badly, that being agreeable to achieving results will come naturally. I hope I'm right anyway!
Full speed ahead on the move - strange thing - I'm actually looking forward to being in the office a bit more tomorrow so I can interact with everyone and engage in conversations with them about ROWE and about the move. The next two weeks will be hit and miss for my availability to be on-site due to a million personal commitments on top of staying on task and meeting our goals at work. I feel almost slighted to have to be out as much as I'm going to need to be during this time. But I can and will make it work.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
A New Life Begins!
Today was the ROWE announcement. Not that it matter any in terms of how it was received, or the message delivered, but because it's part of who I am - I changed clothes no less than 10 times before work today. And the best I could come up with was odd. So that's how I dressed. Odd. On to more important things...
I was nervous, shaking, ready to get a move on with the whole thing. Moving the precious books to the conference room, getting the all-but-horribly-wrong framed picture down there also. Claiming my spot. My colleague set up a camcorder. We really wanted to record this so we could watch it back later and see the look on everyone's faces. (or is it everyones'?) I will try my best to recount it here although I'm certain I don't remember, nor did I actually comprehend a large portion of it due to my excitement. The video will tell it all!
We went through the normal routine - reviewing the monthly financials, running through the sales pipeline. And then the intro into Company X 3.0 - reiterating what we had stated last month. And the next thing I knew, the boss was passing the baton to me. His preview yesterday led me to believe his prelude would be about 20 minutes long. But it wasn't - it was only about 2 minutes long and then I heard him say he wouldn't mention the name, the culture or anything else - and that he was passing the baton to ME. So, I quickly glanced at the notes I had made last night and just started in - with a series of questions:
Who feels flex schedules are conditional?
Who is tired of endless meetings that are not well defined nor do you understnad why you are there?
Who feels stressed from trying to juggle home/work schedules & demands?
Who is tired of spending their weekends running errands?
Who is tired of asking permission to take time off & who feel like a child when they do this?
With each question I posed, the number of hands that rose grew and I could sense people were letting their guard down and answering honestly.
And while I do not remember (although, again, the video will tell), my notes indicate that I next asked them to imagine an environment where these things are no longer an issue - where they have the freedome to work any way they want. They no longer will feel guilty, stressed, overworked - they OWN THEIR time - the company does NOT. I think I got a "woo hoo" from the crowd. But maybe that was at a different time in the meeting...
And what IF at the same time:
There is an increase in productivity
We create talent retention & attraction
Optimize our space
Eliminate wasteful processes
Staff is autonomous & accountable
What IF you were treated like a trusted professional and ADULT?
I have no clue what happened at that point. None. I know at some point I explained this is an adaptive change and defined/described that term. I talked about how I heard about this and the strange series of serendipitous events that led up to this point. I thanked my boss. I thanked my colleague. For their open-minds. I named companies that were under ROWE, provided the website, Facebook address and twitter and handed out the books. I recall one person thanked me on the spot for the book.
Then there was a long discussion - which, again - I need to watch back on the video - but people were FOR IT. On board. GETTING IT. And yet, I also recall I continued to "sell it" to them. I guess I was just so excited that I wanted to make 100% certain everyone heard, understood and embraced, despite the fact they know very little at this point. I loved how well it was received.
And then there was more discussion and everyone had a bunch of questions and and we answered what we could. And encouraged them to write their questions down so we could get them answers. The rest of that conversation is a total blur.
And then we went to the new office space - and they loved it - and had a million questions. But were still positive and enthusiastic and energetic. And I was on cloud 9. And this part is also on video. (please tell me the video worked?) And one of my direct reports pulled me to the side and said, "If I thought it was even ONE bit appropriate - I would hug you RIGHT now." And I was delighted. He again came and thanked me personally later in the day.
And then I left and returned the picture to Claudio the framer and explained it was NOT right and he thanked ME for telling me and agreed to fix it within the hour!!! And I was glad I handled it this way. I thank our customers when we are given the opportunity to right the wrong - why on earth would I have assumed others would not want the same opportunity? Shame on me.
And then for my staff meeting this afternoon, I decided we would go to a local sports bar. Well live and learn. NOT a good choice considering we were trying to remote in two other staff members. We tried it. It doesn't work. Lesson learned. It was loud, we couldn't hear them and they couldn't hear us. I won't make that mistake again. BUT - I did ask everyone to state their initial "gut" reaction and here are the responses:
I'm not naive - as they read the book - they will start to realize it's not ALL a bed of roses - but for them to ALL go into the book with this attitude is so pleasing to me!!! Oh - the next few weeks will crazy - but I'm so very much looking forward to it!!!
ROCK & ROWE!!!!
I was nervous, shaking, ready to get a move on with the whole thing. Moving the precious books to the conference room, getting the all-but-horribly-wrong framed picture down there also. Claiming my spot. My colleague set up a camcorder. We really wanted to record this so we could watch it back later and see the look on everyone's faces. (or is it everyones'?) I will try my best to recount it here although I'm certain I don't remember, nor did I actually comprehend a large portion of it due to my excitement. The video will tell it all!
We went through the normal routine - reviewing the monthly financials, running through the sales pipeline. And then the intro into Company X 3.0 - reiterating what we had stated last month. And the next thing I knew, the boss was passing the baton to me. His preview yesterday led me to believe his prelude would be about 20 minutes long. But it wasn't - it was only about 2 minutes long and then I heard him say he wouldn't mention the name, the culture or anything else - and that he was passing the baton to ME. So, I quickly glanced at the notes I had made last night and just started in - with a series of questions:
Who feels flex schedules are conditional?
Who is tired of endless meetings that are not well defined nor do you understnad why you are there?
Who feels stressed from trying to juggle home/work schedules & demands?
Who is tired of spending their weekends running errands?
Who is tired of asking permission to take time off & who feel like a child when they do this?
With each question I posed, the number of hands that rose grew and I could sense people were letting their guard down and answering honestly.
And while I do not remember (although, again, the video will tell), my notes indicate that I next asked them to imagine an environment where these things are no longer an issue - where they have the freedome to work any way they want. They no longer will feel guilty, stressed, overworked - they OWN THEIR time - the company does NOT. I think I got a "woo hoo" from the crowd. But maybe that was at a different time in the meeting...
And what IF at the same time:
There is an increase in productivity
We create talent retention & attraction
Optimize our space
Eliminate wasteful processes
Staff is autonomous & accountable
What IF you were treated like a trusted professional and ADULT?
I have no clue what happened at that point. None. I know at some point I explained this is an adaptive change and defined/described that term. I talked about how I heard about this and the strange series of serendipitous events that led up to this point. I thanked my boss. I thanked my colleague. For their open-minds. I named companies that were under ROWE, provided the website, Facebook address and twitter and handed out the books. I recall one person thanked me on the spot for the book.
Then there was a long discussion - which, again - I need to watch back on the video - but people were FOR IT. On board. GETTING IT. And yet, I also recall I continued to "sell it" to them. I guess I was just so excited that I wanted to make 100% certain everyone heard, understood and embraced, despite the fact they know very little at this point. I loved how well it was received.
And then there was more discussion and everyone had a bunch of questions and and we answered what we could. And encouraged them to write their questions down so we could get them answers. The rest of that conversation is a total blur.
And then we went to the new office space - and they loved it - and had a million questions. But were still positive and enthusiastic and energetic. And I was on cloud 9. And this part is also on video. (please tell me the video worked?) And one of my direct reports pulled me to the side and said, "If I thought it was even ONE bit appropriate - I would hug you RIGHT now." And I was delighted. He again came and thanked me personally later in the day.
And then I left and returned the picture to Claudio the framer and explained it was NOT right and he thanked ME for telling me and agreed to fix it within the hour!!! And I was glad I handled it this way. I thank our customers when we are given the opportunity to right the wrong - why on earth would I have assumed others would not want the same opportunity? Shame on me.
And then for my staff meeting this afternoon, I decided we would go to a local sports bar. Well live and learn. NOT a good choice considering we were trying to remote in two other staff members. We tried it. It doesn't work. Lesson learned. It was loud, we couldn't hear them and they couldn't hear us. I won't make that mistake again. BUT - I did ask everyone to state their initial "gut" reaction and here are the responses:
- I feel as though I've made a career change without changing jobs.
- This opens up so many possibilities for me at home in terms of how to juggle responsibilities.
- This embraces technology which is good because we are a technology company and we've never "worked" that way.
- This will definitely help the finances of the company and I can see how it impacts that.
- This give me a whole new outlook
- THIS IS LIKE CHRISTMAS MORNING!!
- Communication will need to improve - but THAT is a positive thing
- Remote workers will no longer harbor guilt because they are "free" and the others are not
- Work can be better scheduled - focus on meeting goals will actually be easier
- Many will still use the office
- This change energizes the company
- There will be some kinks to work out
- Remote employees felt the energy through the phone during the morning meeting and they felt a part of it!
- I feel back in control
- I am able to make adult decisions about what needs to be done when and how
I'm not naive - as they read the book - they will start to realize it's not ALL a bed of roses - but for them to ALL go into the book with this attitude is so pleasing to me!!! Oh - the next few weeks will crazy - but I'm so very much looking forward to it!!!
ROCK & ROWE!!!!
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