MNteractive.com

Mobile workforce. I never thought it possible to make something that seemed so complicated (to me) so easy.

Here I am at home. I am working. It is a blizzard outside, but I’m here toasty in my comfortable clothes. I didn’t have to go out on a day that was very unappealing to tackle.

Garrick predicted for 2005

“Good Bye Desk, Hello Starbucks”
You already have a mobile phone, a webmail account, and an instant messaging account. The chances of you replacing your 5 year old desktop computer with a laptop and wireless card is 99%. All the tools you need to work are mobile now. Feel more productive on your couch at home? work from there. Feel more comfortable at the coffee shop on the corner? Perfect, besides, meetings are far more enjoyable there.”

So as well as the benefits of staying home on a truly wintery day in Minnesota I can go out too. I can go to anyplace that has a high speed internet connection and work. I can meet my friends and work from coffee shops. I can travel and still be working. No need to take vacation time for travel, just go and work. I still have the option of plenty of vacation time, but this extends my abilities to be anywhere and still working.

Why should I be tied to a physical location? My employer doesn’t think it’s necessary. I’m trusted and valued and that just makes me want to work harder for them. Good thinking on their part. Treat people like adults and trust them. Let people create their own schedules and trust them to choose the equipment that works best for them.

I’ve always said that you need the right tools to be really good. If you don’t have the right tools it just makes it that much harder.

Trust your workforce and they will do great things for you. I have freedom to work anywhere. I am a nomad of the work day. I am not a slave to casual Fridays.

Once this gets out, everyone will want to do it. That’s why I think Garrick’s right. Hello Starbuck’s!