GigaOM » Collaboration

Do you need to break out of the office in 2012?

Jessica Stillman — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:00:13 +0000

Remote collaboration tools and constant connectivity promise to unleash us from the confines of the cubicle farms where many have spent so many years churning out good work despite often miserable decor. But despite the best laptops available, a host of promising new communication tools and even the rise of the co-working movement, if you’re perfectly honest, you probably have to admit most of us still spend much of our days in what is recognizably a pretty drab office.

And that, according to a recent post by former Harvard Business School professor and partner in FutureWork Forum Jim Ware on the WorkSnug blog, isn’t just bad interior decorating, but may also be bad psychology. He writes:

I, like most “knowledge workers” spend almost all my work time in a fairly traditional office environment – four walls, a desk, some filing cabinets, and shelves full of books. Sure, there might be a family photo or two on the wall, and maybe a picture drawn by a child, but the fact is that no matter what I am trying to accomplish on a given day, the place where I am is almost always the same (yes, I usually hold team meetings in a conference room, and sometimes I even have a meaningful “meeting” in a cafeteria or a coffee shop, but let’s face it, most of the time I use the same place to read, write, analyze, list, sort, file, talk on the phone, and even meet with colleagues – at least when I’m not on airplane or in some drab hotel room far from home).

What if I had lots of places to choose among, and could move from one to another as I moved from one task to another? My instinct tells me I’d be a lot more creative in some kinds of places (rooms filled with art work, or with outdoor photos or large windows – or literally outdoor places), more analytic in others (a library, or a bare-bones office?), and thoughtful and reflective in yet another place (a church? a mountain retreat? a sailboat? a café?).

The interesting post, which is well worth a read, detours into office design before concluding with a question for reflection for all of us knowledge workers with the technical capacity to roam far and wide but work habits that hold us back from taking full advantage of that freedom: “When there are so many different kinds of knowledge work, why do we so often try to do it all in one kind of place?” As 2011 draws to a close, it’s an interesting New Year’s thought to ponder and perhaps spur improvements in our work style in the coming year.

Are you stuck in a rut when it comes to where you do your work? Could shaking things up and getting out of your usual spaces improve your productivity?

Image courtesy of Flickr user mark sebastian.

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

Relocating Web Worker? Here's What You Need to Consider

Darrell Etherington — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:00:32 +0000

I’m not a big fan of moving, but I tend to do it a lot. Once a year is a rare treat, and generally it’s much more frequent than that. And I’m not dashing off in the middle of the night, in case that’s what you think of me. I just grow restless, require a change, and move on. Usually, I’m lucky if I stay in the same city, but Toronto seems so have a little more lasting appeal. Now, I don’t want to claim that this is symptomatic of web working, but it has gotten worse since I started working from home.

Since I’m preparing for a move once again, and I’ve actually become much more aware of what it is I do and do not like about the places I’ve called my home office in the past, I thought I’d share a few tips for what to look for if you’re searching for a better space to work.

Location, Location, Location?

Is location important to web workers? Even just looking at the roll call of contributors to this site, we’re a far-flung bunch. Living in such varied circumstance, it hardly seems to matter where we decide to put up. But you will want to avoid just going for the cheapest possible area for a number of reasons, including some important professional ones.

Maybe the best reason to stay relatively close to the beaten path is cost and availability of good connectivity. The further away from densely populated areas you get, the costlier it becomes to stay online, which, if you’re web working, is very important. Of course, the decreased cost of rent and other things might offset the connectivity costs, so you can strike a balance.

You also should consider the cost of, and ease of access to, travel. If you plan on attending conferences and trade shows, or regularly need to travel to meet with clients, being in or close to a major hub might be worthwhile. Personally, I just like urban living, so I’m willing to accept the higher cost of living. Sometimes it just comes down to personal preference. You can’t maximize your productivity if you’re not happy where you are.

The Space Itself

Once you’ve picked a place, it’s time to get more specific. Choosing a house or condo, amenities, extras, space, etc. Of course, budget is likely your limiting factor, but you probably still have plenty of choices within your price range. What you decide on might have to do with the nature of your work, but it might also depend on your work habits and routine.

Determine whether you’ll be working mostly from home or whether you’ll be out and about a lot. Remember that if you’re a full-time web worker, your office is also your home, and as such the lines are blurred between your professional and your personal lives. You may want to opt for a living solution that provides at least some distinction between work space and leisure/living space, as I do, or you might feel that you can accomplish more with the two conjoined. Again, it comes down to personal preference. Either way, you’re going to want to make sure you have a working space that is comfortable, light and pleasant to work in.

Everything Else

Those are the major considerations for me when I consider relocating, but that’s not all I think about. There are other things, like proximity to family and friends, entertainment and cultural activities available in the area, etc. They might not seem like they’re relevant to your professional life at the time, but when you can’t “leave it at the office” as easily as someone in a traditional workplace, they all become crucial to your working well-being.

What factors do you consider when relocating?

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

Web Work 101: Where to Work?

Scott Blitstein — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:10:46 +0000

As web workers, we like to feel that we can sit down just about anywhere and be connected and productive. Armed with our laptops and Wi-Fi, or mobile broadband, that is usually the case.

But just because we can work anywhere, doesn’t mean that we should. Our work environment is a critical part of our work process and can have tremendous influence on our productivity.

So what are our options?

Home: It’s no surprise that many web workers set up their work spaces at home. With a spare room or out of the way corner, you can be up and running with minimal cost and effort.

However, many of the benefits of a work at home environment are also potential drawbacks. Being close to family is great but they can also be a distraction. And while I would love the zero mile commute, maintaining a work-life balance can be a real issue for some.

There can also be privacy concerns when your home address or phone number is also used as a business location. PO boxes or mail stops can assist with the physical mail, and many folks use their mobile as a business line. Using a virtual phone service like GrandCentral or PhoneFusion can help keep your home line clear, as well as presenting a more professional appearance.

Hot-Spots: If you have ever walked in to a Panera or Starbucks, or a local coffee shop or cafe that offers free Wi-Fi, you’ve seen the scores of folks set up with their laptops diligently tapping away.

Working in a public spot like this certainly offers its advantages. The availability of Wi-Fi makes access to work easy, and we all know that caffeine fuels the web worker. Also, there is a feeling of community that can develop and the presence of other folks around can ease the sense of isolation that can be an issue for solo workers.

While I think hot-spots can serve as great meeting places, it would be a challenge for me as a full time work location. Making and receiving calls can be difficult, and sometimes power availability can be a big issue.

Also, rules for purchasing requirements and time limits can vary widely by location, and the costs of a daily coffee / bagel can add up quickly.

If you do utilize the space and services of a local establishment, be sure to also support them with your purchases.

Traditional Office: Many web workers do work in traditional office environments or set up shop by renting local office space. I found a nice space in the downtown area of my village that is quite affordable and gives me a conveniently-located space to work and hold meetings.

I appreciate never having to worry about finding a comfortable chair or a power outlet. I like maintaining control of my own Internet connection, and I don’t know how I would function without my whiteboard. Having a distinct work space, located out of the home, also makes that end of day transition much easier.

There are additional costs like insurance that can come along with a rented space but it is a good option for those that want to have a distinct work environment or a physical presence in your community.

Coworking: We’ve written a lot about coworking here on WebWorkerDaily and it is an exciting trend for the solo web worker. A good coworking facility can offer a lot of the benefits of a coffee-shop or cafe, while also providing some traditional office luxuries like whiteboards or meeting rooms. It is an emerging trend, though, and finding a good space can be difficult, especially in smaller suburban or remote areas.

When you’ve decided where you’re going to work from, it’s important to remember that the title of “web worker” is given to those who use the web to work productively and efficiently, no matter where you set up.

Where do you work?

(photo via Matthew Bowden)

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

Location Based Job Searching on Your iPhone With JobCompass

Judi Sohn — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:38:09 +0000

JobCompass is a new application on the iPhone that allows you to search through millions of jobs, locating and plotting them on a map in relation to your current position. It pulls vacancy information in real time, so new listings appear on a regular basis.

After pinpointing your location, JobCompass allows you to search for jobs by keyword, specifying the range from your current location which interests you (5, 10, 25, 50 or 100 mile radius). After finding a position which you seem well suited for, it’s simple to send an email to yourself with a link to the job description or, for those with quick fingers and enough patience, to open the listing in Safari and apply for the job straight away.

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.