I teleworked for a few years back in the '90s. I would share a couple of thoughts: 1. You have to have the disposition for it. For a coder, you have to be the kind of person who sits down at a computer and writes code, just because. If it would "require discipline" for you to work from a home office, telework may not be right for you. 2. If most of the team works in an office, full time telework for any member of the team is hard. Folks working together in an office develop a social dynamic. Folks who aren't there aren't a part of that dynamic. Teleworking is most likely to work out when most or all of the team teleworks, not just particular members. 2a. You can still telework two days a week and spend the other three in an office. But not Monday or Friday. Especially not Friday -- after the rest of the week working in the office, you just won't do it. Your brain will turn off if you try to work from home Friday after Thursday in the office. 3. Beware tracking hours. Try to select work which is goal and deadline based. Your supervisor won't see you in your seat; he can only judge your performance on what you actually accomplish. When I teleworked, I found myself taking breaks to mow the lawn, ride a bike on a nice day or tinker with a personal server. Tracking hours under such circumstances is almost impossibly hard. Measuring progress towards a goal is less so. -Bill -- William D. Herrin ................ herrin@dirtside.comĀ bill@herrin.us 3005 Crane Dr. ...................... Web: <http://bill.herrin.us/> Falls Church, VA 22042-3004
Beware the office with an Internet connection too: http://xkcd.com/862/ Don't forget to 'mouseover' the graphic. Joe William Herrin <bill@herrin.us> wrote on 12/05/2011 11:20:04 PM:
3. Beware tracking hours. Try to select work which is goal and deadline based. Your supervisor won't see you in your seat; he can only judge your performance on what you actually accomplish. When I teleworked, I found myself taking breaks to mow the lawn, ride a bike on a nice day or tinker with a personal server. Tracking hours under such circumstances is almost impossibly hard. Measuring progress towards a goal is less so.
participants (2)
-
Joe Loiacono
-
William Herrin