Mobilize Your Workforce

Getting employees out of the cubical and into the world is proving to be an effective way to lower costs, increase productivity and increase an employee's job satisfaction - so why are we so slow to embrace the new business model of the "Virtual Office"?

I think there are two big barriers to businesses embracing this model:

First, it requires an entirely different management style.  A style that is comfortable with loose reigns on employees and more concerned with performance management than time management.  For some organizations, this is simply not possible.  For many though, the barriers are simply in thinking and avoidance to change.

The second barrier to embracing this type of work environment is technology.  The technology to provide anytime/anywhere access to all of the data and communications a "virtual" worker would need is available and proven. However, it takes a deeper level of commitment to embracing such technology and to committing the resources to make it work.   

In the past decade the world has sped up. Now, your Facebook page is almost as important as your sales brochures and if you aren't in constant contact with your customers, you can be sure your competitors will be.