Five years ago, businesses were starting to
talk about e-strategy, and not just about whether they should allow staff to
access Facebook. Now an e-strategy is
becoming an essential.
While businesses are grappling with
productivity levels, a difficult economy and the expectations of employees, the
question remains whether we are achieving balance between people, processes and
technology.
The rise of the mobile office and the
mobile professional is part of this.
Visit any local coffee shop that offers free wifi, and there will be people
working on laptops and mobile devices, holding meetings and conducting
business. I do wonder whether it makes
sense for the coffee shops, as they sit at choice tables, order lots of coffee,
and very little else..
As many South African entities, both companies
and individuals, are active in the global economy, the traditional business
discipline of ‘supply and demand’ compels companies to virtually remain open
for business, 24/7. Not the coffee
shops, though, so the coffee shop professionals must have an evening
alternative.
There really is no easy escape from
the ‘always-on’ scenario and the impact
is shared by the employer and employee. People need down time, and without it an increase in sick leave, absenteeism, a drop in productivity, impact on
general focus and core operations, as well as higher staff turnover rates can be the result.
All these factors have an influence on levels
of achievement and efficiency.
Laptops, tablets and smart phones have
promoted a situation in which people are, to a greater or lesser extent,
constantly connected to the job, even when at leisure, but also constantly
connected to family and the outside world, when working.
No surprise that work / life balance is
constantly on the table for discussion.
It is also true that many people are scared
to have the conversation, as they are worried their level of commitment to
their jobs will be questioned, which could impact on career path. But it does need to be discussed. I am starting to feel that busyness is the
new black. We compete as to how busy we
are, almost as if our level of importance is tied to not having enough time to
just chill.
There is no question that home encroaches
on work, and work encroaches on home.
It does come down to discipline, and sometimes just to old fashioned
good manners. Not Now works. Tell work or family that you can listen for
a moment because you are in a meeting or with a friend, and commit to a call
back time. If that’s not possible,
excuse yourself, manage the situation and then return.
Mobile professionals need to be disciplined
around time management. There should be
a policy in place to serve as a guide in terms of availability and
connectivity. The new technology coming in is allowing more and more flexibility. At +Accsys, our new PeopleWare Mobi allows both management and staff to handle leave applications and approvals, time management and payslip viewing from your smart phone. It comes down to using the power of mobile to integrate your work and personal life effectively, and yes, sometimes in a coffee shop.
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