I've had various workplaces in the last month, four of them to be exact, although I've also worked in the field at clients' locations at meetings I guess so many more in reality.
I have an office at the company's business location, a home office and when I was in Brisbane on my business trip I worked from my hotel and the company's head office as well. I suppose these days that's not too difficult with laptop computers, cloud-based software and live-office portals making information accessible virtually anywhere provided the internet is available. it's worked ok for me so far.
When I took the job I was careful to determine the level of autonomy I'd have and am pleased to report that I'm virtually my own man as far as work goes. I have office meetings on Monday mornings and the same on Friday afternoons but other than that I can be wherever I like as long as I'm getting the job done. Sure, I could shirk my responsibilities but, besides that not being my way, it would show up later down the track when I failed to reach or exceed my (considerable) annual target budget.
Homework
I'm lucky to have fast internet at home, and whilst the internet here probably isn't as fast as parts of Europe or the States, it's well and truly enough for me and what I need to do personally, and for work.
I've fallen into the routine of waking up around seven, checking Hive messages, getting out of bed and having coffee and breakfast, usually a shake rather than actual food, and turning my work computer on around eight o'clock. I forego getting dressed and, because I've no need to drive to work, save even more time.
Between eight and nine I set up my day, determine the phone calls, emails and meetings I need to get done, clear up anything from the previous day (usually nothing is left over though) and then around nine I hit the phone until about eleven; a solid two hours. This involves trawling for new work, following up on leads from previous days, putting deals together and the back-end administration work, data entry to my CRM and emails to customers and internally in the company. From there it's break time, coffee and a snack, and I also use that time to get myself dressed. By eleven thirty I'm in the company car and on the way to make face to face calls.
I'm on the road until about four o'clock and either call into the office or go back home to clean up the administration work generated by the face to face meetings I've had. There's also some time spent setting up the following day, reviewing the current one and measuring performance from a personal perspective, how I went in the meetings over the day, and in respect of my KPI's. I've been finishing around five o'clock although over the last couple days it's been six o'clock or slightly later.
Productivity
Thinking on my effectiveness, I'd have to say I'm going well. I find I tend to work better in this way as there's less distractions. My home office is a comfortable place to be, quiet, well set up and the bonus of being totally comfortable means I feel better and that all adds up to increased productivity.
It would be easy to slack off, sure. I could watch TV, play with Cleo my cat, build Lego, go shooting, get onto Hive or a hundred other things but I'm not like that, it's not my character to compromise the trust placed in me. I earn well and they pay for results and it's results all my actions, during my working day and week, are aimed at.
I don't want to go into it here, but yesterday the State manager said a few words to me that made me feel my efforts were noticed, appreciated and respected. This made me happy because in the month I've been with the company I've endeavoured to show I'm a quality operator, trustworthy, responsible and with the ownership of my role (and self) to do what's required of me to the best of my ability. I'm putting deals away and they're happy with that, as I am, but equally importantly is the credit my actions are banking with the company and those around me, above and below.
So what's your work scenario? Do you go to a workplace or do you work from home or on the road? Are you more productive from home or the office? I believe I'd be productive no matter where I work and I think all have their merits and downsides although I'd have to say that the current situation is a good one for me personally and for the company as it's driving productivity and results. How about you?
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised so be humble and kind
Any images in this post are my own
I'm honestly more productive working from home because in the office I get interrupted a lot... whether it's people asking legit work questions or people just catching up, it still takes me out of what I was doing and then it takes me a little bit to get back into what I was doing. Working from home I can limit the distractions to actually finish what I start... which I'm sure isn't ideal for people who wanted an answer from me immediately, but often people have found the answer they need by the time I get back to them. I definitely think I'm more productive from my home office, even if the internet is terrible in comparison.
I agree completely of course, considering the text in the post. I like the interact with the team at work, and feel it's important, but I get twice as much done at home than I do in the office.
The State Manager is into crypto in a small way, more an interest than anything else, and also likes property. When he found I'm into crypto and spent the last twenty years being a licensed land agent more of the conversation turned towards that and other associated topics. I don't mind but it has been taking around an hour a day out of my time. So, working from home is better.
Ha! Yeah, it's definitely important to establish those bonds and relationships... it sounds like you and the State Manager have a ton in common, but I honestly used to lose half of every Monday talking sport. There is so much unproductivity in the office but it's so important to build relationships.
Office chats can be good, but it tends to leave me behind schedule. I like my balance at the moment, mostly hike, or seeing clients, and a little at the office. They buy everyone lunch on Friday so that's always a good day to be there. 😊
I was 21 when I got my first job. My performance was based on the performance of my colleagues. Usually, they wanted to do just enough. Avoid any excessive work.
I didn't understand this at that time but now I know why we all felt so insecure in our jobs.
We were working for the paycheck. Not to provide any value to the company or to build our skills.
Then, in 2017, I started a business with one of my friends. He had an insane work ethic. I could never keep up.
We employed a few people. And then I understood how you should do your job. Learn. Deliver more value. And you will never have to worry about employment opportunities.
Good employees are very hard to find and keep.
Now, I usually work on my own. Earn a little less but I have more time to develop skills. I am doing okay.
What I learned is if you run a business, and work with people who have good work ethics, you can survive anywhere— corporate jobs, freelance work, online business or work from home. It's all about ingraining those work ethics in yourself. 🙂
Work ethic is a huge factor in performance; ones own work ethic and others also. But it not just about that when it comes to running a tramm that's where leadership becomes into play and I've been doing a few posts on it over the last month.
Empowering the team to achieve as individuals and collectively will help drive productivity through them having the right attitude towards the work, each other, the company and customers (internal and external).
You mention value and in business there are many layers, all of which need to be delivered for maximum productivity to be achieved. The disappointing thing for many workplaces is that management (managers) sometimes fail to understand that the staff/team are their most valuable asset.
Nice comment, thanks.
Hi !
I told before that I am working at home and have been for a little over 2 years. I wanted to work at home for a long time and since we had gone paperless a number of years back, it didn't seem to be any reason not too.
Before, I had a 40 minute drive each day to and then back from work in the worst traffic of the day. I got up at 6 am and left at 6:50 to get to work early, because you never knew when some traffic snafu would hold you up and not only that, the building I worked in was so big that the parking lot had to be huge too and if you got there much later you would have to park out in the boondocks and then walk a country mile to get in. LOL... ok... that may have been a little exaggerated, but only smidge... I swear.
I worked halfway down a giant rectangle, open floored building that had lots of windows, but I did not sit next to one and the bathroom was FAR away from where I sat, so was the breakroom and etc. Ugh.... right ?
Now I don't get up till 7. I mostly wear colorful loungers to work in. So loose and comfy ! I brush my hair, but that's all unless it is warm and I twist it around and put it up with a clip. No hot curlers every morning ! I don't have to pack a lunch the night before or in the morning, because I can have whatever is in my kitchen for lunch or snacks. I don't have to buy more clothes a couple of times a year. I can go to my desk less than 10 minutes before I need to sign in for the day and to the right of my desk is a window that looks out into my backyard. I can see the clear blue skies with fluffy white clouds on sunny days and the tops of the trees swaying when it is blustery or stormy.
Then when my work day is over, I log off and I am already here. NO 40 minute or more drive... buy gas once every three weeks or so....
It's wonderful !
Yes indeed, you describe a shitty situation and then a good one, or at least, a good one for a work situation, because not working would be better.
I've not much to add really, I agree completely, only...I'll admit that if I'm not going out not much time goes into my appearance! 🤣
I'm sitting at a cafe at 4:40pm Friday night, writing this. After a few Hive comments in off home after a brief 4 hour stint at the office. It's the weekend, so I hope you have a good one.
Am currently on a hybrid arrangement - 3 days in office and 2 days at home. Similar to you, I think there's not much difference in productivity. For me, the biggest difference is the commuting time, which adds up to 1.5 hours to and fro.
After working from home for most parts of the past 2 years, I actually feel that I could have better spent these 1.5 hours on the train, either getting more sleep or even working later to complete more projects.
The commute time is a waste of time in my opinion. I use it to listen to podcasts or make calls, but even then it's not that productive. As it is now I get right to work and that makes my work day more effective. I can have a cuddle with Cleo, my cat, now and then also which makes me feel good which drives productivity even more. I suppose the work from home thing is one good thing that's come from the pandemic.
Yeah agree!
I'm working abroad and every day is a productive day that's why I don't have much time to interact online, but still finding ways to have some and write an article. From 6 in the morning to 11-11:30 at night. Continuous hustles.. Online work after offline work.. Sometimes it's exhausting. But no choice but to continue grinding 😅
I wish someday I can just work at home and have time and freedom...
I wonder though if you have a family? I mean, wife and kids. Seems like you only mentioned your cat there 😅
Oh jeez, that's long hours! I used to have to work like that sometimes, a long while back, but thankfully not anymore. I like to find a better balance these days as my life is more than just work.
I don't have kids, but yes, there is someone else in my life. She actually writes on Hive from time to time.
A very ling tiring hours. My holiday is my only break. What's her name so I can follow het too 😁
Hmm, she prefers to remain disassociated from me, anonymous. Maybe you already follow her though, or will come across her at some stage in the future.
Mysterious lady.. Hehe
Nah, just cautious.
Sounds like you got a nice little setup going :) J is the same, he finds he's a hell of a lot more productive at home rather than in the office and work has noticed it too.
And when you're doing the at home bit there is always time for Cleo snuggles (her curling up on your lap or somewhere around your computer counts XD).
Even now when he's constantly being attacked by a puppy XD
Cleo snuggles make for a very nice feeling and that brings productivity. Saving commute time and office-based chats and distractions makes for a more focused day. I still have to go and see clients but I like that part as it breaks up the day. I've got a decent system going and am content.
Io adoro lavorare a casa, mi permette di seguire molte più cose e poi così riesco a godermi la mia famiglia
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I agree, it brings some flexibility and better overall feelings which means greater productivity, for me at least.
È vero hai ragione!
Un forte abbraccio amico mio
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I go to workplaces. Two part time jobs. One packaging job, one cleaning job. The first is in the morning, the second is in the afternoon. I do not work from home, nor from the road, so I am productive only on my workplace.
Two part wines jobs probably brings some diversity and interest I guess. I know someone who makes a very good living working three jobs; own part time business and two part time jobs. She makes a lot of money and is kept engaged and interested.