A remote work prerequisite — measuring output not presence

Peter du ToitI'm the founder of FutureWork IQ where I spend my time assisting businesses to design digital workplaces or “offices in the cloud.” These environments enable companies to allow flexible and remote working for their teams. I also teach the digital literacy, fluency, communication and collaboration skills needed to work in these modern technology-rich workplaces.

Smart leadership teams are quickly coming to realize that enabling flexible and remote working will give them a competitive advantage. However, you have to have develop a results-only work environment. Measuring output looks like this:

“Imagine rolling in to work at 2 p.m. on a Monday, after spending the morning with your family. Only a few of your team members are at their desks, and no one asks where you were or why you’re late. You get right to work, focusing intensely until 8 p.m., and then you leave the office. Tomorrow, you plan to join a colleague at a local library to finish the project you started today. Once you’ve met your deadline, you’ll be off for the rest of the week.”

(Source: Managing in a Results-Only Work Environment)