Telework From the Manager's Perspective

I'm writing this from a coffee shop in Northern Virginia as I embark on a day of working outside the office, so I think it goes without saying that I'm a big fan of telework. But I also think Bill Bransford of the Senior Executives Association raises some important issues about the concept from the manager's perspective in his piece today on our site.

Often, managers' concerns about telework are dismissed as the fears of traditionalists who simply aren't comfortable managing folks they can't see in front of them. Indeed, at GovLoop, Jaime Gracia echoes those very concerns in a response to Bransford's piece. No doubt, there are many such managers. But I think others who are not stuck in their ways still have legitimate concerns.

As Bransford notes, the fact is, some employees are better than others at being available, flexible and productive as teleworkers when it comes to meeting agency missions. Agencies need to set clear expectations for telework so managers can enforce standards of accessibility and productivity.

Also, the value of face-to-face conversations in the workplace is very underrated in the telework debate. Often these quick discussions are the most efficient way to resolve problems quickly and keep projects moving. Conference calls can help, but can be a logistical challenge and lack the key face-to-face element. Until simple, inexpensive, ubiquitous Web-based videoconferencing becomes a reality, collaborating in teams of people in various locations will at times simply be an inefficient process.

Update, 10:03 a.m.: Just noticed that social media maven Lindy Kyzer offers this observation on managing remote workers in the federal context: "As someone who's spent some time in the federal government, ... the notion that it takes a government employee to be at home to waste their workday is quite funny to me. I've watched federal employees not work, take two-hour lunches and otherwise waste away their workday perfectly well in an office - and I wouldn't expect it to be any different when they were at home."