ROWE epiphanies

[banzai]

Finished Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It* (intro and chapter one available for free download) on the way home from Iowa earlier this week, which helped slide a lot of things into place in my current view of what I want work to look like in the context of my life. Anyone who's friends with me on Facebook knows that I've been mildly obsessed with

Comments

[unblinkable]

The biggest downfall I see of this system (if I'm understanding it correctly), is the weakened relationships that it can bring about. Or, if you're new to a job site, the lack of being able to feel connected at all. And that lack of connectedness can lead to issues in communication later. You don't know what Susie meant by that e-mail because you're not with Susie enough to know her intent behind words. It takes a relationship to comprehend that. So, I think there's got to be balance. Freelancing is great when you want to devote your time to various things (including family)... but we have to be careful spreading that concept across the board. Sometimes, an office structure helps bring stability.

[banzai]

You should read the book-that objection is common and well-addressed. You'd probably enjoy it, too

[banzai]

Oh, another thing on this (a little separate, plus I just though of it): being in and working for a church puts a further spin on this potential problem and its solution. If the gospel informs our relationships with one another and places our security in Christ, we are less likely to have the kind of mistrust of others' intent that can lead to hard feelings if a person isn't with us all the time (and we know that's no antidote, either!). On the front end, we have the responsibility to exercise discipline over our own thoughts and judgments of others. On the back end, we may still make mistakes (either interpersonally or just plain functionally), but we have the grace to ask for and give forgiveness

[unblinkable]

I think I want to read the book.

[banzai]

I think you'd enjoy it-I'll bet your business runs on many of these principles anyway, but it's also interesting to think about how much it might help on a societal level to ditch some of this old stuff that no longer applies. It's fascinating how much our judgments in and about work are based on time ("I'm so busy!" "Must be nice to come in late!") and location ("She's dedicated because she's always at the office." "He's a slacker-I never see him at his desk.") rather than actual results. There's a huge shift happening, and it'd be great to make the most of it.