I have to say that lately, my staff and I are loving that we all work from home. We have nearly two dozen people who freelance for our company and they do so from the confines of their own homes. As I was watching the news this morning, I see that companies are starting to talk about possible four day work weeks to combat the high price of gas. Typically four 10 hour days that would replace the standard five 8 hour days. I felt suddenly blessed. With the flattening of the world, has come the ability to run a business virtually. Our company works from four time zones. We make our own schedules and no one has to spend a dime on gas to get to their job. Lucky indeed, as we watch those around us really getting hit hard by these current times.
Can some or all of your staff work from home? Consider the pain they are feeling at the pump and see if you might be able to solve some of that for them by trusting them to be accountable from home. Here are some considerations:
1. When you set up a freelance or retainer relationship, your freelancers typically work for a higher hourly rate, but in exchange, you can forgo payroll taxes, benefits and other overhead, including office space.
2. Freelancers who work from home are usually exceptionally motivated-they have to be to remain successful.
3. An environment of trust, when created appropriately, can motivate a freelancer to work more, not less, on the same retainer.
4. When the virtual system works, there is tremendous joy to be had by all who participate in the system because they have flexibility to put life first when needed, as long as they achieve the necessary results for the business.
5. Phone, email and computer software support has reached exceptional levels where brilliant work can be done without having to meet regularly face to face.
6. The money saved by the business can be put back to work hiring additional support or creating new solutions to customers' pains.
Leading is about creating solutions to problems, and this is a problem that is currently affecting everyone, and is not likely to go away soon. Step up and be part of the solution.
As the founder and CEO of Writers of the Round Table, Inc. and Writers of the Round Table Press, Corey coauthored Edge!
A Leadership Story
with Bea Fields, leadership expert for Ideamarketers. Corey works with successful men and women to realize their goal of pioneering a life-changing conversation through the creation of a book. Once people have reached a level of financial security, they begin thinking about their legacy and adding more meaning to the world. As business people they realize that they need to monetize their dream and we assist them in doing so organically. Corey and company take clients on a two to three year journey of transition where they actualize their dream through the production of a remarkable story-based book that introduces their important conversation to a massive audience. Then The Table guides them through the creation of a full branding, marketing and PR campaign around their message, utilizing their book to introduce them as a pioneer in the marketplace.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
