working remotely and doing it right

Working RemotelyAnd Doing It Right

scottstroz

SectionIntroduction

1

scottstroz

scott@boyzoid.com

About Me

• Software developer/architect for

Booz Allen Hamilton

• Working remotely for over a

decade

• Full time for over 8 years

• Avid, but not very good, golfer.

• Proud parent of these 2 guys →

Obligatory ‘I ♥ me’ Slide

“I appreciate that the glass is half-full, but, would enjoy it so much more were it not half-empty”

scottstroz

scott@boyzoid.com

What will we cover?

Working RemotelyAnd Doing it Right

• What do we mean by ‘remotely’?

• Pros/Cons of working remotely

• For you and your employer

• ‘Building’ your home office

•What you need to get started

• Keys to success

• How to talk to your boss

SectionWhat do we mean?

2

scottstroz

scott@boyzoid.com

Shared Space

Cafe

Home

What do we mean by ‘remotely’?

Working RemotelyAnd Doing it Right

Even here…

scottstroz

scott@boyzoid.com

What do we mean by ‘remotely’?

Working RemotelyAnd Doing it Right

Basically, anywhere but here…….

SectionPros & Cons

(real & perceived)

3

scottstroz

scott@boyzoid.com

• Can lure talent from anywhere

• Increased productivity

• Better work-life balance

• Lower costs

• Office space

• Relocation

• Employee retention

• Fewer missed days

Pros For The Employer

Working RemotelyAnd Doing it Right

“Salad isn't food; it's what food eats.”

scottstroz

scott@boyzoid.com

• Increased infrastructure costs

• One-time technology cost per teleworker

• Lack of social interaction

• Disconnected from company

• Employees are not really working

Cons For The Employer

Working RemotelyAnd Doing it Right

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is all you need.”

scottstroz

scott@boyzoid.com

• Save money

• Gas & Tolls

• Wear & Tear on vehicle

• Auto Insurance

• Tax breaks

• Greater productivity

• Fewer interruptions

• More flexibility

• Better work-life balance

• Less exposure to those who are sick

• Lower stress

Pros For The Employee

Working RemotelyAnd Doing it Right

“Anyone who says money can't buy you happiness, obviously does not know where to shop.”

scottstroz

scott@boyzoid.com

“Maybe money cannot buy happiness, but, it can buy bacon, and that is pretty much the same thing.”

Cons For The Employee

Working RemotelyAnd Doing it Right

scottstroz

scott@boyzoid.com

• Feeling disconnected from team

• Boundaries between work and home get blurred

• Need strong dedication and discipline

• Not just from the employee

• Need to develop a routine

• Can become a hermit

Cons For The Employee

Working RemotelyAnd Doing it Right

“Unlike the post man, opportunity rarely, if ever, rings twice.”

SectionGetting Started

4

scottstroz

scott@boyzoid.com

• You need dedication

• From everyone in the household

• You need discipline

• Successfully working remotely is not easy

• You need a plan

• For everything from power outages to Internet disruption to personal emergencies

First and foremost….

Working RemotelyAnd Doing it Right

scottstroz

scott@boyzoid.com

• Your family, roommates,

etc. need to understand

you are actually working.

• Communicate effectively

with those in the

household

• Set up barriers or cues to

when it is imperative you

NOT be disturbed.

Dedication

Working RemotelyAnd Doing it Right

“Common sense, like common courtesy, is, unfortunately, not all that common”

scottstroz

scott@boyzoid.com

• Inconsistency is the greatest enemy of

discipline

• Work ‘regular’ hours

• Avoid temptations and distractions

• Deviate from routine only when

necessary

Discipline

Working RemotelyAnd Doing it Right

scottstroz

scott@boyzoid.com

• Have a contingency plan for everything

• Power outages

• Internet outages

• System failure

• Backups

• Have a general plan for your week

• Update as necessary

• Have a specific plan for your day

• Touch base daily

• Daily scrum works great

Planning

Working RemotelyAnd Doing it Right

“To hell with hindsight and its perfect vision.”

scottstroz

scott@boyzoid.com

Desk should have

enough room for you

to work comfortably.

Be careful, too big of a

desk may attract

clutter.

Desk

Chair should be

comfortable, but also

durable. Don’t buy

one until you have

tried it.

Chair

You need a reliable

way to communicate.

If using mobile phone

as primary, make sure

you have good

coverage.

Phone

Kind of hard to do

development work

anywhere without a

computer. Make sure

you have off site

backup.

Computer

Getting startedThe Basics

scottstroz

scott@boyzoid.com

• Reliable, high speed Internet connection

• Dedicated space – big enough for you to work

• Windows are a plus!

• UPS for network equipment

• Alternate site

• Make sure you know their hours of operation

Other things you will need/want

Working RemotelyAnd Doing it Right

scottstroz

scott@boyzoid.com

• Other communication tools

• IM, Email, Video conferencing, alternate phone

• Backups

• External hard drives

• Offsite services

• Version Control

• Headphones

Other things you will need/want

Working RemotelyAnd Doing it Right

scottstroz

scott@boyzoid.com

“If necessity is the mother of invention, laziness it its drunk step father.”

The single most important thing

you will need

Working RemotelyAnd Doing it Right

Makes sure it has a lock!

SectionKeys to success

5

scottstroz

scott@boyzoid.com

• Set and enforce boundaries/rules

• Wake/start work as consistent time

• GET DRESSED!!!

• Communicate with boss/client on regular basis

• Daily ‘scrum’ works great

• Take regular breaks

• Start/maintain after work activities

• Learn how to ‘turn off’ work

Get into a routine

Working RemotelyAnd Doing it Right

“Men think in 8-bit color, women think in 32-bit color.”

scottstroz

scott@boyzoid.com

• Make sure you communicate

effectively and consistently.

• If there is an issue/emergency, let

your boss/client know as soon as

possible.

• Notify boss/client when you will be

away from your desk.

• Regular face to face time

• Even if over video chat

Maintain Communication

Working RemotelyAnd Doing it Right

“We have the right to 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness', not 'life, liberty and happiness'. You need to work for the happiness, it should not be given to you.”

scottstroz

scott@boyzoid.com

• Don’t deviate from routine unless absolutely necessary

• Inconsistent start/end times

• Too much ‘away from keys’ time

• Long lunches

• Working in PJs

• Go outside!!!

Avoid bad habits

Working RemotelyAnd Doing it Right

“Beer is like the blue jeans of the beverage world. It goes well with everything.”

scottstroz

scott@boyzoid.com

• Meet Deadlines & complete tasks

• Manage expectations as work

progresses

• Be on time for meetings

• And be dressed if video meeting

• Answer phone/IM/Email in timely

fashion

• Be proactive

• Maintain clean work area

Be Responsible

Working RemotelyAnd Doing it Right

“Sometimes it does take a village to raise a child, but, unfortunately, that means the village idiot gets to take part.”

SectionTalking to your boss

6

scottstroz

scott@boyzoid.com

• Discuss the advantages to the company/project first

• Use ‘us’ and ‘we’ rather than ‘I’ and ‘me’

• Suggest a ‘trial’ of maybe one day a week for a few months

• With possibility of expanding

• Have your plans ready to discuss

Start With the ‘Pros’

Working RemotelyAnd Doing it Right

“Sometimes, the first step in turning and enemy into an ally is to stop treating them

like an enemy.”

scottstroz

scott@boyzoid.com

• They will come up – talk about them

• Discuss about how your plans can mitigate them

• Show your contingency plans for

Internet/Power/communication disruption

Don’t Ignore the ‘Cons’

Working RemotelyAnd Doing it Right

“If you gave some people $25,000 in small, unmarked, non-sequential bills, in a greasy paper bag, they would complain about the bag.”

scottstroz

scott@boyzoid.com

• Follow your plan exactly

• At least initially

• Meet deadlines

• Be on time for meetings

• Work your butt off

• You may need to over-produce to shed stereotype of ‘working from home’

• Don’t ruin it for everyone else

Work the Plan

Working RemotelyAnd Doing it Right

“Bacon is so good, some vegans do not even consider it meat.”

scottstroz

scott@boyzoid.com

The best thing about working ‘remotely’…..

Lastly….

Working RemotelyAnd Doing it Right

thank you