Where is your favorite place to work
I recently watched a presentation by Jason Fried on why work does not get done in the office (http://www.ted.com/talks/jason_fried_why_work_doesn_t_happen_at_work.html). While I don't agree with his proposed solution, and think he over-simplified a complex problem, I was wondering what people here would say when asked where they prefer to work.
Clarification added December 29, 2010:
This question was originally posed on my site at http://blog.optimalupgrades.ca/2010/12/question-favorite-place-to-get-work-done/ and is to be the subject of an upcoming article.
Answers (18)
Dave M.
Professional trade show booth traffic builder and party entertainer. Corporate and private sector events.
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As I perform at events at a different location each time... anywhere I perfom is a favorite place to work...
Minting W.
A business analyst focused on gathering business requirements and software implementation.
I like to work in any environment where distracts from various sources are minimized. I think that is one key reason as to why things are not done in the office.
Another issue is that people tend to do their best work when they are in the right mood. Some people like to work in environments which stimulate their imagination, and some people may prefer places that are quiet and allow them to think in a clear and focused manner.
Any environment which encourages people to work at their optimal emotional level is also something I would highly desire. I believe this is why offices at Pixar and Google are very off-beat and highly decorative.
Madrixo L.
Graphic Design Professional and Software Developer.
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Home, at my own workstation. Or in transport when traveling.
I adapt quickly, so it's not problem for me where I'll work.
Daniel K.
Executive Vice President / Controller at Shuter Industry Co., Ltd
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Hollywood
Heidi T.
Editor at Wordsmith Pros
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I have optimum times. The time of day and quality of light are as important as physical location.
Judi B.
Your printing & promotional product partner, recognition & award advisor and party supply resource!
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It depends somewhat on what work I am doing. Tonite I'm in my living room with my netbook updating some online listings for our business. I'm watching TV, chatting with my husband and getting postings updated.
I do all my bookeeping work in my home office, at my desk, with the TV on in the background.
When I'm at our store I set up my work station in the room we set aside for wedding invitations. I find it to be a quiet place and I feel more creative when I'm there.
Wallace J.
Multimedia Producer, i3D Programmer, Acrobat 3D PDF, Android App, Virtual World & iTV Design, Kindle, Nook & Sony eBooks
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In the Production Studio.
Dan S.
Field Technical Support Rep IV − LTE at
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At a job that pays regularly?
The whole concept does not much apply to me. I'm a Computer Support Tech. I get PAID to be Interrupted. When people say "I'm sorry to interrupt you", my reply is, you are not interrupting ME, I get PAID to help YOU.
For the projects that require more concentration, I go in early or work at home where I can sit back in my Comfy Chair, with my feet on the heater and kick back and type away (much like I'm doing now).
Dan
John James O.
Intellectual Capital & Knowledge Resource Management
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Depends on the kind of work I am doing, but generally I prefer to have a "buzz" around me and like working in coffee shops if I am researching or writing. If doing design work, I typically set up a table in a covered patio area and like working outside in sight of the garden. I always put in a couple of hours if flying 4+ and find that is very productive. I like working least in a traditional office setting (despite that over my career I have had some very nice offices). In such a setting, I tend to leave my desk and do reading on the couch or writing at the meeting table - at my desk, everything is subsumed into the computer in ways I do not like. Again, laptop at the coffee shop is best for me.
Prashant M.
Solution Architect at The Tata Power Company Ltd., Strategic Electronics Division
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I feel that people working from home truly like the work, they are humble, they are liked by the customers and are more dedicated to company's mission and customers than some of the office going types. Studies show that telecommuting has an overall beneficial effect because the arrangement provides employees with more control over how they do their work and they report more job satisfaction, less motivation to leave the company, less stress, improved work-family balance, and higher performance ratings. A close alternative to home working is mobile office.
Telecommuting or working from home is increasingly becoming an ideal (for both employee and the employer) as it has a number of benefits for business, such as:
- improved retention of employees, eg home working can help retain working parents with childcare responsibilities
- a wider pool of applicants from which to recruit, eg disabled people who may prefer to work from home
- possible productivity gains through staff having fewer interruptions and less commuting time
- increased staff motivation with reduced stress and sickness levels
- savings on office space and other facilities; lots of tax advantages where we can make claims on utility costs and office equipment.
- possible location of sales staff near clients rather than being based in our premises
- no stinky bus or car commute, more sleep, no rushing off to work, no boss looking over our shoulder.
- no office politics and distractions to make us less efficient in our work
- greater flexibility in our working hours making us incharge of our work day.
- if our work is primarily computer-based and not reliant on non-movable equipment then working from home is a preferred option.
For some people the reasons for deciding home as a conducive working place is because of:
- For achieving a deep level of concentration at home it can be one of the places.
- For carrying market research, creating thesis or report creation or other desktop jobs where long hours of single sittings (running late into nights) are required.
- If we find it difficult to balance our life with the time required to commute to and from work and balancing it with kids and senior citizens at home that need caring, then a work at home job is just right for us.
- in addition to getting work done whenever we want, we can also do our work wherever we want.
Disadvantages:-
Isolation. If we are a person who loves everyday social contact with other people and enjoy working as a close knit team, then working from home may not interest us.When we work from home, we don't have colleagues or coworkers to share
professional ideas and gossip.
Overcoming isolation: We can overcome Isolation by
- scheduling regular business lunches, walks, or tennis games.
- schedule one or two days a week in-office.
- attending trade shows and conferences tend to help we in getting ideas and becoming innovative in what we do.
- making it a point to maintain constant relationships with both our online and offline contacts.
- splitting time between home and the workplace is the most productive solution.
Lack of supervision. Young people need the structure of the boss or coworkers around, or they get tempted by the TV, chores around the house. Other associated risks are :-
- risk of information-security problems
- risk of being duped by fraudulent online services.
Overcoming lack of supervision:
- setting weekly goals, and be accountable to our boss for them.
- being brutally honest about what we have and have not achieved.
- If work is not progressing satisfactorily from home consider going to the office to complete it.
Friends & family. When they know we're working from home, they're more likely to call or drop in.
Overcoming friends & family.
- being firm with kids or partner unless there is fire, we're not to be interrupted.
- meeting our friends for lunch or walks only during our scheduled break tim
Kenneth L.
Retired Aerospace Contracts Manager, MicroMentor Volunteer and Founder "Smalltofeds"
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I pack 5G of storage on flash drives in my wallet and work on around 11 different computers from the public library to client locations, coffee shops and meeting places each day.
Someone else has to worry about the hardware that way and the SCORE server farm maintains all my case records.
I have budgeted about $9 for a backup flash drive. Google charges me $10 a year for the web site domain where I maintain my books, articles and reference materials for clients. Box Net and Linked In are free web-based repositories.
Total projected expenditure for 2011, serving a projected 1200 clients based on my history the last 6 years and publishing a new book - under $30. Could not be simpler and I am awaiting the cloud.
Links:
Lynne B.
Virtual Legal Assistant with over 25 years experience
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In my home office in peace and quiet, although Fang, my office manager (woof) snores sometimes :)
Working from home affords the utmost productivity and flexibility for a great work/life balance. I can work actually in the office during the daytime, use a laptop in front of tv in the evening or take a nap after supper and work far into the night. I can also work weekends depending on my workload. I know, I'm weird, but working in this way 7 days a week I can fit in my personal life around it and achieve a great work/life balance.
Bhalchandra P.
Brand Advisor, Branding Consultant, Marketeer right till the bone. Now!!! Tempting Brand Owners by SCENT....
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Would love to be paid for going to Disneyland.
Chris B.
Business Operations and Business Change Management Professional
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Ideally, on the beach in the sunshine with a cold beer. Realistically, in my home surrounded by inspiration.
Kimmo L.
Copywriter & Marketing Communicator who can help transition your B2B marketing from bragging ('we') to helping ('you').
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After a career in ad agencies, I went freelance in 1996. Apart from a short time in a rented workroom, I've been working from home ever since. Never regretted.
Okay, if you're a person who needs constant contact with other people, working solo might not be the ideal in that respect. For me, it works just fine.
As long as I get the work done on schedule, there are no limitations on how I arrange my life. 99 percent of my work comes in and goes out through email. My wellbeing doesn't depend on face-to-face contacts – I'm perfectly satisfied with what the internet offers in the way of staying in touch.
So, back to your question: my home office. Wouldn't have it any other way.
Cristina F.
Technical Translations - Pharmaceutical Consultant - Lawyer -Chief Science Officer- I Do It- Creative Problem Solver
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I like where I work. I don’t like the distance from my home, but, on a daily basis, I only need three steps to go to my place of work, I go home (my home there, not my real home) if I need, at any moment, I have lunch seated in my kitchen, I enjoy a nice “siesta”, there are no transports, no rush, I walk everywhere, and there is no stress at all.
My favourite place top work is my shed please see link for a article re this:I like the fact that my shed feels like home away from home, especially on the Saturday mornings when my daughter and I go down there and watch BBC iplayer while we wait for dearest hubby to bring us eggs with soldiers and orange juice. It’s the nearest we get to a hotel with room service.
"I love shedworking because it allows me the space to think and be creative and it’s my space that people only enter when invited. I can keep it as tidy or untidy as I wish and leave confidential papers in it. It is also good to separate my work from home so when I go there I switch off from home and when I leave I can get on with home life. It makes me more focused. I found that with studying and also having to keep a lot of paperwork as a Toastmaster I needed more room. My husband and daughter are very good at conversation and this can
