The Conversation

We’ve been watching (with great interest) as Michael and Aaron discuss of our recent post How Do You Do 80% of a Job? We love seeing this passion.

They are having what we sometimes call “The Conversation.” The Conversation often has nothing to do with the topic. The Conversation is all about processing the implications of ROWE. (It doesn’t even have to be adversarial. Sometimes The Conversation happens between two people who are both really into ROWE).

We’ve been dealing with this phenomenon from the beginning and still deal with it today. Someone asks us, “So what are you working on?” We take a deep breath and tell them about ROWE, knowing full well that we’re going to be talking about it for at least another twenty minutes. In the five years we’ve been working on this project, not once (not once!) has someone heard the line “People can do whatever they want, whenever they want, as long as the work gets done” and wanted to change the subject.

Are you interested in having a little fun with someone? Introduce the ROWE definition to someone who’s never heard it before. It doesn’t matter if you support ROWE or are skeptical. You can be completely neutral. Just float that definition out there and see what the reaction is.

If the person you’re talking with asks for more information, play it cool. Say, “I don’t know much more about it. There’s this new way of working where people get to do whatever they want, whenever they want, as long as the work gets done. What do you think?”

Then sit back and watch the gears start turning. Chances are you’ll have The Conversation. See how long it lasts and then tell us how it goes.

Posted in ROWE, The Conversation