ROWE Slide Show!
June 23rd, 2008 by Cali & Jody
We are trying to cut down on our use of exclamation points, but we couldn’t help it on this one. Forbes.com just posted a rock-solid Q & A with us, and then they had to go crazy and publish a slide show that demonstrates 13 Guideposts of ROWE. Go Forbes.com!
We love the images they used in the slide show, especially the dude reclining in the middle of the grass and the weirdly composed picture of the hipster guy and his spaced-out coworker (girlfriend?) sitting on the file cabinet. (We’re not sure what that last picture means, but we like it.)
At the same time, in the interest of full disclosure, we want you to see another picture of what a ROWE looks like:
Not very exciting, huh? In fact, if we weren’t outside, wouldn’t this scene look a little . . . ordinary?
We wanted you to see this image because we never want people to lose sight of the fact that in a ROWE, you still have to work. It’s not a time-off program. It’s not a reduced-hours program. You still have the same amount of work to do.
Don’t get us wrong: that was a great day. We were glad to be able to work outside at a coffee shop, but we also had things to do that day that were difficult, and stressful, and frustrating. Just like in a traditional workplace. The difference was that we were able to focus our energies on the task at hand, without having to deal with a bunch of nonsense like being on time, or sitting in pointless meetings, or looking “busy”.
In short, a ROWE does not solve all the problems you’re going to have at work. A ROWE solves the unnecessary problems of work, the ones that arise from our broken, outdated work culture. You still have to work, even if work doesn’t have to suck.
Great post…I’m glad you’ve pointed out that ROWE doesn’t mean ‘time to slack’. I’ve had a few people ask me about ROWE and all have said ’sounds like slackers to me’…until I’m able to show them the benefits and research in this area.
Keep up the great work!
Congrats on the Forbes article, and keep up the great work.
@ Picture in this post:
Congrats on the great article!
It’s so cute the way you both work right next to each other- do you also sit on the same side of the booth in restaurants? Kidding
Thanks for the post and the opportunity to see you working close to each other. Do you always work together?
Sara - we often work together, but are not always in the same spot
This particular day, it was sunny and warm in Minneapolis. If you live in this area you know this is a rare occurrence. We were so excited to find a coffee shop/restaurant where we could access WIFI outside.
Jesse - I tried to get Cali to sit across the table from me, but she likes to keep an eye on my screen to make sure I’m working and not planning a vacation. or shopping for yet another pair of shoes.