Work From Home? Think About the Business Model - DBR 041

Do Busy Right - The Task and Attention Management Podcast

I'm going to talk about remote work, and this is a topic that continues to be a source of significant debate among folks out there. It’s fueled, in part, by people who are employees, who are arguing in favor of remote work. There are various arguments, and we'll dig into it. The point I want to make is to analyze the business model of the organization that you work with, and think about what the employment contract actually is and what it actually covers. I hope that we’ll be able to develop a little bit better understanding from the employee side of things, and be a little less demanding, a little less whiny.

What we all agree on

• Remote work is certainly a thing that is possible.
• Well, of course, some people say, you know, I miss the office. I miss the chitchat. I see that. I think we need community.
• Work from Home is more convenient, for you.

Business model and owners

• Business model = how we are going to do this – it’s very complex
• The owner owns the business model, not you
• The paint example
• But the painting is part of the business model, thus owned by the business owner
• The tacit agreement with employees – I’ll make you valuable
• Of course, there are good and bad business owners
• In a knowledge work business, all the owner owns is the model – no longer the productive resources
• But the business owner always owns the business model

Business model and contractors A contractor or business defines the value of their work and its hard

• Contrasting model – you like counting money and you’re good at it Bank teller employee – the bank (business model) defines the value of the contribution
• Monopoly example
• Aside on the Lego business
• So, you have the option to go out and define your own value Or, you can let someone else define your value, i.e. be an employee in someone else’s business model
• So, here’s your freedom – accept the business model and the definition, or decline it

Business model and employees

• As an employee, you don’t define your own value
• As the EMPLOYEE, you don’t own the business model – that’s the agreement
• Employee - I'll contribute this effort, and you, Mr. Business Model owner, will put it together with other things such that it has a certain amount of value.
• That’s the model, the agreement

WFH and the business model

• What does this have to do with WFH? That’s the business model
• You may have the privilege of discussing the business model with its owner
• We’re arguing about our contribution, that’s a hypothesis, but you don’t get to assert it
• That’s the trade-off you make to become an employee – accept someone else’s definition of your value and the circumstances under which you deliver it
• But that’s the trade-off, otherwise take your chances with the market

Whether you’re an employee or not, you have to provide value. The difference is who defines that value.

• It’s easy for employees to lose sight of that fact – the business model serves us
• There’s a limit to how much employees get to modify the business model So the boss (through the business model) gets to define the context of your work
• Trying to cast a different light on the problem
• Most arguments from employees wind up being about convenience
• But the question that needs asking is “does the business model fit this (WFH) idea”

If you work from home as an employee, here are a couple of things to think about

• Congratulations, your boss trusts you to maintain your productivity
• There are other kinds of challenges to your attention – mostly distractions
• “the best get better, the bad get worse” under WFH
• If you want to be the best, two things:
• I have an episode you might want to listen to #17 on Managing Oneself
• Or, you might know that you want some help with all of this – send me an email [e-mail]