My day-job is meant to be quite strategic. Because it’s a newish position, there are plenty of operational tasks I must do at the moment. Much of it involves writing. While writing is hardly a chore for me, I do need a particular setting to write fast and efficiently. In essence, that means when I don’t have meetings, I work from home. It’s really that simple.

I know how lucky I am. I believe most people should be this lucky.

A few recent conversations again reminded me that I work for a progressive company (and for a leader, not a manager), and that there are many organisations – big and small – out there who are simply not yet moving with the times. Here are some (paraphrased) examples of statements I heard in the last month, and my somewhat facetious responses:

“I can’t let them work from home. What if they just watch TV all day?” Then their work won’t get done and they’ll get into trouble. But what if they watch TV all day because they do their best work at night? #win

“But what if I need that person to do something urgent?” Make sure you don’t appoint someone who doesn’t have a cellphone.

“I don’t care if their work is done. I’m the boss and I say they stay.” You don’t own me. If you think like this, your day-job will be recruiting new staff… “Don’t tie me down ‘cause I’ll never stay.”

“If I let them do private stuff in work hours, they’ll become lazy.” Nah. They’ll become grateful. And loyal.

What I noticed from these conversations was the language of control and possession. And the fascinating view that it’s better to have your employees at the office doing nothing (but under your control), than telling them to use the quiet times constructively (pay your bills, renew your passport, buy your groceries), so that when the busy times come, they are set and ready to put in the time needed to complete the work. However late that might be.

The view that people must be present, lacks vision.

I know it’s a journey. But if you don’t get on soon, you’ll miss the bus.