3. scott
strozscott@boyzoid.com
About Me
• Software developer/architect for
Booz Allen Hamilton
• Working remotely for over a
decade
• Full time for over 8 years
• Avid, but not very good, golfer.
• Proud parent of these 2 guys →
Obligatory ‘I ♥ me’ Slide
“I appreciate that the glass is half-full, but, would enjoy it so much
more were it not half-empty”
4. scott
strozscott@boyzoid.com
What will we cover?
Working Remotely
And Doing it Right
• What do we mean by ‘remotely’?
• Pros/Cons of working remotely
•For you and your employer
• ‘Building’ your home office
•What you need to get started
• Keys to success
• How to talk to your boss
10. scott
strozscott@boyzoid.com
• Can lure talent from anywhere
• Increased productivity
• Better work-life balance
• Lower costs
• Office space
• Relocation
• Employee retention
• Fewer missed days
Pros For The Employer
Working Remotely
And Doing it Right
“Salad isn't food; it's what food eats.”
11. scott
strozscott@boyzoid.com
• Increased infrastructure costs
• One-time technology cost per teleworker
• Lack of social interaction
• Disconnected from company
• Employees are not really working
Cons For The Employer
Working Remotely
And Doing it Right
“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is all you need.”
12. scott
strozscott@boyzoid.com
• Save money
• Gas & Tolls
• Wear & Tear on vehicle
• Auto Insurance
• Tax breaks
• Greater productivity
• Fewer interruptions
• More flexibility
• Better work-life balance
• Less exposure to those who are sick
• Lower stress
Pros For The Employee
Working Remotely
And Doing it Right
“Anyone who says money can't buy you happiness,
obviously does not know where to shop.”
14. scott
strozscott@boyzoid.com
• Feeling disconnected from team
• Boundaries between work and home get
blurred
• Need strong dedication and discipline
• Not just from the employee
• Need to develop a routine
• Can become a hermit
Cons For The Employee
Working Remotely
And Doing it Right
“Unlike the post man, opportunity rarely, if ever, rings twice.”
16. scott
strozscott@boyzoid.com
• You need dedication
• From everyone in
the household
• You need discipline
• Successfully
working remotely is
not easy
• You need a plan
• For everything from
power outages to
Internet disruption
to personal
emergencies
First and foremost….
Working Remotely
And Doing it Right
17. scott
strozscott@boyzoid.com
• Your family, roommates,
etc. need to understand
you are actually working.
• Communicate effectively
with those in the
household
• Set up barriers or cues to
when it is imperative you
NOT be disturbed.
Dedication
Working Remotely
And Doing it Right
“Common sense, like common courtesy, is, unfortunately, not all that common”
18. scott
strozscott@boyzoid.com
• Inconsistency is the greatest enemy of
discipline
• Work ‘regular’ hours
• Avoid temptations and distractions
• Deviate from routine only when
necessary
Discipline
Working Remotely
And Doing it Right
19. scott
strozscott@boyzoid.com
• Have a contingency plan for everything
• Power outages
• Internet outages
• System failure
• Backups
• Have a general plan for your week
• Update as necessary
• Have a specific plan for your day
• Touch base daily
• Daily scrum works great
Planning
Working Remotely
And Doing it Right
“To hell with hindsight and its perfect vision.”
20. scott
strozscott@boyzoid.com
Desk should have
enough room for you
to work comfortably.
Be careful, too big of a
desk may attract
clutter.
Desk
Chair should be
comfortable, but also
durable. Don’t buy
one until you have
tried it.
Chair
You need a reliable
way to communicate.
If using mobile phone
as primary, make sure
you have good
coverage.
Phone
Kind of hard to do
development work
anywhere without a
computer. Make sure
you have off site
backup.
Computer
Getting started
The Basics
21. scott
strozscott@boyzoid.com
• Reliable, high speed Internet
connection
• Dedicated space – big enough for
you to work
• Windows are a plus!
• UPS for network equipment
• Alternate site
• Make sure you know
their hours of operation
Other things you will need/want
Working Remotely
And Doing it Right
22. scott
strozscott@boyzoid.com
• Other communication tools
• IM, Email, Video
conferencing, alternate
phone
• Backups
• External hard drives
• Offsite services
• Version Control
• Headphones
Other things you will need/want
Working Remotely
And Doing it Right
23. scott
strozscott@boyzoid.com
“If necessity is the mother of invention,
laziness it its drunk step father.”
The single most important thing
you will need
Working Remotely
And Doing it Right
Makes sure it has a lock!
25. scott
strozscott@boyzoid.com
• Set and enforce boundaries/rules
• Wake/start work as consistent time
• GET DRESSED!!!
• Communicate with boss/client on regular
basis
• Daily ‘scrum’ works great
• Take regular breaks
• Start/maintain after work activities
• Learn how to ‘turn off’ work
Get into a routine
Working Remotely
And Doing it Right
“Men think in 8-bit color, women think in 32-bit color.”
26. scott
strozscott@boyzoid.com
• Make sure you communicate
effectively and consistently.
• If there is an issue/emergency, let
your boss/client know as soon as
possible.
• Notify boss/client when you will be
away from your desk.
• Regular face to face time
• Even if over video chat
Maintain Communication
Working Remotely
And Doing it Right
“We have the right to 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness', not 'life, liberty and happiness'.
You need to work for the happiness, it should not be given to you.”
27. scott
strozscott@boyzoid.com
• Don’t deviate from routine unless
absolutely necessary
• Inconsistent start/end times
• Too much ‘away from keys’ time
• Long lunches
• Working in PJs
• Go outside!!!
Avoid bad habits
Working Remotely
And Doing it Right
“Beer is like the blue jeans of the beverage
world. It goes well with everything.”
28. scott
strozscott@boyzoid.com
• Meet Deadlines & complete tasks
• Manage expectations as work
progresses
• Be on time for meetings
• And be dressed if video meeting
• Answer phone/IM/Email in timely
fashion
• Be proactive
• Maintain clean work area
Be Responsible
Working Remotely
And Doing it Right
“Sometimes it does take a village to raise a child, but, unfortunately,
that means the village idiot gets to take part.”
30. scott
strozscott@boyzoid.com
• Discuss the advantages to the
company/project first
• Use ‘us’ and ‘we’ rather than ‘I’ and
‘me’
• Suggest a ‘trial’ of maybe one day a
week for a few months
• With possibility of expanding
• Have your plans ready to discuss
Start With the ‘Pros’
Working Remotely
And Doing it Right
“Sometimes, the first step in turning and
enemy into an ally is to stop treating them
like an enemy.”
31. scott
strozscott@boyzoid.com
• They will come up – talk about them
• Discuss about how your plans can mitigate them
• Show your contingency plans for
Internet/Power/communication disruption
Don’t Ignore the ‘Cons’
Working Remotely
And Doing it Right
“If you gave some people $25,000 in small, unmarked, non-sequential bills, in a greasy paper
bag, they would complain about the bag.”
32. scott
strozscott@boyzoid.com
• Follow your plan exactly
• At least initially
• Meet deadlines
• Be on time for meetings
• Work your butt off
• You may need to over-produce to shed
stereotype of ‘working from home’
• Don’t ruin it for everyone else
Work the Plan
Working Remotely
And Doing it Right
“Bacon is so good, some vegans do not
even consider it meat.”