Sidney, and Jorge:
I agree with your list of how to how to manage your workforce.
What I didn’t agree with was the last sentence in this paragraph:
“Remind them not to waste their company time on social media or personal issues when they should be working - they work and everyone gets paid more vs. work less and we get paid less... Work when you are work and then they can go home to handle their personal issues.”
In a recent top Firm I briefly worked for, it was a very open office layout and the workstations were about 5’-6” wide and some had 2’ deep vertical dividers while others did not.
This meant phone calls made at one’s desk were overheard by a 15’-20’ radius. I heard calls to family members, doctor offices, insurance companies, (and to clients and consultants). Since it’s impossible to get one’s personal business handled only in the evenings and on weekends I advocate moving to a 4-day workweek.
Some firms rearrange schedules to work longer hours Monday thru Thursday and leave at noon on Friday. I think this still is inadequate- especially in big cities with traffic.
Regarding the mention of providing top tools: good WiFi on all computers should be imperative as well as a solid intranet. It was widely accepted in the office mentioned above to Google anytime a professional question came up (from code questions to industry standards).
Everyone including me kept out iPhones plugged in next to us and I never saw anyone over-using their personal smartphones for texts or social media nor did I see anyone surfing the web for non-work-related Information. That’s one benefit of open office plans: transparency. I still take umbrage to the lack of privacy they provide being part introvert and a behind-the-scenes shy person that I am.
Continue on...
Sincerely,
Tara Imani, AIA, NCIDQ, ASID, CSI
Registered Architect + Interior Designer
Tara Imani Designs, LLC
10333 Richmond Avenue, Suite 170
Houston, TX 77042
Work/Mobile Ph: 832-723-1798
www.taraimanidesigns.com
Original Message------
Jorge
Some of the best simple words given to me about managing any office and the group you work with:
1. Find good "trustworthy" people to do the work.
2. Provide the good people the best tools that they need to do the work.
3. Provide the good people work to perform.
4. Provide CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS of what needs to be done.
5. Get out of their way and let them do the work you trust them to do.
It sounds like your expectations/instructions were either too vague or not provided about cell phone use.
Or do you feel that you did not find "trustworthy" people -or- do you NOT trust them to do the work?
Assuming that you hired "trustworthy" people - TALK with the people about how you trust them to do the work - and make sure that they have clear expectations:
- Remind them not to waste their company time on social media or personal issues when they should be working - they work and everyone gets paid more vs. work less and we get paid less... Work when you are work and then they can go home to handle their personal issues.
- QA/QC - remind them to check their own work - remember the old adage "measure twice and cut once". Double check their work and ask them to do the same. Work will improve.
- Remind them that you hired "professionals" and that they need to act like professionals. I am willing to bet that you did NOT hire kids who need to have their phones taken away if they are "being bad".
Look from top down - are you "goofing off" in front of them when you should be working?
Make sure the standards you apply to them are applied to yourself as well.
Good luck!
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Ket West, AIA
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