2 posts tagged virtual executives

This week, we’re getting a reality check about flexible working from Ryan, who really gets into the nitty gritty around the challenges of flexible work and why he embraces them.

A little bit about Ryan:

Ryan Rutan is 25% technologist, 25% marketer, 25% entrepreneur, and 25% silly putty.  This amalgam has led him from being the director of marketing for a technology company, to the director of technology for a marketing company, and most recently the President of Digital-MR in the US.  He is charged with expanding the company’s position in North America, with a focus on business development for their syndicated web listening reports across financial, smart phone, and retail apparel markets.

With 16 of his 32 years on the planet engaged in commercial enterprises from cafe ownership to cattle ranching, he is able to bring a youthful energy backed by nearly two decades of broad experience to his endeavors.

Living across 3 continents, and working in twice as many countries, he has developed an “everywhere from anywhere” approach to work.  He embraces the new flex arrangement with Digital-MR brought about after uprooting a 4 year residence in Cyprus to return to his family and hometown in the US with his wife and dog.  Evidencing a commitment to flexibility, the move was made in 3 suitcases, one animal carrier, and a single briefcase. 

Tell us more about your flexible work arrangement, what does a typical workweek look like?

Because a large part of my remit involves interfacing with my European colleagues, my day typically starts just shy of 5:00AM, with work commencing as soon as the coffee is poured.  In this way, I am able to maintain a reasonable overlap with their working hours. 

We utilize a number of web based technologies to create online environments that enhance communication, collaboration, and productivity between the functional roles within our company, and points of contact with clients and vendors.  I have my own golden ratio, and its 10:1, written words to spoken. This creates a record, and leaves little room for creative reinterpretation (intentional or otherwise) of the details.  Wherever possible, a document takes the place of a personal/phone briefing, a meeting is replaced by a collaboratively developed report, limiting the number of forced interruptions that occur in a day, allowing productivity to stay at peak levels, and the focus to be on delivery of “products” and not communication of objectives. 

An average workweek comprises 50-60 hours, with 6-12 of these being spread over the weekend.

Was your job flexible to begin with, or was it something you negotiated with your employer?

Digital-MR is a digital market research agency, and because we occupy web based spaces, the roles within the company are inherently geared towards flexibility.  My ability to perform is predicated only on being able to access the internet. 

What have been the most notable benefits of your flexible work arrangement?

The inception of my flexible role coincided with an overseas move (Nicosia, Cyprus to Columbus, Ohio), and because of the flexibility, my wife and I were able to manage this continental migration over a weekend, without taking a full day off during the process.  This ability to remain viable at work even during chaotic personal events means that I can limit the tough choices between career and home life, because now they can co-exist. 

The scope of my role has expanded along with becoming flexible, and in addition to the early mornings, has meant some late nights, and long stretches of needing to be on task. Because of the flexibility, I have been able to be physically present with my family as they gather in the evenings, if not separately mentally engaged.  Its a great comfort to look up to their smiles when I retract nose from grindstone.

What have been the biggest challenges you’ve faced working flexibly?

Workaholism is always lurking in the next Blackberry alert.  Because my full work environment is constantly at hand, it is always a challenge to say “no, that can wait.”  Rather than spend energy on making a conscious effort to separate them, it is often easier to give in to the urge to work.  The fact that I enjoy my work makes this a less painful concession, but it does take its toll.

What advice would you offer those who would like to negotiate a flexible work arrangement with their employer?

Prior to opening the dialogue with your employer or partners, strongly consider things like:

How much do I rely on the input of others, and how much will my efficiency be reduced (and therefore my hours increased) if I do not have them readily at hand?

Looking for ways to maintain their “voice” at work, and remain an integral part of the management process.

Proving the concept:  Make use of tools that allow the work environment to be more flexible and productive now, providing proof of concept for further expansion.  By showing not only that your current role doesn’t lose efficiency, but that it can actually improve by removing the limitations of office based work, will go a long way in adding credence to your request.  

Tell us about your “office” space….

My Asus UL-30VT, Blackberry Bold, and a great leather shoulder bag are all I need. I have temporary home office, which will convert to a dedicated home office in the next 2 months, but my approach is more “anywhere with wifi and a wall socket”.  I infrequently need scanning and printing, which require either a trip to a print-shop if I am out (Fedex-Kinko’s are convenient) or are more than handled by the simple all-in-one Canon I keep under (unplugged) the table that currently serves as my base of operations.

If you could describe your “workstyle” in one-two words, what would it be?

Lean + Dynamic

Anything else you’d like to add?

Working in a non-traditional environment brings a unique set of benefits and challenges that should be weighed carefully before undertaking any drastic changes in your own situation. 

I was able to sample a flexible role through project based work with distal offices in my previous company, and knew that it was a good fit for me.  My role is also one that lends itself to being flexible, and my comfort level with the various technologies that support such an undertaking have made it a great experience thus far.

They say “that which does not bend is bound to break,” so I will embrace flexibility and all that comes with it.

So what about you, can you relate to Ryan’s flexible work arrangement? 

Yes, suggests a survey by Harvard Medical School. Researchers found that how often academic authors were cited in papers was connected to how closely they sat to each other. This correlation led the researches to conclude that “despite the positive impact of emerging communication technologies on scientific research, our results provide striking evidence for the role of physical proximity as a predictor of the impact of collaborations.”

In other words, collaboration is more effective if you’re face-to-face rather than working in virtual teams.

Extrapolating from that research and conclusion, commentator/Forbes blogger Dan Bigman writes that working from home might dent your shiny new career - especially if your job requires working with teams and collaboration.

But don’t tell that to Ingrid Van Den Hoogen, who, after twenty years with Sun Microsystems, was recently hired as Chief Marketing Officer for Plantronics, a company based in San Jose.

Van Den Hoogen is - obviously - a successful executive who telecommutes to San Jose, California from her home in Alaska.

Apparently it can be done.

Just ask the executives at Flexpaths - all of us practice what we preach, from our homes, our cars, planes, and hotel rooms.

(And, occasionally, the office.)

Need a reason to explore further how teleworking could be beneficial for you and your company?  Pledge to telework during Telework Week brought to you by the Telework Exchange. 

Photo credit: Tina Lawson

In the meantime, what do you think?  Do you think telecommuting can be detrimental to your career if you’re required to collaborate and work with an extended tea?