Solving the Real Problem
In being an entrepreneur, I find it is always important to make sure you are solving the correct problem—the real problem, the root cause. Because if you solve the correct problem, the problem goes away, and if you are solving a secondary problem or a symptom the problem creates, the problem does not get solved, and it usually gets worse.
Work from Home as a Surface Issue
In my business, work from home has been a continuous problem that I tried to solve by making people come into the office and not work from home, but that did not seem to solve the problem. This led me on a journey to figure out what was going on, following one of my key mottos: “Let data drive decisions, not emotions.” So I set off to gather more data to help solve this.
The Emotional Side of Work from Home
The reality is, when you bring up work from home to employees, they can become very emotional, defensive, and often irrational. Often, they refuse to answer simple questions. For example, you live 15 minutes from the office, it is a short commute, so if you are truly working full-time, then whether you are in the office or at home should make no difference.
Uncovering the Reality of Work from Home
After doing research and talking to friends who work from home—who are not my employees and would be honest with me—the truth comes out. Most people who work from home work 3-5 hours a day and typically work a 3-4 day workweek. Those who are truly open and honest admit this but do not see it as an issue because they feel their job can be done in 15-20 hours a week.