Telecommuting (was Re: Looking for Python programmers--where to search?)

[Courageous]

> With the coming availability of broadband, many people will have the ability
> to have high quality video conferencing.  Close enough to face-to-face for
> me, without having to commute or relocate.

I've had the opportunity to use VTC often. It lacks, and telephones
are better. The talking head is distracting, and too often there is
just enough of a lag going through VTC that you end up stumbling over
eachother. But even so, you have a point. The key to managing distributed
employees is a strong leader with good comms skills.

My personal experience is that "good comms skills" in particular means
frequent phone work. When project deadlines are coming, I talk to all
of my distributed techies once a day. It's an effective form of
motivation, with zero apparent stick. They tell you what they will
do, they know you'll be calling the next day, and out of pride and
a desire for self accomplishment they hold themselves to task. Most
effective.

But it can backfire (and miserably so) if one doesn't stay in
constant touch with all those people.





C//