Being there

The reality of telecommuting is that you have to go there sometimes. You want to go there sometimes. So what if you live two-and-a-half-hours away from your work team and you need to — want to — be there twice in one week?

You make sure there’s a good charge on the iPod, along with a supply of This American Life and Splendid Table podcasts. You check that there are extra bottles of oil for your high-mileage car. You write little notes on Gwen Frostic cards that can say good morning to your children who are still asleep, marinating in their beds, when you leave. You remind yourself of all the advantages of a parent who’s home (albeit in front of that laptop) 24/7 on the other days. And you hit the road.

It can be done. As I tell my colleague whose wife has just landed the opportunity of a lifetime exactly 1200+ miles away from his cubicle at our company. We want to keep Mr. Web Innovator in his leadership position. So my very cool company is trying to make a go of retaining an employee who requires air transportation to join us on-site from time to time.

My friend the Innovator is wondering how it all will work. I point out that he will gain miraculous new blocks of productivity when phone or chat contact is required vs. the endless stream of cubicle drive-bys. But I also tell him to prepare for the disadvantages of not being there for the worlds of knowledge you gain from the endless stream of cubicle drive-bys.

Ah, yes. The fabled condition of the telecommuter. It can be a mixed bag. Especially when it’s time to be there and not here. Or be here and not there.