Telecommuting in the 21st century: benefits, issues, and a leadership model which will work.

Executive Summary

This article looks at the evolution of telework in the United States as well as the benefits and potential problems associated with this growing phenomenon. One of these issues, effective leadership of teleworkers, is the focus of the article. The authors suggest that Situational Leadership[TM], a leadership model which has been in use since the late 1960s, is an appropriate tool for leaders to use in successfully influencing their off-site workers. Situational Leadership[TM] is explained and applied to a variety of telecommuting scenarios.

Introduction

In the late 1800s, the nature of work changed drastically as Americans began the move from an agricultural society to a manufacturing society. Alvin Toffler's second wave was characterized by the growth of urban areas and the disassociation of workers from the final product. (1991) Owner-operators and then a class of supervisor-leaders found themselves challenged to encourage productivity from large numbers of employees who had no ownership in the organization. Leadership, previously mostly a concern of governments and the military, became a far more common need in the growing industrial economy.

Now, in the first years of the 21st century, America finds itself well along in the transition to Toffler's third wave, the post-industrial society characterized by knowledge workers who are far more educated and professional than their forebearers. Many of these workers are deserting the traditional factory or office and working in non-traditional environments such as hotel rooms and home offices. Can 20th century leadership techniques work in this age of the teleworker or is a drastic reconceptualization of leadership needed?

This article posits that one time-honored leadership model, Situational Leadership[TM], can be effectively applied by leaders who work with teleworkers of all types. First, however, the authors look at the definition and evolution of telework in the United States and then investigate the benefits and challenges associated with this relatively new phenomenon.

Telework Defined