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UnwiredHome working briefing
Home working in an SME
Mark Thomas
September 2011
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About Word Association
l Top 10 PR Week agency
l Turnover growing despite recession
l 20 years in business
l Full service consultancy
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Clients
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Home working started with.... a dream
l To travel
l To write
l To be with my family
l To find myself
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And I did it!
l A year-out travelling
l In a motorhome
l In Eastern Europe
l And North Africa
l Wrote for a guidebook
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The business…
l Closed offices after consultation
l Moved staff to home-working
l Investigated technology available
l Left sister in charge
l Off I went but kept in touch
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Things unravelled slowly
l A range of staff problems
l Information not forthcoming
l Client satisfaction down
l Turnover fell, profits reduced
l Urgent action required on return
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When I returned
l Made staff changes and managed more effectively
l Strengthened controls and boosted communications
l Gradually improved IT infrastructure
l Used awards to drive business forward
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Communications
l Need to formalise get-togethers
l Monthly meetings for production, management and now creativity
l Monthly reviews and SMTs must happen
l Teleconferences but not Skype
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ICT
l Feature line telephone system
l MSN Messenger
l Well equipped home offices
l Shared drive & Outlook public folders
l Good IT support
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Management
l More output focused management style
l Better recruitment and retention
l Stronger internal controls – businessdashboard and The WAy
l Now part of our USP
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Home working a success
l Top 10 PR Week consultancy
l More independent, happier hard-working staff
l Clients positive
l Business growing
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Happy Staff
“Fantastic company to work for”
“ Really enjoying it at WA. I wish to continue working here and develop my role.”
“ I enjoy working for WA, I feel there is a good camaraderie and everyone cares about each other.”
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Happy Staff
l 90% happy with physical environment
l 88% proud of working for WA
l 80% say teamwork is good
l 86% feel motivated in my work
l 88% are happy with the flexibility
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Leicester Mercury
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Mail on Sunday
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What I’ve learned
l Home working can work
l Productivity and morale improves
l Challenges can be overcome
l Trusting outcome-focused management style essential
l Work at communications
l Build good IT infrastructure
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