Telecommuting!

You are a technology company but can’t find the people you need locally. You could uproot people and move them to where you are. It’s hard on families but hey, you’re a heartless corporation, what do you care?

How about another option…telecommuting?

If your company doesn’t have an active telecommuting policy then you are mired in 90’s management theory and really need to update your thinking. (and quite possibly your resume)

Here are a few must have tools that will make the difference between success and failure in your telecommuting program.

Skype
How about a free, and easy to use telephone system? Do yourself a favor, pop the $50 a year extra and upgrade each of your people to Skype Pro.

Instant Messaging
Make sure everybody has an IM account. Bonus points if you get everybody to use the same system.

Internet Relay Chat (IRC)
It’s one thing to get everybody on IM but it’s a whole ‘nother world to have them all in one virtual room. This is the one trick I do every time I setup a virtual team.

SSH
Keep your resources behind the firewall and let users tunnel into them.

So, grab the tools, kick your developers out the door (but not to the curb!) and open up the world to them. You will find that it’s no longer hard to keep good developers on staff, just hard to keep them in the building.

My name is Cal Evans and I am, your sixty second tech.

Hey, stay tuned! Don’t turn it off, I’ve got a special promo from my buddies over at theNewMediology.com! Give them a listen.