I was reading Leo Babauta’s article Finding the Natural Rhythms and Flows of Working and was reminded of one of the stresses of my own life. Although I work in education (presumably an information industry), the organization I work for has some very industrial ideas about work. You must be in your office from 8AM to 5PM daily, regardless of whether you have classes or not.

Now, you might think that’s not a bad thing. After all, doesn’t that mean I am available for my students? Certainly it does. But, I also maintain an email address and a web presence for each of my classes. I provide them with additional information not provided in the classroom and, of course, they can reach me through those mechanisms. Generally, if they’re not in class they’re not on campus anyway and would opt to communicate by email anyway.

Generally, I can accomplish more in an hour at home than in three in the office because there are fewer interruptions.

It’s a bit surprising, though, that education would take such and industrial age approach to management.  As a professional, not only in education but in nursing, certainly I’m capable of knowing what needs to be done and taking care of business. And, if I can do it in less than forty hours, all the better. Simply being present on campus no more guarantees that I’m being productive than having a car means I know how to drive.

Leo points out, and I absolutely agree, that rather than focusing on the hours your present, the organization should focus on the work that is done. Some people can do more in three hours than others do all week. Yet, they’ll be paid the same, and given the same evaluation score.

As I pointed out a few days ago in this article keeping the real goal in mind is what leads us forward. Using our goals as the “North Star” helps us filter out the wheat from the chaff and let’s us focus on what is really important.

In the workplace, what’s important isn’t whether or not I’m present forty hours a week, or that I keep my office in a certain state, but am I getting the work done? You see, the work’s the thing, it is the goal and the focus.

What are your thoughts? Leave me a comment sharing your own perspectives!