May 2012
6 posts
2 tags
Flexible working: "You've gotta roll with it"
About six months ago, I wrote a post for this blog on Work-Life Balance vs. Work-Life Blur. In it, I shared two definitions of flexible workers: as ‘Integrators’ and ‘Boundary Keepers’. Boundary Keepers “keep things separate,” I wrote. Integrators “mix things up”.
San Sharma (@WorkSnugSan) is community manager at WorkSnug
I was a Boundary Keeper,...
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3 tags
Flexible working: Not just for London 2012
WorkSnug is based here in London, though our users are spread all over the world. We’re also pretty agile - we’re a small team of flexible workers, splitting our work days (and sometimes nights!) between the office, our homes and third-places, like laptop-friendly coffee shops.
That’s why, when it snowed here in London last year, on what became ‘Snow Day’ for...
3 tags
Infographic: The Mobile Employee
Mobile app developers [x]cube LABS put together this infographical snapshot of mobility adoption in the enterprise workforce.
It gives a good global overview of the types of mobile workers, their devices and preferences.
Apparently, younger employees prefer the Apple and Android smartphones, while older employees prefer BlackBerrys. True?
Check out the infographic below, and let us know what...
3 tags
Discover other mobile workers with WorkSnug's new...
We’re very excited about the latest release of our iPhone app, which does some really cool things with LinkedIn.
WorkSnug connects mobile workers to the nearest and best laptop friendly places around the world - and now, for the first time, you can connect your LinkedIn account and see other WorkSnug users near you.
It’s a bit like sharing a virtual business card with other laptop...
2 tags
Use Skype to add context to your teleworking...
If you’ve decided to ditch the office and work remotely, whether that’s from home or on the road, it’s really important to start your flexible working journey off on the right foot. And if you’ve got stakeholders involved, like a boss, a manager or other team members, it’s really important to keep them on board too.
Cora (@corasauras) wrote some excellent tips on...
April 2012
6 posts
1 tag
Mobile Workforce Briefing: April 2012
A roundup of the month’s best links for mobile workers and digital nomads
Supported by Plantronics. Simply Smarter Communication solutions for the Mobile Professional
Here’s what we’ve been reading this month. Let us know, in the comments, if there are any posts that you’ve been reading that you’d like to share with our mobile working readers.
Modern Workspaces
...
3 tags
Infographic: The Year of the Enterprise Tablet
This is what tablet adoption looks like - to me, at least: it starts with fanboys, queueing outside in the rain; it gets handed down to parents (who bug its original owners with support queries!); we want to take ours into work; the IT department resists, then finally caves in.
We’re not quite there yet. We’re stuck at stage 2, helping our parents with their iPad-me-downs. But,...
3 tags
Escaping the distractions of working from home
In recent years, there’s been an explosion of coworking spaces, coffee shops and libraries offering free wifi, as well casual coworking ‘Jelly’ events.
The bemused home working onlooker might well be asking why all this is necessary, when they already have a perfectly good place to work at home that costs nothing.
The fact is that while living and working in the same place has many...
4 tags
Infographic: The Power of In-Person Communication
Do you need to ‘be there’ to be in business? That’s the question The Economist Intelligence Unit asked 862 business leaders in its survey, sponsored by Cisco.
And it’s a prescient question, as distributed teams, like our own, are fundamentally changing how organisations deal with colleagues, partners and customers, separated by long distances.
Long distance relationships
...
2 tags
Snug Sound Podcast #9: Evolution of Work
We were delighted to speak to Head of Work Life Innovations at Cisco Bas Boorsma (@BasBoorsma) for the latest episode of our podcast.
Bas and I spoke about how technology is helping - or rather, has helped - work evolve, and how the next big shift will be a change in culture. We also get into a discussion on semantics: what’s the difference between smart working, teleworking and remote...
3 tags
5 reasons why Evernote is the (second) best app...
We’re fashionably late to the Evernote party. The note-taking suite of apps and services has been around since 2008, and we’ve used it - on and off - since then, but we’re only now beginning to fully understand its potential for workers on the go.
We think it’s the - ahem! - second best app for mobile workers out there, and here’s why…
It’s everywhere....
March 2012
8 posts
1 tag
BYOD or Bust: Highlights of survey results
Employees using their own devices (smart phones, tablets, PCs) are able to use the technology they’re most comfortable with—which has a positive impact on productivity. But as anyone in IT can tell you, this has risks. To address those, some organizations are creating BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies that establish guidelines for proper use. Last month, Kyle Lagunas of Software Advice...
1 tag
3 ways to improve collaboration for virtual teams
Supported by Plantronics. Simply Smarter Communication solutions for the Mobile Professional
In the book Future Work: How Businesses Can Adapt and Thrive in the New World of Work, authors Alison Maitland and Peter Thomson break with the old paradigms of what constitutes work in the digital age. They argue that we now live in a “creative economy” where ideas and innovation are now the...
1 tag
Mobile Workforce Briefing: March 2012
A roundup of the month’s best links for mobile workers and digital nomads
Supported by Plantronics. Simply Smarter Communication solutions for the Mobile Professional
We’re always posting links to our Facebook and Twitter pages - to posts we’ve found interesting as mobile workers, and we hope you find them interesting too.
We’ve put together some of our favourites finds...
3 tags
Snug Sound Podcast #8: Work Anywhere
We blogged recently about telecom company O2’s ‘off the wall’ idea to suspend local business man Caspar Mason (@caspar01) half-way up a wall in East London to prove that you really can work anywhere.
We tweeted Caspar, whilst he dangled there, and he put us in touch with Gemma Kantecki (@gkantecki_o2uk) at O2, who we’ve interviewed for the latest episode of our podcast. We...
1 tag
Infographic: Work is Murder
“Honey, I’m home!” is a phrase seldom heard nowadays, or said with much enthusiasm, when more than 40% of the workforce works from home, and only 20% of all jobs require physical activity - compared to 50% in the 1960s.
This shift to sedentary work has happened without much of a change to exercise rates. As a result, obesity has doubled and, as this infographic demonstrates,...
2 tags
Review: Cisco Cius tablet - for business, not...
I must be the only person in the world reviewing Cisco’s Cius tablet the day after Apple announced its new iPad.
But comparisons to Apple’s wunderkind are unhelpful when discussing the Cius, which is an Android tablet designed specifically for enterprise.
IT managers, not fanboys, welcomed its arrival last summer. And I’ve had some time to play with it myself. Here’s...
1 tag
WatchVideo: Mobile Worker Well-Being - Too much of a good thing?
We spotted this interesting video discussion in response to iPass’s excellent Mobile Workforce Report. We posted our takeaways from that report - here’s what we took away from the video, which asks: can mobile worker well-being be too much of a good thing?
Access to social networking websites, like Facebook and Twitter, is...
Video: London mobile worker proves you can work...
WorkSnug Richard (@WorkSnugRichard) and I (@WorkSnugSan) were doing a spot of mobile working in East London last week, when we spotted another digital nomad hanging around - and I mean literally hanging!
To prove that you really can work anywhere, telecoms company O2 challenged local business man Caspar Mason (@caspar01) to spend Wednesday morning working half-way up a wall on Great Eastern...
February 2012
10 posts
1 tag
Where We Write
We spotted this interesting post on The Millions blog about writing spaces.
Here’s a charming excerpt (and accompanying photo):
Edan Lepucki: Last summer I wrote about my workspace for the deliciously voyeuristic Tumblr site, Write Place, Write Time. The photos show my desk at home, which is my preferred place to write. Since having a baby, though, my apartment and the desk within it are...
3 tags
7 tips for working remotely in a coffee shop
I don’t have a normal work schedule. My “typical” day consists of working from a combination of my car, coffee shops, co-working spaces, my home and client offices.
Arik Hanson (@arikhanson) is the founder of ACH Communications, a digital communications consultancy based in Minneapolis.
Since I spend a decent amount of time in coffee shops, I’ve noticed that more and more...
2 tags
Survey: BYOD - Bring Your Own Device
Smart phones, tablets, laptops: the consumerisation of IT continues to impact the way employees use technology at work.
Many organisations are shifting away from company-issued devices and adoption BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies, which allow employees to use the mobile technology they’re most familiar with.
There’s a lot of buzz surrounding the benefits of BYOD in an...
2 tags
Job: C++ Developer for mobile app
We’re looking for an experienced mobile and C++ developer for an immediate freelance project, with the likelihood of future work, if all goes well.
We looking for, in particular:
3+ years of experience developing on Android and iOS
3+ years of development experience including deployment of commercial services
A strong background in Objective-C, C++ and Java
Experience using the...
2 tags
Top 5 Collaboration Tools for Virtual Teams
We posted exactly 26 reasons why collaboration is a good thing for virtual teams, so we know you don’t need any more convincing! But what are the best tools for collaboration? Here are our five favourites. Let us know yours in the comments.
San Sharma (@WorkSnugSan) is community manager at WorkSnug
Google Docs: As an alternative to Microsoft’s desktop offering, Google’s free...
2 tags
Infographic: The Cost of Stolen Laptops
Here’s a sobering thought: According to anti-theft device maker Kensington, one in ten laptops will eventually be stolen.
I’ve been lucky - and I’ve even left my laptop in a crowded bar!
But laptop security is a serious thing: we’ve posted about insurance for mobile workers in the past, as well as 5 ways to protect your laptop when working on the move.
Here’s more...
2 tags
Enterprise 2.0: What is 'social business'?
It’s Social Media Week - and far from being a week of cat videos, Reddit memes and “S*** Social Media Experts Say”, you’ll find a ton of useful information about how collaboration is empowering change. And you’ll hear this term a lot: Social Business. What is it? And what’s in it for you?
Supported by Plantronics. Simply Smarter Communication solutions for...
3 tags
Video: Highlights from the Mobile Workforce Report
We recently posted our takeaways from iPass’s Mobile Workforce Report, but just came across these videos that present the highlights in a fun and easy-to-digest way.
Enterprise Mobility Trends: Mobile Workforce Report Highlights
The report, which you can download from iPass’s website, gives a closer look at the behaviours of mobile employees as the mobile device continues to be the...
2 tags
Infographic: The Digital Divide
You know how we love infographic time at WorkSnug! And this is an interesting one. It talks about the Internet Revolution as a Generally Good Thing - and I think we’re all in agreement on that! But it highlights its inequality in America.
US broadband statistics
Did you know that…?
100,000,000 US households don’t have broadband access
Fibre optic broadband is 5 times as...
1 tag
It's Bigger Than You: What Coworking Does For the...
There are lots of great blog posts and e-books about why coworking is beneficial for freelancers and other independent professionals, so I won’t bore you with another one. Instead, I’d like to talk a little bit about what coworking does in addition to providing mobile workers with a laptop-friendly place to network and collaborate.
Beth Buczynski (@gonecoworking) is passionate about...
January 2012
11 posts
4 tags
5 Takeaways from the iPad for Business Survey
Since its launch in January 2010, the iPad has become part of daily life for up to 60m users worldwide. According to a recent survey of US consumers, most of those iPads have never left the home or ventured much further than the living room. However, a new survey suggests that IT and business professionals use iPads very differently.
Supported by Plantronics. Simply Smarter Communication...
2 tags
Infographic: A-Z of Reasons to Collaborate
Ever wondered what an A-Z of reasons to collaborate would look like in fridge magnets? Wonder no more! Our friends at Plantronics have done just that - and put together this infographic with 26 reasons why working together is A Good Thing.
In fact, our contact at Plantronics explained to me how the list grew, thanks to a collaboration that spanned the globe - from the UK to New Zealand, France,...
3 tags
Digital Nomad 101: Part III - Make Your...
You’ve taken the quiz. You’ve packed your bag. It’s time to make your remote working experience a success.
Cora Rodenbusch (@corasauras) is a senior communications manager at PGi (@PGiMeetTweet),a virtual meetings company, providing audio, web and video conferencing solutions to over 75% of Fortune100.
In Part II: Three Steps to Taking Your Show on the Road we shared that working outside the...
4 tags
Digital Nomad 101: Part II - Three Steps to Taking...
Preparing to take my business on the road was one the most exciting and confusing times in my career. When I decided to leave my office in Austin, TX last August I had no idea what awaited me in Europe and Asia Pacific. Regardless of my own questions, I still had to get my team on board, find a location and pack my digital tool belt.
Cora Rodenbusch (@corasauras) is a senior communications...
4 tags
Digital Nomad 101: Your Guide to Working Outside...
Whether you have the itch to travel or are just looking to mix it up at work, setting up shop outside the office can be as exciting (and demanding) as starting a new job.
Cora Rodenbusch (@corasauras) is a senior communications manager at PGi (@PGiMeetTweet), a virtual meetings company, providing audio, web and video conferencing solutions to over 75% of Fortune 100.
Six months ago, I left my...
3 tags
How to collaborate with other freelancers (when...
When I first embarked on my freelance career, I felt unsure of myself and very isolated. While traditional employment provides one with coworkers who can help, the freelancer is left to muddle through on their own.
Or so I thought. My first experience in a coworking space opened my eyes to a different reality.
Supported by Plantronics. Simply Smarter Communication solutions for the Mobile...
4 tags
What kind of insurance do I need as a mobile...
(Ed. note: We’re having a bit of a ‘freelancers focus’ this January for those of who whose New Years’ Resolution is to become your own boss! If you do it, make sure you’ve got the essentials in place. You may want to think about insurance, as this guest post from Vicky Pont of PolicyBee points out.)
Supported by Plantronics. Simply Smarter Communication solutions...
4 tags
Job: Workspace reviewer, East London/Olympics area
The London 2012 Olympics is just a hop, skip and jump away - and WorkSnug is warming up and stretching off in preparation. We need your help!
We’re looking for laptop-toting, coffee-sipping mobile workers to dig into East London and the Olympics area to find the best laptop-friendly workspaces and review them for our website.
We’ll pay the London Living Wage, which is £8.30 per...
5 tags
5 Ways to Make Better Use of Your Time and Work...
(Ed. note: Genevieve DeGuzman is a bit of a whiz when it comes to organising her workload. These tips should help you get organised too and start 2012 off on the right foot. Happy New Year, by the way!)
Supported by Plantronics. Simply Smarter Communication solutions for the Mobile Professional
1. Blur the work-life boundaries.
One of the biggest challenges for hard-working mobile...
6 tags
Snug Sound Podcast #7: How to start a business in...
Ladies, gentlemen, WorkSnuggers: Episode 7 of our work-style podcast is out now! Stream it, download it, treasure it - and tell us what you think in the comments. If you like it, subscribe in iTunes and gorge yourself on past episodes.
About Snug Sound
Snug Sound is an audio podcast, presented by WorkSnug community manager San Sharma, and produced by WorkSnug in association with Plantronics.
...
3 tags
Infographic: Why Tea and Coffee Are Actually...
We were delighted to come across this infographic, which shows that tea and coffee, it turns out, aren’t that bad for you. In fact, they’re pretty amazing.
We hear from our community, and know all too well ourselves, how critical tea and coffee is to the mobile working experience.
A hot drink kick starts our day, gives us a boost in the afternoon; it even acts as ‘rent’...
December 2011
11 posts
2 tags
Happy Holidays from WorkSnug!
4 tags
Knowledge Work and Place: Breaking out of 'the...
In the final part of the ‘Knowledge Work and Place’ series, Jim Ware (@thefutureofwork) applies his thinking about the way her works (Part one) and the ‘Italian masters’ (Part two) to the modern workplace, and asks: why do we try to do it all in one place?
I, like most “knowledge workers” spend almost all my work time in a fairly traditional office environment – four...
2 tags
11 tips for a better conference call
When we posted the infographic What kind of conference caller are you? last month, we spotted some great tips within it that we thought deserved their own post.
So, whether you’re hosting a conference call or taking part, these tips will help you make the most of your virtual meeting.
Supported by Plantronics. Simply Smarter Communication solutions for the Mobile Professional
Dial in on...
2 tags
Infographic: Workforce Mobilemania
This infographic from iPass, based on findings from their Mobile Workforce Report, shows how enterprise is going crazy for mobile technology.
Supported by Plantronics. Simply Smarter Communication solutions for the Mobile Professional
But there are pros and cons.
The iPass survey revealed that mobile workers put in 240 more hours a year than non-mobile employees. One in four mobile employees...
4 tags
10 Takeaways from the 'Mobile Workforce Report'
Enterprise mobility services provider iPass has published the results of a global mobile workforce survey and - if you needed proof - it shows, overwhelmingly, that enterprise is going mobile.
You can read the full report on the iPass website. We’ve pulled out some highlights that we thought might interest you and make you think about the way you work.
San Sharma (@WorkSnugSan) is...
3 tags
Infographic: What kind of conference caller are...
Our friends at Plantronics have produced this excellent infographic, which asks the question: what kind of conference caller are you?
Supported by Plantronics. Simply Smarter Communication solutions for the Mobile Professional
Do you always lose the dial-in details? Muck about on Facebook while on a call? Turn up late?
Take a look at the infographic below, which also includes a guide to...
4 tags
Knowledge Work and Place: Renaissance Man
In a new series for the WorkSnug blog, Jim Ware (@thefutureofwork) discusses the workplace challenges facing knowledge workers today. Last time, Jim described how our creativity is affected by our physical surroundings. This time, Jim travels to Italy and shares his own “personal renaissance.”
Part Two
I’ve been thinking about knowledge workers and workspaces lately because not too...
3 tags
Five Ways to Simplify How You Communicate with...
Today’s mobile workers are a fiercely nomadic bunch who travel through the borders and frontiers of Laptopistan: working from home one day, Starbucks-hopping around town the next, and also brooding for periods of time at their local coworking space.
Supported by Plantronics. Simply Smarter Communication solutions for the Mobile Professional
Technology certainly accounts for this ability to...
4 tags
'Social working' brings a coffee shop-vibe to your...
Is the idea of office monogamy a thing of the past? Is one worker on one desk a concept we should have left in the 20th Century?
Hot desking was the first office trend to satisfy our nomadic spirit, but recently we’ve been seeing an increased desire for off-site working, and not just on away days – with ‘coffee shop working’ no longer the exclusive domain of the creative freelancer. Now...