Page 186 - Managing the Mobile Workforce

hiring and preparing great mobile talent � 165

` the proFIle oF A moBIle worker

Every manager knows that the perfect employee doesn’t simply ap-
pear. Rather, he or she is discovered over time as that person tackles
a series of tasks and projects. Training each mobile worker with a
unique plan that meets the individual needs of the employee can be a
a hit or miss, if you aren’t careful.
Different sources categorize mobile workers differently. For ex-
ample, an interesting Cisco study classifies mobile workers as On-site
Movers, Yo-Yos, Pendulums, Nomads, or Carriers. We thought it
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would be helpful to think about a training strategy for mobile workers
by considering three main types of mobile workers. That will help to
understand their primary working habits and styles. Although every
individual has a unique personality and set of preferences, each group
has distinctive roles, use of technology, and geographic locations.

` CorrIdor moBIle workForCe

Generally, when we imagine the mobile workforce, we think of the
typical traveling executive or salesperson, popping from city to city
into busy airports, rental cars, and hotels. However, not every mobile
worker travels outside of the physical structure of a corporate building
or a large factory, or even a campus. We were surprised to learn about
the size of this particular group.
The best description we found for these people was given to us
by Brent Lang, the president and COO of Vocera Communications.
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Brent told us this is one of the largest groups of employees, whom he
calls “corridor mobile workers.” These employees use their leg power
to move from office to office and room to room, through halls, and
between buildings. Corridor warriors are people who might work in
a hospital, warehouse, or retail store. They are generally not sitting
behind a desk waiting for the phone to ring, but often they are on their