Page 85 - Managing the Mobile Workforce

64 � mAnAgIng the moBIle workForCe

your generation or perspective—without understanding social pres-
ence your work environment is only as good as the next software up-
grade, and your workers will only be as loyal as the next paycheck.
Developing social presence is just one of the secrets we share in this
book for developing a passionate mobile workforce. 9

personal presence—the Virtual you
The ability to communicate quickly, to receive and send information
at a moment’s notice and to collaborate easily from anywhere in the
world, is essential in today’s business environment. Connecting 24/7
has become the norm and an expectation, like turning on a radio or
TV and expecting the programs you normally enjoy to magically ap-
pear. Our lives are surrounded with technological systems that are
expected to work all the time. The reboot is fast when there is a prob-
lem, taking just a few seconds or a few minutes and, generally speak-
ing, all systems are back up working, including the Internet and the
mobile networks. No matter where you are or what you are doing, you
are almost always within reach of a mobile network from a mobile
carrier or local Wi-Fi hot spot. The Internet has become a traveling
connection for all of us. Moving at the speed of life, we expect technol-
ogy to keep up with us so we can remain “always on.” And when we
sit down for that focused moment with a tasty cup of java or at our
favorite corner deli, we know we can connect virtually into our com-
panies, our clients, and into our personal lives.
Always-on broadband connections give us freedom. This power-
ful new Internet is creating a new set of business rules and business
expectations. For the mobile workforce today, the issue is not about
where you work (geographically speaking) but is more specifically
weighted on how you work in the virtual space using technology, and
how you present your style and the real “virtual you.” Everyone who
connects to us, chats with us on MSN/Skype, text messages us, reads
our e-mails, or sees and hears us online through collaboration tools,
draws conclusions about who we are, many times without ever meet-
ing us face to face. They measure our character, trustworthiness, per-