To me NWOW has always been about being entrusted and empowered by your management to go for results. How or from where you achieve these results should not be relevant. I am aware of course that this is a bold statement and there are many buts and ifs to be addressed, but from a principle it is correct.

It is all about being more efficient and productive and while using some of that extra "freed-up" time to have a better work/life balance. More and more people will start to work anywhere, as long as it convenient, has internet and makes any sense.

HR magazine publized an interesting article (url at the bottem of the post) on the subject of "The third workspace". The third wordspace, after the office and home, are other offices, business centers, a customer or supplier premise, a library or just a café, bistro or restaurant.

And why not? Just an example to demonstrate my point: I live in Ekeren (North of Antwerp) and went to a customer visit in Wommelgem. After that meeting a had a two hour slot before I had to be in Turnhout. What should I have done? Going back home and face the Antwerp ring again and one more time an hour later? Going to our Edegem or Diegem offices? Or just check on your GPS or smartphone what bistro's with internet connectivity are on your road to the next appointment? I choose for the latter and further travelled in the directions of the next customer visit and stopped at a Carestel (5' from my next stop). I had almost 1,5 hour to grab a bite and a coffee, make some calls and work online. I arrived beautifully on time, without any stress, well prepared and I already did some work I planned for the evening. Time I could spend more wisely now with family or on other matters ;)

Does thqt make sense to you? What are some of the third workspaces you use?
Do they improve your producitivity?
Do you feel you cannot work well from home or what are you preferences for using third wordpace locations?
Curious to read about your answers ;)