Could your PR agency function as a virtual team?

The long-held notion that productivity is a function of geography—you must be on site to get stuff done—is waning. Mobile technology affords myriad workflow options for today’s PR pro.

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When I worked for an agency here in Chicago, there was one thing that drove me absolutely insane: They clocked you in every morning.

There was one day that I worked 22 hours, but by golly, if I wasn’t at my desk by 8:30 a.m., I would be docked pay.

It drove me crazy. It didn’t matter if you were at the office until 9 p.m. working on a new business pitch (as often happened) or traveling with clients and working more than 12 hours, you had to be at your desk by 8:30 a.m.

Now, those of you who know me well, know that 8:30 a.m. is midday for me, but that’s not the point.

The point was that having your butt in your desk chair was rewarded, not the billable hours nor getting results or even happy clients.

When I’m told I have to do something, I don’t react super well. It’s that whole having trouble with authority thing and the main reason I went out on my own.

Productivity doesn’t have to happen at your desk

Fast-forward to today: I run an organization with staffers across North America and Europe.

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