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16
magazine
So the debate on the effectiveness or
otherwise of home working continues
without any decisive conclusion. Hardly
surprising really: there can be no
standard answer to a question that is
so influenced by our own behavioural
make-up and preferences. The “one-size
fits all” approach does not work.
To understand this better we would do
well to turn to the Think Feel Know model
which can help us to better appreciate
our own needs and preferences and what
our response is likely to be to the home-
working environment.
The Think Feel Know model draws
on the most recent neuro-scientific
research and is a representation of the
inner workings of our brain. It helps us
to understand the relative influence of
the different regions of our brain on our
behavioural choices. The thinking layer
of the brain is the cortex and reflects a
world of logic, data, structure, method
and rules. The feeling layer, the limbic
region, operates on totally different
principles: here it is about energy, sensing,
feeling, emotions, relationships and
creativity. The knowing layer, the basal
region, is the world of instincts, intuition
and “gut” responses.
Of course, we use all three in our
everyday behaviour but over time we will
exhibit a tendency to favour one or two
of the styles over the others in certain
situations. So, applying this understanding
to the home working environment can
offer us valuable new insights.
The primary thinker is likely to be
most comfortable in the home working
environment as long as they are clear
what is expected of them. If the rules
are clear they are happy getting on and
organising themselves. They are most
likely to be disciplined in their approach
and not get swayed by the many
distractions of the domestic environment.
The primary feeler will be more
challenged. “Feelers” thrive off energetic
connection with others and the proximity
of relationships is very important to
them. They are more likely to feel isolated
and want to seek the company of others.
To be effective their day will have to be
interspersed with human contact.
The primary knower is entirely
comfortable in his or her own space and
in this sense is a natural candidate for
home working. Primary knowers reject
Home Working
Chris Hyland explains what the Think, Feel, Know Model can tells us
about the effectiveness of HomeWorking
fuss and distraction and will see home in
this instance as their defensive territory.
The danger is that they become isolated
from the team. Primary knowers seek to
have things their own way and are not
always natural team players. Separated
by home working they are more
likely than ever to do their own thing.
Integrating their activity into the wider
team effort will therefore be crucial.
Of course there are many wider
considerations in the home working
debate, such as geography, domestic
circumstance and technology, but the
key to success really sits in our own
behavioural style and preferences and
this particular key is held safely in the
inner-workings of our brains.
Clive Hyland is the CEO of Think Feel
Know and author of ‘
Connect Through
Think Feel Know
’ (£12.99 Panoma
formerly Anoma Press).
www.panomapress.com
Thinker, Feeler,
Knower
Figures released from the Office Of National
Statistics show that in England andWales the
proportion of people working mainly at or from
home increased from 9.2% in 2001 to 10.7% in
2011.
London saw the sixth largest increase in
homeworking (4.5%), with the South East and
the SouthWest being the regions with the largest
increases at 2.2% and 2.1% respectively.
Nine urban local authorities saw a reduction in
the amount of people working at home, with the
London Borough of Newham having the largest
proportional decrease at 1.1%. However, in all 348
local authorities of England andWales, the actual
number of home workers increased between 2001
and 2011.
There are many reasons why people choose to
work at home with higher productivity and the
ability to work uninterrupted, especially on project
work, cited as the main two reasons. Better work/
life balance and a ‘family friendly’ fit with domestic
arrangements were also cited as reasons why
people choose to make their home their office.
According to the report,
2011 Census Analysis
- Method of Travel toWork in England andWales
,
some home workers have taken full advantage of
the technological advancements of the last decade
and removed the need to commute to a central
office. This is more beneficial to workers living
in rural locations who have longer commuting
distances than town-dwellers.
PaulaWynne, co-founder of social network
iHubbub, said: “Homeworkers join iHubbub to
interact with homeworking freelancers and business
owners to exchange ideas and hints and tips
about working from home. It’s fantastic to see
such a wide and diverse mix of home businesses
that contribute to the economy for much needed
growth in the UK.”
http://ihubbub.com.
Home
working
on the rise