Survey Says Virtual Workers More Productive and Happy

Remote employment is growing as a way to reduce costs and expenses while still encouraging higher levels of productivity. According to a ConnectSolutions survey, virtual employees were happier and more productive than those who went into the office every day. The new way of doing business may have a positive impact beyond simply saving on commuting and facilities costs. The secondary benefits should be included in any cost analysis for corporate policy making. 

Remote work policies are increasing across the country and 32% of employee’s state that they work this way at least some of the time. The survey also found that 27% of employees are working remotely full-time. This would mean that the workplace is starting to shift in terms of moving from traditional structures to virtual structures.

Employees are also taking their mobile devices and lap tops home and hanging out in cafes, libraries, pools and other locations making their work more interesting and appealing. The employees also indicate that they are more productive then they are in the traditional workplace. The quality of their life is going up when 40% are getting more sleep, 32% more exercise, and 33% are spending more time with loved ones.

If your workers have the blues it might be interesting to find that 63% of people have a more positive view of their work. Somewhere in the process they become happier with their work situations and their employer’s flexibility. This can lead to higher levels of skill retention and employee satisfaction with 100% of family oriented women said they would stay with their employer.

The survey’s findings are interesting but should not be considered conclusive in itself. Additional surveys matched against the performance of companies would lead to higher levels of cross analysis. Such surveys do add to the body of knowledge on virtual models but will still require additional surveys, research, and historical analysis to create solid conclusions. 

The virtual model isn’t fully developed yet and will continue to grow and change as it faces new market challenges. The type of employee that can work well within a virtual environment may parallel those that would do well with online learning. A higher level of intrinsic motivation and interest in the type of work may be needed. Working from home can lead to incredible amount of distractions if one hasn’t the disciplined to stay focused. 

http://www.connectsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/CoSo-White-Paper-Remote-Worker-Study.pdf

U.S. CEOs Optimistic About the Economy and Plan on Hiring

America is pulling ahead as CEO's project a much brighter future with more hiring and greater investment. According to a report by the Young President's Organization (YPO) the U.S. bucked trends of other nations by raising their confidence index from 64.2 to 65. This optimism is a full two points above other countries and has prompted some positive decisions in company strategic planning that will bode well for the American worker.

Net importers of oil were more optimistic than net exporters. The reason this is the case is because exportation of a natural resource can be lucrative but is also unsustainable and limited. Those nations that reaped the rewards in the past may find their economies struggling now that prices are changing and demand is less. Importing nations find the cheaper oil prices an advantage for their production and economy through lowered input costs.

The report had three interesting expectations over the next 12 months that include:

-70% Sales to Increase/26% Sales to Stay the Same/4% to Sale to Decline
-47% Fixed Investments to Increase/48% Fixed Investments to Stay the Same/5% Fixed Investments to Decline.
-45% Expect to Hire/51% Hiring to Stay the Same/4% Hiring to Decline.

The optimism among key decision makers, such as CEOs, help to push additional investment and hiring. You will notice that only a few believe sales, investments, and hiring will decline over the next 12 months while the far majority either believe it will stay the same or improve. Most CEOs feel that sales will improve and this in term could fuel additional investment and hiring.

Those companies that are working with less than full capacity are likely to soak up that slack before deciding to hire. Many companies have adjusted and transformed during The Great Recession and are in a lean position to grow. Future profits are expected as consumer confidence rises and additional economic activity experienced.

http://www.ypo.org/4q14us/

A Current Study: An Assessment of Emotional Intelligence Understanding in the Field of Real Estate

Purpose/Significance

Dr Andree Swanson and Dr Brand Bowler, research partners, are conducting a qualitative study is to identify the levels of understanding of emotional intelligence (EI) within the field of real estate sales.  Understanding and using EI is a learned behavior that real estate professionals should be aware of when dealing with clients.  Literature reveals that using EI will improve realtors’ efficiency and effectiveness.  The study will seek real estate sales professionals recruited through social media and networking.   

Significance Statement

The significance of this study is that a real estate sales professional must maintain the knowledge and skills necessary to provide professionally competent services.  Competence includes the wisdom to recognize the limitations of that knowledge and promote ethical relationships.  Emotional recognition of the client plays a crucial role in understanding the client’s motivation and feelings about his or her finances as related to real estate transactions. 

Emotional awareness is a key component of being an effective real estate sales professional.  Upon preliminary research, little to no literature can be found on emotional intelligence and real estate sales professionals.  Because of the lack of research on the topic, the completion of this proposed study is necessary.

Many studies have been published on how individuals with high emotional intelligence can enhance and increase the potential for positive outcomes.  The researchers propose that real estate sales professionals should work to increase their emotional intelligence, which can be learned, to be successful when working with clients.  Emotional intelligence is a learned and practiced skill.  The completion of the proposed study may positively benefit the field of real estate and in a greater sense may significantly change the landscape of communications and relationships in both business and academia as a whole.

Benefits

The results of the proposed study could potentially change the field of real estate sales by transforming the realtor / client relationship.  This would benefit not only the profession, but also the individual agents and their real estate sales clients who work with an Emotionally Intelligent trained agent.  The results may also provide a positive resource for the field of education by establishing Emotional Intelligence courses into the curriculum of business and real estate studies. 

Participate in Study

If you are a real estate professional, you are invited to participate in a qualitative research study on Emotional Intelligence.  Please go to this link, complete the informed consent, and take the brief survey.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GBVGC3Q

Dr. Andree Swanson & Dr. Brand Bowler

References

Bradberry, T., & Greaves, J. (2009). Emotional Intelligence 2.0. San Diego, CA: TalentSmart.

Paterson, K. (2011). What's your EQ? Rough Notes. Retrieved from ProQuest.

Trochim, W. M. (2006). Survey research. Research Methods Knowledge Base. from http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/survey.php