We’re a bunch of people who believe remote work is a powerful tool for community development. We’re mostly interested in rural areas and permanent (employed) remote work. Grow Remote is a national advocacy group with local chapters, including this one that focuses on the Ennis area.
We’re a bunch of people who believe remote work is a powerful tool for community development. We’re mostly interested in rural areas and permanent (employed) remote work. Grow Remote is a national advocacy group with local chapters, including this one that focuses on the Ennis area.
Looking forward to seeing many of you this evening in the Rowan Tree.
Reminder that Ennis Chamber CEO Margaret O'Brien and Rahoo.ie founder & CEO Ciara McGuane will be our special guests this evening sharing their insights and experience of Ennis' newest co-working space. Join us for 7PM in the Rowan Tree.
Hey Folks,
Posting a mirror to what's on the facebook page... stay tuned for a meetup up last week of August in Ennis as we look to connect and energize our growing community of remote/smart/flexible/distributed employees and also hear some news from the employer perspective of remote working too.
And ICYMI, the Ennis Chamber recently announced availability of co-working spaces in their town centre offices-- news here: https://www.ennischamber.ie/ennis-chamber-launches-co-working-space-in-its-town-centre-offices/
And another ICYMI: Latest research by Coleman Parkes on behalf of Ricoh-- all about flexible working!
https://www.independent.ie/business/jobs/staff-call-time-on-9to5-day-as-demand-for-flexible-work-grows-38367109.html
https://www.breakingnews.ie/business/no-offices-or-9-5-workdays-survey-reveals-future-of-work-in-ireland-941457.html
A survey has revealed that 42% of Irish office workers believe that a physical office will be unnecessary in the next five to 10 years.
The new research from Ricoh found that 57% of respondents believe they will soon be able to work effectively from any location.
The research, commissioned by Ricoh Europe and conducted by Coleman Parkes, involved 4,580 office workers from across 24 countries, including 150 from Ireland.
When asked about the impact of Generation Z and their expectation of more flexible hours, a third (33%) of those surveyed in Ireland revealed that they think the typical 9-5 working day will cease to exist.
In terms of preferred workstyles, it appears agility is high on most people’s agenda with more than half (51%) of Irish workers revealing they would be attracted by the flexibility of a gig economy role.
Generation X were most drawn to this workstyle (59%), followed by Generation Z (52%), Baby boomers (50%) and Generation Y (41%).
However, despite the demand for more versatility, two in five (40%) Irish office workers cited a lack of flexibility as one of their top three workplace frustrations.
Chas Moloney, director of Ricoh Ireland & UK, said: “It’s quite clear from our findings that Irish office workers see the concept of the traditional workplace as a thing of the past. Employees no longer want to sit at a desk for eight hours a day. Instead, people want to use their time wisely and work smarter, wherever they are.
“Furthermore, the youngest generations in the workforce have grown up with technology and want more fluidity in their roles.
“As our research shows, a lack of flexibility remains one of the top frustrations for Irish office workers, yet versatility is seen as a defining element of the “office of the future” – it’s clear that there is a gap here and perhaps organisations aren’t doing enough to enable new and individual workstyles.”
Hi Paul: I love all the work you are doing on the Lean Canvas, a deceptively powerful planning tool by Osterwalder (not forgetting Pigneur!). It intuitively makes sense for everyone, it is fast and great for developing a portfolio of ideas. It really forces you to think deeply about what you are trying to deliver.
I also loved your video - Tracy has asked me to do one too, but I am looking for an experienced cameraman to get my best angles ;-)
I apologise I did not get to your last meeting as it coincided with my graduation. However, I hope to make the next one, all going to plan! I was in Ennis at the Book Festival last weekend and thought about messaging you to meet for a coffee, but it was so last minute, I would not be so forward!
Well done on your impressive work for Grow Remote to date!
And here is a 'stake in the ground' start to the Ennis Area Grow Remote Chapter "Lean Canvas"... looking forward to discussion, collaboration, and building a movement that creates value for employees, employers, community AND Planet via better remote working practices in the Ennis area! View pdf or google doc view here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1EYtRmh-greI1MBOZQbmePatltETd2qq0?usp=sharing
Re: charter (purpose and mission) for Ennis Area chapter of Grow Remote, one useful and now widely used tool from the business world is "Lean Canvas". Has anyone in the group used this and/or even heard of it??
Particularly for startups (whether they are for profit companies or new community based organizations), getting the basics down on paper... or whiteboard or blog ;-) is a no brainer that actually is either never done or is done in a piecemeal way (which usually means it's not useful and probably not even used). This is part of the attraction of Lean Canvas-- it's a practical, relatively easy method for defing the important info that helps guide your startup and keep it on track to achieve results.
We'll be sharing a short 'intro and how to' video tutorial with all the Grow Remote chapters later this week. But here's a behind the scenes peek about Lean Canvas as a bit of a primer/preview. https://blog.leanstack.com/why-lean-canvas-vs-business-model-canvas-af62c0f250f0
I am curious what folks think about laying out the purpose, priorities and plan for Grow Remote Ennis area chapter and using the Lean Canvas (and/or other tools, methods, resources) to support our interests and ideas to make remote working / smart working more effective and pervasive for employees, employers, and community???
Folks, Stay tuned for a few updates by end of the week on what's been going on with Grow Remote all over the country-- as well as a few developments globally too! To say the least, remote working / smart working is in the limelight and created A LOT of attention and buzz. But down to brass tacks, action speaks louder than words, and while hype can have its purpose, substance and impact counts.
Remote working is not some theoretical, version of work we may or may not see in the future... it's HERE TODAY and for many, it's working really well. BUT for many employees, employers, and communities, remote work is something new and different and honestly-- change and uncertainty scares the hell out of most people.
Part of our opportunity and our purpose is to mainstream remote working and help demonstrate that talented individuals can live and work from ANYWHERE for a growing % of jobs/roles, which means great people with a wide array of jobs can and should be part of any community. For employers AND for communities (big, small, and all in between), being able to effectively and efficiently identify and connect with talented employees ANYWHERE also means more sustainable and thriving businesses and communities.
We're seeing a real awakening to the potential and the opportnunities for employees, employers and communities to embrace remote working / smart working practices. And Ennis area has some additional opportunities and advantages that imply we can and should be at the forefront of this movement. What do you think???
Hi folks. I missed the meeting on the 21st. How did it go?
AND-- plenty of feedback that we should establish Facebook page/group... watch for this in coming days...
Hi Brian, Thanks for the post. 21st was a learning experience; i.e. we changed venue and there were also afew things on that night :-) BUT we are regrouping for next session right after St. Patrick's Day-- likely to be in Rowan Tree for next meeting and a couple of guest speakers. A couple important next steps include defining/agreeing our 'charter'/focus for Ennis Area (e.g. purpose statement that defines what we as a chapter want to do and achieve), and identify and invite individuals as well as employers and community groups/reps into the dialogue locally. Clare LEO, Ennis and Shannon Chambers among groups wih interest and reach to support us as Remote Working/ Smart Working movement. Thoughts, comments, questions?
Unfortunately will have to miss this meeting. Hope it goes well and look forward to hearing anything arising from it