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Should You Try Creating a Results-Only Workplace?

Many times we have heard that being solution-oriented professionals is a good thing. But, despite how sought after this quality is, not all workplaces are managed based on this method.

Do you want to know what results-only workplaces are about? Here you can learn.

A results-oriented work environment is a work management strategy in which employees are paid based on the results they achieve, rather than on the hours they worked. The acronym normally used to refer to this methodology is ROWE.

In this human resources strategy, workers receive their salary only based on the objectives achieved, not based on the hours it took them to do this job. The productivity of the company’s team is also measured based on this.

It consists of providing absolute flexibility to the worker when performing their duties, as long as they deliver the corresponding work on time, according to the previously established deadlines.

This management method is also aimed at increasing productivity without the need for the worker to carry out their work at their workstation in the office, so it is quite compatible with the remote or hybrid work model. It starts from the knowledge that on many occasions, the conventions of office work do not really favor productivity, and that, after all, every company has the ultimate goal of achieving efficient and effective results.

When Is It Convenient to Apply It? 

Now that you know what it is, it should be clarified that not all companies are favored by this management method, either because it is not applicable to the type of work that is carried out there or due to other factors. There are conflicting opinions about the application of this strategy according to professions and careers, so I share with you a list of pros and cons, so that you can be free to choose which one applies to you the most, and then decide whether to look for a job in a company. to use this method, or not.

Pros 

  • Autonomy for the development of tasks, there is total freedom to organize your routine and work strategy as long as you present the results on time.
  • Greater balance and distribution of remuneration, since the results are valued above the hours it took to do it, the employees who do not present optimal results will not be remunerated in the same way as the employees who actually comply with what was requested.
  • Mental health and less stress, in addition to being able to organize their days with greater freedom, help workers leave space to attend to their health issues, thus reducing days off due to illness or other important events.

Cons 

  • These environments can be difficult to manage due to the difficulty of communicating with employees who are working remotely from different locations.
  • It can call into question the morale of employees since they can fall into the philosophy of “the end justifies the means.”
  • It is not a method that applies to employees with low self-discipline, or unwillingness to organize without a routine determined by the company.
  • It is not applicable for jobs that require customer service of any kind.

Now that we know what the advantages and disadvantages of working in a results-only company are, you can form a more accurate opinion about this strategy, and know if you want to work in this way, with the risks and benefits it offers.

Although the ROWE strategy is not for all companies or all workers, the key is to be properly informed, learn and experiment, allowing yourself to try it to know for sure if it can work for you or not. By knowing perfectly the organization you work for, or your company in the case of being the team leader, you can know if it is convenient for you to apply this method to the company.

Best Buy, an American company specializing in the sale of electronic products, was the first to implement this human resources strategy, in 2005. And since then, given the company’s high levels of productivity and quality, many other companies have followed suit, and today the number of results-only oriented organizations is larger than you might imagine.

Even if at first it seems like a very risky way of working, because it is far from the conventionalism of traditional work, it could surprise you by adjusting to what you need. On the other hand, if you’re more of a work-structured-by-the-company type of person, following a schedule and being supervised in some way, this is totally valid and in the same way, you can achieve extraordinary results in the work you do.

The most important thing when implementing this method is open communication and collaborative work since despite being a truly individualistic way of organizing work, it is necessary for all team members to be on the same page and work at a compatible pace, all in pursuit of the same goal.

If you are interested in learning more about this topic, or others related to remote work and freelance business, do not hesitate to follow us on social media and read our articles!

Andrea Corona