From CEO's and executives to small business owners, salesman to engineers, technology is changing the way we connect our lives with our work. There are two opposite schools of thought on if they should connect, each sure the other just doesn't get the benefit of their own proposed way of life. One believes that work and home should be separated into distinct buckets and rarely should the two meet. The others are compelled to bring the two together and allow each to coexist. These two approaches to life are referred to as Segregators and Integrators respectively.

Segregators have very defined work boundaries, established business hours and don't embrace the idea that they should be available for friends and family during the work day. Work tasks are to be done during work hours and if extra work needs to be done, they will stay late to get it done. You will also notice that segregators turn off their cell phones when they get home or go to a movie. This is to protect the family time. They often complain that technology is taking away from the ability to separate work and family.

Integrators tend to gravitate towards mobility devices such as Blackberries and laptops, flexible work hours, and remote working locations. The fact that technology allows them to connect to anything from anywhere is a blessing and not a curse in the eyes of the integrator. They tend to believe that most of their tasks can be performed from anywhere in the world, as long as they have their mobile office handy. You will often find them stepping out of movies or high-school basketball games to take a call or emailing while standing in line at the grocery store. They will work late hours at home, rather than the office.

Not all roles are conducive to either approach however. If you think of a factory worker, security guard and bank teller, performance of these duties can only be performed on location, with full attention on the task. Having a teller talking on the telephone while taking your deposit would, and should, be frowned upon. Likewise, a pastor, a CEO, doctor and anyone who is in a position of providing real-time information and direction may be better suited to being an integrator. In other cases, there is a malleable center. The role could be performed by either an integrator or a segregator.

It really doesn't matter which style you are as much as it matters that you understand that both can be, and are, very successful. As a leader, you should embrace both approaches and mentor your employees in ways to make them successful and productive. Good leaders know that results are what matter. Providing employees with the tools and atmosphere to succeed as an integrator or a segregator will build loyalty and productivity.

The following sites have great resources for those wishing to be better equipped to be or to lead and integrator or segregator:

Making Home Work - Entrepreneur.com

The Dark Side - Entrepreneur.com

Keep 'Em Separated