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 In today's work environment many companies allow, and even encourage, their employees to work from home. If you're offered that option, you'll want to make sure that you keep the implied promise that's made when you're working from home - that you'll remain as productive in your home as you would be in the office.
In this article, we're going to provide some tips aimed at increasing your chances of working from home successfully. We'll talk about the equipment needed, and how to go about setting-up a home office. Finally, we're going to explain how to stay productive and motivated when working alone.
Working at Home
Whether you own a small business, or you're telecommuting, working from home presents some unique opportunities and challenges. You have a very short commute to work, you'll never have someone looking over your shoulder watching you work, and your starting as well as quitting times are pretty flexible.
But working from home also comes with its challenges - and that's going to be the focus of this publication. The three challenges we're going to address include:
- The home office equipment you'll need to stay connected with your employer or customers.
- Setting up a home office environment where you can work effectively.
- Creating an environment where you don't feel isolated.
Home Office Equipment
In today's "connected" world, we'll divide the home office equipment into two broad categories - workstations and communication devices. From a workstation standpoint, the ideal set up is a laptop computer due to its portability.
Laptop Computer
If you don't do a lot of work directly on a computer, then you might be able to get away with just the laptop. But if you're typing a lot, hooking-up a full size keyboard and mouse to the laptop's USB ports is an important upgrade. These two input devices can be purchased for less than $50 and eliminate a lot of the strain associated with the laptop's smaller keyboard and touchpad.
Internet / Network Connection
High-speed internet connections are also necessary for a comfortable home office setup. In many parts of the country DSL, FIOS, and cable are price-competitive with dial-up connections. Overall, the benefit gained by a high-speed connection is well worth the small incremental monthly fee.
Communication Devices
We'll touch on this topic in more depth later on, but working from home means physical isolation - so it's important to remain in communication with coworkers. In addition to your home's landline phone / speakerphone setup, you'll also want to carry a cell phone and / or a smart-phone such as a Blackberry, Palm Treo or Apple's iPhone.
Carrying a cellular phone allows you and your coworkers to feel connected - you're available to talk even if you're not in the same physical location. Smart-phones go one additional step further by allowing you to keep track of appointments and important incoming emails when you're away from your computer. And if you have a telephone at the office, then you'll want to make sure you're able to forward those incoming calls to your home phone or cell phone.
Many companies still don't allow their employees to use instant messaging (IM) systems. If you're lucky enough to work for a company that does, then make certain you take advantage of this technology when you need to have a brief exchange of information with a colleague.
Home Office Environments
If you're going to be effective working from home, then you'll need an environment that allows you to reach your full potential. This environment includes physical as well as organizational components.
Ideally, you'll want a home office that limits your distractions. This includes children, neighbors, as well as friends. It's simply unprofessional to have crying children or barking dogs in the background when you're talking to customers, clients, or coworkers. These distractions are uncomfortable for everyone involved and should be avoided. Make sure you have a quiet and / or controlled space at home that you can use to conduct teleconferences without interruptions.
Work Schedule
Although it's tempting to create your own work schedule, telecommuting work should be treated like standard workdays. You should maintain a set schedule, get dressed for work, and be at your home office each day on a fixed schedule of "core" hours. This is especially important if you're working closely with others. Even if you're working from home, associates you're working with should feel comfortable calling you with questions during normal office work hours.
Feeling Isolated When Working From Home
While working at home can be rewarding due to its comfort and convenience, it's not without its challenges. Ironically, the same feeling of "peace and quiet" that comes with a well thought through home office can also invoke feelings of isolation. By nature, even the most introverted individuals like to feel they are part of a larger group of individuals working towards the same goal.
We're going to finish-up this topic with some tips to help you feel less secluded when you're working from home:
- Take a Break - Make sure you plan breaks into your daily schedule. Take a quick walk around the block during lunch or even take a 15-minute nap. Taking a break from work can help you clear your head and prepare yourself mentally for the second half of the workday.
- Create a Social Network - If you're not seeing people at work every day, then consider creating a social network at home. Joining a gym is a great way to improve your health and meet new people.
- Call a Colleague - Take the time to call a colleague and talk about interests outside of the workplace. This will not only help you feel less isolated but also feel more connected to people back in the office.
- Leave the House - Go out for lunch with a friend, or simply go shopping. The idea is to get away from the house and be around other people. Even if you don't talk to anyone, you'll feel a greater sense of belonging and community.
About the Author - Successfully Working at Home
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