How to Telecommute

Resource for Employers, Employees and Entrepreneurs - information on telecommuting, products, services and opportunities

Trends

According to a recent Gartner Report, by the end of 2008 over 100 million workers, worldwide, work from home at least one day a week. That figure is up from 82 million in 2005, due to the rate of technological advancements over the past few years. Research shows that executives foresee this trend and in many ways are embracing it, due to the benefits to company, and employee alike. The convenience and greater work/life balance are only a few of the benefits cited.

According to a recent CDW survey, 76 percent of Companies now provide technical support for remote workers, that is an increase of 27 percent from 2007. This means, not only are companies allowing telecommuting, but they are willing to provide company resources to support the effort. This is a great mindset change from just 5 years ago.

For the Worker

So, what does that mean to you? If your company offers telecommuting, you may need to approach your manager to see if it is a good fit for your job. You may find that your boss is hesitant for reasons other than your ability. They may be resistant because they find managing someone remotely is frightening. In this case, you will have to provide them every reason to believe you are trust worthy, and anxious to make the solution work. However, many companies, even in this day of technology and advancement, are not yet equipped for workers to access their networks or systems remotely. If this is the case, unless you have the ability to assist in their technological growth process, the best you will be able to do is to leave them with the information, benefits, and arguments for moving toward a telecommuting policy.

What is your mindset?

Companies that use or hire teleworkers are interested in serious workers. If you are going to compete in this market you will have to prove your medal.

Companies that require you to provide your own computer equipment in order to access their network, will require you to have specific hardware and software, specific versions as well as specific antivirus protection. Serious teleworkers will step up and comply with these requirements, teleworkers who do not will be declined. It is imperative that you set up your home office as though it were your own business - that means No Kids playing on your office computer!

Because you are not in the office, and you are out of sight from your boss, you have to realize that your boss, as well as your team makes may think that because you work from home, you are somehow slacking. It is your job, to work that much harder to make the work you do more visible.

I always say, "It isn't what you do, it is who sees you do it."

So you will need to make sure that the work you do, and the time you spend is visible to others.

Be Task-Oriented or Goal-Oriented and Be productive. Make it known when you expect to complete tasks, and keep your word. Be professional, be involved. For example, in your emails with your boss or you team, you indicate that you are working on x project today, and on Thursday you will finish up y. Then on Friday, email the team to let them know you have completed and upload the project or the deliverables as promised. You will find that on-site workers can get away with hiding, laying low, or blending into the background. However, remote workers must go out of their way to be visibly working.

Stay in Contact. Call, instant message, email, fax, text, whatever it takes, stay in contact with the boss and your team to ensure they know the status of all projects. Keep people in the loop. Ask questions, ask for input.

Show your Face. If you work remote everyday, schedule office time. Don’t be completely invisible. If you work in the office some days, schedule meetings on those days, take advantage of your time on-site. Show up for the team celebrations or Birthday Lunches - you ARE part of the team, so make an effort.

More ideas on being productive and being a successful telecommuter can be found in the Telecommuter's Handbook