By: Keith Kefgen and Rosemary Mahoney - Oct, 1997
The U.S. Census Report estimates that nearly 9 million Americans are classified as telecommunicators, more than double the number in 1990. Also, approximately two thirds of all Fortune 500 companies employ telecommuters in one form or another. One of the most popular forms of telecom-muting is 'hoteling" (being assigned a desk via a reserva-tions system). So it seems inevitable that telecommuting and the hotel business finally converge. In fact, we at HVS International have a number of employees that are successful telecommuters. What is the secret to their success'
Below is a list of some of the challenges of telecommuting
and corresponding strategies that can be applied to
over-come them.
Waking with no "clock in" time.
Have something scheduled to wake up for. An aerobics
class or a time at the gym will not only get you out of bed, but it will
give you plenty of energy to be effective and efficient in your home office.
Separating your home office life
from your work life.
Make sure that your office is in a separate room, or
at least in a sectioned off area from the rest of your home. You must make
yourself feel as if you have a designated office, an area just for you
and no one else. The kitchen or dining room table is not a desk! We also
recommend not working in your pajamas, it will only hinder the separation
of work and home life.
Being out of sight and out of
mind from your boss.
Your boss and associates will not see the time and effort
that you put into every assignment, they will only see quantitative results.
In the office, you have the luxury of being noticed, but out of the office,
there is nothing but results to measure. It has been our experience that
focused telecommuters actually produce superior work. It must be true that
when the boss is gone, employees get more work done.
Technical bloopers.
You no longer have your MIS department to fix your computer,
fax, printer or modem glitches. In order to work remote, it is essen-tial
to be computer literate, and be a technical jack-of-all-trades. Perhaps
your solution lies in reading the manual, or calling the customer service
department of the computer manufacturer to speak with someone who will
walk you through the repair steps. If your computer is down, then you really
can't be "telecommuting."
Cabin fever.
It is extremely important, not only for your sanity,
but for your health, to get out of your home. Make lunch plans with a friend,
take a walk around the block or go hit a few golf balls at the driving
range. If your only office is at home, as opposed to working at home half
the week and in the office the other half { we recommend planning a few
lunch activities with friends and colleagues. Working alone and doing activities
alone may result in perhaps becoming a little too introverted for your
line of work.
End of day clock-out.
For some of us, calling it quits can be difficult, however,
there must be a time for you to say enough is enough. If your family starts
eating dinner without you, then that is probably a sign to close up shop
for the day.
Remember, telecommuting is not for everyone. Under the correct circumstances. though, employers can attract and retain valuable employees. A recent study by the SBA found that telecommuters get promoted at a greater rate than nontelecommuters, while getting paid comparable wages. Good luck and happy "hoteling."
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