I am a case study in the value of work-at-home arrangements.
Whereas some people assume telecommuting means some sort of lightly-disguised vacation day, I was notably more productive on work-at-home days than I was when I was in the office.
I’d roll out of bed around 6 am. (Score! I already got to sleep in!) Then, after getting a cup of coffee I’d sit down at the computer in my pajamas and start to tackle the day. Sure, there would be breaks from time to time (eventually, I would shower. And refill the coffee.) But overall, I would typically put in more hours and finally accomplish the more creative, in-depth work that today’s office life of constant interruptions tends not to enable. At the end of the day I would be refreshed by not only the change in routine, but the marked lightening of my workload.
But then, I have a friend who found himself on his first work-at-home day entranced in daytime television and instant messaging. He finished the day with a frenzied rush to accomplish enough to not look like the slacker that he was. And he didn’t work-at-home again.
Telecommuting sounds like the ideal arrangement, but it’s not right for everyone. Understanding your personal drivers is essential to evaluating whether a work-at-home situation will make you more effective, or simply disconnected.
- Are you a social butterfly? Some people thrive off of the camaraderie, and the watercooler gossip, inherent in the office setting. Do you prefer to stop by someone’s desk to ask a question rather than email them? Do you enjoy participating in meetings face-to-face? Extroverts may feel lonely and disconnected if they work from home extensively. Know how spending extensive amounts of time alone will impact your psyche.
- Do you have a need for recognition? Unfortunately, “out of sight, out of mind” applies here. Sure, you’re a part of the team, and when necessary, people will ask your input. But when not necessary, you may find yourself forgotten. If being perceived as central to your team’s success is important to you, being out of the office is unlikely to support that.
- Can you draw boundaries? You can tell everyone that you’re working from home, but here’s a tip: no one in your personal life will listen to you. Suddenly your sister will call more often because “you’re just at home anyways,” and your spouse will rely on you to run all of the errands and handle things around the house because, well, you’re there. If you’re not sure if you can segment time for to-dos away from honey-dos, think twice about a telecommute arrangement.
- Can you manage your own work? If you have a tendency to procrastinate, it’s much easier to do when you’ve got a big screen TV in the next room. If the thought that you’re being monitored helps you keep your internet shopping to a minimum and keeps you meeting your deadlines, consider what might happen when oversight is limited.
Consider all of these factors before making the leap to professional homebody, and you’ll be much more likely to thrive in your role.
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- Can you build influence while telecommuting?
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