Not everyone who works from home is an entrepreneur. I know that’s obvious to some people but others don’t realize that corporate sales reps and other corporate employees are working from home too. Employers around the country finally are warming to the idea of letting employees telecommute—work from home a few days a week—instead of working in a corporate office every day. Ask yourself a few questions before you approach your boss about telecommuting.
Telecommuting can give you the best of both worlds.
- Are you computer literate? Telecommuters can work anywhere and at all hours, simply by having the right equipment. When you telecommute, you’ll need the basics: a computer; printer, voice mail system and a separate business line (or you can use your cell phone).
- Do you have space in your home for a home office? Think outside the home office box and use a spare bedroom, guest room, attic or any other space where you know you’ll work. Otherwise the refrigerator, television, and your family can distract you.
- Do you have children? If so, you’ll need to hire help. Working from home isn’t a substitute for childcare, especially when your boss expects you to be productive when you’re working from home.
- Do you have a clear job description and do you know what your boss expects from you? Depending on your boss, you won’t have the personal contact with him or her that you did before—which can be a good thing—so you need to set progress milestones and arrange monthly or weekly face-to-face meetings
- Are you a self-starter? Without the physical constraints of a corporate office, you’ll need to motivate yourself to start working each day and continue working throughout the day.
- Do you have basic organizing skills from time management to project management? When you start working naked and you’re disorganized, it’s up to you to bring order to your office. Learning new organizing habits could be a matter of survival.
