Many professional are moving from working in a traditional office to telecommuting and working from a home office. Although there are many reasons for making this switch - one thing is for sure: the transition can be a difficult one. Read on to find some great tips for making your transition a smooth one.
Create a Plan That Will Work
So you've gotten the approval to begin the experience of telecommuting. There's no doubt that you and your loved ones are excited about a more flexible schedule, spending less time and money traveling to work, and spending less money on clothes for work. Although you're excited, it's important to create a plan that will ensure your success. You know the old saying "a failure to plan is a plan to fail."
Communicate With Your Boss
You might think it goes without saying to communicate with your boss, but you'll find it necessary when ironing out the wrinkles of your plan. He/she probably has some concerns so ensure him/her that you've planned to communicate regularly. This will ease his/her mind about the unknown aspects that could negatively impact your company.
Schedule Regular Meetings To Communicate Expectations With Your Colleagues
Communication can be a challenge when you're not down the hall or in the cubicle next to your teammates. Be prepared to schedule regular communication sessions with your colleagues/teammates. Not only will meetings ensure you're communicating about the impact your work has on your teammates, but it will ease tension. Chances are - some of your teammates are a bit unsure of how your absence from the office will affect their responsibilities. Holding regular meetings will both communicate that your telecommuting will not be a negative experience and keep it from turning into one.
Be Flexible
When you first begin telecommuting, you'll find many "unknowns". Every expert will tell you to be flexible with a new experience, so treat it as such. When you do, you'll be ready to quickly change your system if it's not working.
Don't Expect The Transition To Be Perfect...Evaluate It Often
Recognize that you will have to change components of your plan because some things aren't going to work. Even the best laid plans have snags. Focus on looking for ways to improve them. Doing this will communicate volumes to your boss and co-workers. They'll see that you're not only willing, but are determined to make this arrangement work.
Work Harder
Telecommuting can be a major advantage for both telecommuters and employers. In fact, many employers boast that there is higher productivity in telecommuters and less turn-over. While this is a fact, it's also necessary to show your employer exactly what the advantages are for the company. Expect that you'll have to work harder to prove this is the case in your situation. Exhibit how thankful you are for the opportunity during difficulties and buckle down to work through them. Many telecommuters report that because the expectations are higher it's necessary to find more inventive ways to get their job done.
Although navigating through the transition may seem difficult to work though, both you and your company will be happier in the long run.
Happy telecommuting.....
For more resources on telecommuting, visit the following links.
http://www.momstoday.com/articles/career-matters/telecommuting-transition-2879/
Telecommuting - Starting with the Right Attitude
