Being provided an opportunity to work
remote by your employer is truly a privilege and should never be viewed as a
right or requirement. You’re lucky, your boss believes in your work ethic, and
has the trust in you to do the job at hand regardless of your location. But,
working remote can be difficult, especially if this is a new opportunity for
you. So, how can you be the most productive when working remote?
First of all, selecting the right
location or environment is key, and this is probably the most important.
Working from home can be good, but working from home will most likely also
contain the most distractions. Kids, dog, spouse, phone, delivery, or the
convenience of snacks. All of these distractions may seem small, but added up they become a huge time suck. If you are going to choose home for the
location, you need to pretend as though you’re going to the office. Keep your
regular wake-up / shower routine in place. Find a spot in your home to call the
office and establish this space as your only work location within the four
walls. Don’t walk around with your laptop and plop down on the couch. If you
can, avoid home altogether, and find a slower paced coffee shop or a “quiet
room” at the library. There are distractions even at your office, but finding
ways to minimize is the first major step.
Next, plan your day no differently than
if you were in your office, such as listing out your to-do’s, planning for the
phone calls of the day, and having the set of “must complete items” before calling it
a day. Being organized when working remote is even more of a requirement than
if you were in the office. Again, you’ll experience a few more distractions, so
make sure you plan ahead for the time it will take to fulfill your obligations
for the day.
This is not social hour. You are on the
clock and so you must avoid the social temptations that come along with working
remote. Grabbing coffee or lunch with a friend is great, but unless you would
do this activity when working from the office, leave it alone. Avoid the
temptation to be social with your personal contacts simply because of the
convenience factor. Again, work must come first.
Lastly, check in with the office on a
regular basis. Make sure you are getting messages from voicemail, be readily
available when called upon by a coworker, and touch base with your boss just
for the sake of touching base. This shows you are taking this opportunity
seriously and not taking advantage of their trust. Many ‘A’ level sales people
are much more productive when working remote. It is a sense of freedom that
allows these individuals to take on the tasks of the day without hesitation.
But, success can be diminished if you take the opportunity for granted, and don’t
get the same amount of work done as you would if you were in the office (or
more!).