Lesson 1: Is Telecommuting Right For You?
Profile of a telecommuter
Do you have what it takes to be a successful telecommuter? Unfortunately, it?s not as easy as just owning a home computer. Telecommuting requires some specific character traits, some of which not every worker has. The following section outlines the profile of the typical telecommuter. Try to put yourself in his/her shoes for the long haul, not just for a day or two. Be honest with yourself -- some people are just not cut out for working from home. Others think it's a dream come true. Most of us are somewhere in the middle. We thrive in many different work environments.
Take a look at the following profile. The successful telecommuter:
Works with little supervision
As a telecommuter, you'll need to make your own decisions with little input from managers and co-workers. You won't be able to just turn to the guy at the next desk and ask a question. You'll also have to be able to work with little feedback from your boss. If you constantly need to know how you're doing on a particular task, telecommuting may not be for you.
Easily overcomes distractions
When you're sitting at your desk at work, you can't just get up anytime you feel like it and stretch, get a snack, talk on the phone, play around on the Internet, pet the dog, turn on the TV, check the mail, vacuum, water the plants, do some laundry or wash the windows. At home, you can do all that and then some. It's extremely important that you are able to ignore distractions and actually do the work that's in front of you. I'll talk about ways to help you do this in another lesson, but you need to have the innate ability to begin with or you will not be a successful telecommuter.
Works well in isolation
Working well with little supervision is different than working in absolute isolation. Some people thrive on the social aspects of the office -- the kinship, the camaraderie, the gossip. Others could do without seeing another human being all day long. You'll need to decide which of these people fits your profile. If you need constant human contact, then telecommuting is not for you.
Is extremely well-organized
If you are the type of person who lives in constant clutter, telecommuting may not be the best choice for you. Unlike your desk at work which may be covered in papers with no ill effects on your job performance, a cluttered desk at home can wreak havoc on your productivity. You simply don't have the luxury of digging through a stack of papers in order to get your work done at home. Successful telecommuting requires a strict schedule (we'll talk more about this in later lessons), and time is always of the essence. What's more, clutter in your home is probably not comprised completely of work-related stuff -- digging through your home and work paperwork is an impossibility.
Knows when to clock out
Successful telecommuters not only know how to stay on task when they're working, they also know when to stop. If you're a workaholic and you work from home, don't expect to ever see your family again. It's just too easy to go in that office and shut the door. Workaholics need an outside office they can leave every once in a while.
These are just a few of the traits a successful telecommuter must possess. Please read the first half of Chapter 3 in Telecommute! Go to Work without Leaving Home. Read the sections titled "Why do you want to telecommute?" "Are you cut out for telecommuting?" and "Is your job right for telecommuting?" Answer the questions listed there. I think they'll help you decide whether you're a good candidate for telecommuting.
You may also want to take the telecommuting aptitude test at June Langhoff's Telecommuting Resource Center.
