Lesson 1: Is Telecommuting Right For You?
Top 10 telecommuting myths
There are many misconceptions when it comes to working from home. This section will dispel the myths to give you a more realistic idea of what it's really like.
Myth #1: Telecommuting is easier than an office job.
If telecommuting were that easy, everyone would be doing it. The fact is, working from home is simply not for everyone, and it's far from easy. It takes more commitment and determination than any in-office job I know of.
Myth #2: Telecommuting can be done any time of day or night.
While you will be free to set your own schedule, there is a limit to your freedom. You can't work in the middle of the night if you're working on a project that requires communication with your boss during office hours. Oftentimes, you'll still have to work normal business hours in order to make phone calls, place orders, or do other kinds of daily business.
Myth #3: Telecommuting will negatively affect your career.
Many people assume that telecommuters are just extra baggage in an office, that they are somehow disposable employees. While this is far from the truth, you may need to step up and remind your boss and co-workers of this fact from time-to-time. Don't allow yourself to be passed up for promotions or raises simply because you don't work in the office. This reiterates the necessity of being extremely well-organized -- be sure to keep track of your job performance to show to managers when necessary.
Myth #4: Telecommuters are lazy and get away with doing less work.
I think you'll realize how untrue this myth is by the end of the course. Telecommuters are not only NOT lazy, they actually have to work harder to stay more organized, be more diligent with their schedules, and stay "in the loop" at work.
Myth #5: Telecommuters do not need child care.
It doesn't matter how well you think you can handle work and kids at the same time, I have yet to see a successful telecommuter who does not need child care at least part of the time. You wouldn't bring your kids to the office with you all day, would you? Well, watching your kids while you try to work from home can be just as disastrous. You may not need full-time child care like you would if you worked in-office, but you'll at least need someone there to keep an eye on things when you're particularly busy.
Myth #6: Telecommuting is stress-free.
This is one of the biggest myths of them all. Telecommuting can lower your job stress by eliminating in-your-face co-workers and screaming managers, but the stress has a way of emerging in other aspects of your job. Time will be the biggest stressor because you will never feel as productive when you work from home. You will always feel you're not doing quite enough. You will also feel pressure to stay informed of office goings-on. As with other kinds of stress, you will learn to accept it, but don't think for a minute that life as a telecommuter is stress-free.
Myth #7: Telecommuting offers no benefits to your employer.
Your boss may try to tell you this, but it is certainly a myth. We'll talk more about the benefits of telecommuting when we discuss approaching your boss, but just keep in mind that telecommuting saves your employer money because it lowers office expenses, it increases employee productivity and morale, and it decreases turnover.
Myth #8: Telecommuting can be done in your pajamas.
Sure, there's no law that says you have to get dressed to work from home. But you will feel more professional and even be more productive if you take a few minutes to put on some comfortable clothes. We'll talk more about this later.
Myth #9: Telecommuting eliminates office politics.
You may not be there for all the gossip, but you need to keep yourself in the loop in order to stay in the forefront of everyone's mind. That means you have to take the good with the bad - you will be staying in touch, which is good, but you will also be susceptible to office politics. It's a fact of life.
Myth #10: Telcommuting is an "alternative" work situation that is only for cutting-edge people.
In fact, telecommuting is one of the fastest-growing workplace trends in America. According to the 2001 Telework America survey by the International Telework Association and Council, one in five American workers telework. A survey released by Cahners In-Stat Group in January 2001 revealed that the number of U.S. telecommuters grew from roughly 19 million in 2000 to 32 million in 2001. Nearly 24 percent of U.S. workers telecommute, and this percentage is expected to increase to 28 percent in 2004, growing to nearly 40 million. (These figures were taken from June Langhoff's Telecommuting Resource Center.)
Check out these Web sites for more interesting telecommuting myths:
YouCanWorkFromAnywhere.com
About.com
Suite101
What do you all think of these myths? Were you surprised about anything?
