Winning at Work: Working Virtually Takes Special Preparations

Advances in social networking, video conferencing, cloud storage, and mobile technology have enabled more and more employees to work virtually. A sizeable percentage of the U.S. workforce telecommutes from home at least part of the time. There are some challenges that can make it difficult for some people to work from home. One concern is that people miss the personal contact and social interaction that come with working in an office. Many people have difficulty creating boundaries between their work and home life. Finally, it takes discipline to work from home since there are no managers or colleagues around to motivate or prompt you to get things done. To work effectively virtually, you should have an effective work area that feels like an office; you should work specific hours and keep to your schedule; you should establish and maintain a morning routine; your family and friends must leave you alone to focus on your work; you should have a list of goals that must be accomplished; you need to maintain communication with your professional network; and take steps to ensure you get the desired level of human interaction. Not everyone is well suited for virtual work so it is important to know your true characteristics and strengths before beginning virtual work.

Discussion Questions/Topics:

• As a manager, what questions would you ask a job applicant to determine if the candidate is a good choice for a position that relies on telecommuting?
• If you have telecommuted for a current or previous job, what actions did you take to help you focus on work? If you have not telecommuted, what actions would you need to take to stay focused on work?
• What can a company do to create a sense of community when most or all of the firms employees telecommute?