Successful telecommuting requires discipline

Successful telecommuting requires discipline


By Mark Schnurman/The Star-Ledger

March 28, 2010, 2:00PM



More and more companies are letting employees telecommute, or work remotely. There are many benefits to this, such as lower costs, less time spent commuting and a more comfortable environment. About 2.5 million employees telecommute regularly and another 30 percent of employees do it on an ad hoc, or as-needed, basis.

The challenges of telecommuting are significant. When I work at home, I am distracted by the TV, my children and diversions of everyday life. In an effort to learn about this work style I consulted an expert.

Steve Smith of West Orange is an impressive individual. He has an engineering degree, an MBA, along with diverse corporate and higher education experience. Steve and his family recently moved to New Jersey from the Pittsburgh area, and he continues to work for Carnegie Mellon University. As a member of the university’s corporate relations organization, he is responsible for establishing and managing relationships with corporations, with a strong emphasis on connecting companies with the world-class research conducted by the faculty. I asked Steve to set the record straight on how to effectively work remotely. Here are some tips:

•Be self-motivated. Steve told me, "You cannot look at telecommuting as a part-time job or a way to slack off. You must make sure you are contributing to your organization and meeting your goals. For me, I also have the opportunity to provide additional value to the university by meeting with our many alumni in the area to explore new corporate relationships with companies in the NJ-NY area."

•Overcommunicate. When you work remotely, it is critical to stay connected to your boss and colleagues. "I copy my boss on more e-mails than I used to, to make sure that he knows what I am doing, how projects are progressing and informing him of any critical issues." Steve said. "I also use the phone a lot more than in the past. E-mail is impersonal, so I use the phone to connect on a personal, as well as professional, level." Prospective telecommuters also should be aware that important discussions can be conducted via video conferencing that allows you to have face time with people. Solutions like Skype have a nominal cost and can be used effectively with a simple web camera.

•Communicate carefully. At my company, employees who telecommute have their interactions and communications scrutinized. Specifically, we look to ensure they respond quickly to requests and that their productivity continues to meet expectations. If you are telecommuting, stay on top of your e-mails and phone messages.

•Create a virtual office environment. Steve said he missed the camaraderie of an office environment. "I no longer have a water cooler to connect with people, so it is important to use other informal modes of communication." Some organizations may benefit from using social networking tools, such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

•Structure your day. Schedule and structure your day as if you work in an office. Steve, who is very organized, said, "Each day, I have a routine. I get up every morning, shower and go about my day like I would in an office. My home office is outfitted with a desk, two phone lines, my PC and fax machine; everything I need. Staying focused and having structure is critical to my success."

•Create parameters between work and life. Typically, we think of people slacking off and falling prey to the distractions of home, but just the opposite often occurs. When telecommuting, it is necessary to trumpet the end of the workday or you can risk getting tied up indefinitely.

If you want to telecommute, it is important that you emphasize the organizational benefits when speaking to your manager. Stress that you will be able to work longer, harder and with less distractions and that it will cost the company less money. It may help to suggest you start slowly — a day or two a week — and build from there. Then deliver the promised productivity. After all, the proof is in the pudding.

The bottom line is that organizations covet employees who add value. By following Steve’s advice, telecommuters can add even greater value to their organizations.

Mark Schnurman may be reached at holbertgroup@hotmail.com or on the web at markschnurman.com.