17.08.2016 / 17:28:30

My Home is my Office

Tami Lancut Leibovitz

Eight million Americans have relocated their offices to their homes.   In most modern countries, also a growing number of people work out of their homes. This phenomenon is not unique to women who see this as a way of combining domestic responsibilities with career choices – but many men also prefer to work from home using their computer, fax and other sophisticated equipment.

On the face of it, this is a perfect solution though, in fact, has its problems as many who failed to succeed and returned to regular work outside the home, will testify. It is not easy totally to separate domestic from business needs, unlike working from a city office. At home, one has to always keep to the limits. The freedom and lack of commitment to the domestic office can quickly slide into absolute anarchy. Suddenly we lose control of time and output. It is hard to retain the pressure of creative and dynamic work. One has to persistently shut out bothersome and inquisitive people, and cope with distracting temptations and lazy mornings.

Before you decide to resign your independent job or quit the cellar of your house for an office floor in a fashionable city tower, try out the following principles of manner and logic:

1. Business takes priority over home: the fact that your home has become your workplace is secondary. Your job takes top priority. If you can afford to, install a separate telephone line with an answering service or electronic answering system in your office space, and don't allow family members to use it or answer callers when you are busy. Family members must fully respect the separation between household needs and your work requirements.
2. Close yourself off: It is important that your office should be isolated and closed off from household noise and badgering people. It is most embarrassing to talk with a buyer or a client over the phone to the sound of a vacuum cleaner, children's TV program or a dog barking in the background. It is easier to concentrate in a closed room and dedicate yourself to uninterrupted work.
3. Obstinacy and determination. Gird yourselves with a large dose of stubbornness against people who discover you are at home as they want to chat with you over coffee. It is much easier to say: "Sorry, no time for friends, now," instead of crying over lost time spent with your best friends. Also children and spouses must be instructed: No unnecessary disturbances.
4. Work dress: At home, work hours and leisure time tend to get mixed up. One way of separating them is to dress properly before you go to your room. You can forget the tie and the jacket and, in the case of women, high heels, but don't be tempted to sit in front of the computer barefoot in your dressing gown - such a belittling appearance will undermine your good, professional intentions.
5. Professional Image: Working out of home does not free you from improving your professional image: record a short, official answer on your phone answering machine; your business card, letterhead and logo should include your name and basic details. If you don't want to publicize your home address, hire a private box at your nearest post office branch. Manage an organized diary of your business meetings with the backup of a large desk calendar. These items should be in your office space and for your personal use only.
6. Reception Hours:  Even if your job does do not include business meetings with clients or buyers, you must stay in touch with your professional world. Don't miss conferences and conventions, invite business guests to them and don't hesitate to initiate meetings with professional colleagues at home, outside and abroad. For various reasons it is not always convenient or feasible to host a client or business guest at your private house and so it is quite customary to hold these meetings in a quiet café nearby.
7. Ongoing Update: A disadvantage of working at home, compared to a formal office, is the absence of frequent professional interaction with colleagues, exchange of information about innovations and new ideas and up-to-date data naturally reaches the office and external companies. Avoid becoming a hermit closed off from sources of information, and organize a professional library drawing on every suitable source. Also, keep your ear to the ground because, after all, it might be worthwhile to hold down a part-time job outside the home in your professional field.
8. Self-discipline: Many people who chose to work from home have discovered that without a tight framework it is hard to keep to a high level of self-discipline. There's no doubt that  work from home exposes you to this kind of effort, and for those who are unable to cope with it, it's better to recognize it and return to a conventional framework.