Giving employees the option of working from home (WFH) is often cited as a perk to attract and retain employees while at the same time giving some level of flexibility in schedules.
The pros of WFH are obvious: no commute, huge savings on office space, no more need for dry cleaning services…to name a few.
The cons, on the other hand, are not necessarily apparent: how will you stay productive while not in an office? What about distractions or being surrounded by others?
How do you manage meetings and conference calls with people who aren’t all in the same place at the same time?
Can you even count on your internet connection?
Fortunately, there are plenty of tools out there to make WFH easier (and more productive) than you might think.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Define your goal
Working from home means that, for all intents and purposes, you’re on call 24/7.
So, if you’re going to do it, give some serious thought as to why you want to work from home and what kind of results your company is expecting from that decision.
2. Set up a dedicated working space
A common concern about WFH is that it will be harder to stay productive without the physical proximity to colleagues and clients.
If this sounds like something you might struggle with, setting up a specific room for meetings and calls is a must.
Make sure there’s enough room for all the equipment you need: computer, phone, printer/scanner/fax machine, etc.
Oh…and make sure you take regular breaks to eat healthy food to refuel. This website has you covered.
3. Plan for distractions
Even if you’re not concerned about productivity loss, everyone’s heard horror stories of employees who come home and turn into couch potatoes because they never leave their personal space.
If that sounds like the perfect scenario for you then perhaps you could do with some custom cannabis jars? They’re great to help you switch off and relax for the night.
If you want to prevent this situation it’s best to only work between certain hours and take time off on a regular basis.
4. Dress for success…sort of
While most companies don’t require formal business attire when working from home, there’s something to be said for putting on at least something presentable when you’re meeting with other people.
Not only does it help them treat you like they would in your office, but it’s also good for your own self-esteem.
5. Keep the internet connection stable
We’ve all heard horror stories of employees who had great home internet connections until one day it magically stopped working.
This won’t do you any good if you’re trying to rank for SEO Toronto related searches. You need strong, reliable internet 24/7. Don’t cheap out.
6. Test everything!
If there’s one thing that can get really frustrating about WFH, it’s the lack of control you have over some things.
And it doesn’t get much more frustrating than when that happens while you’re working with someone who’s in a different time zone or that’s 8,000 miles away.
Therefore, we recommend preparing for these situations by having backup plans ready at all times.
For example, if your computer is acting up during an important call with one of your best clients, have what you need to get them back on track on another device so you don’t risk losing their business because of something out of your control.
The bottom line
Working from home is a great opportunity, but it can also be really stressful.
Having the right tools and getting prepared for any situation will help you overcome those challenges and enjoy the newfound flexibility.
