6 useful tips for remote working in your Business

With reliable, high-speed connections at home,
employees are asking their managers if they can work
there instead of the office. Technically, it’s possible for
a lot of positions, but there are some jobs and personalities
that a manager might prefer to keep under tight supervision.If your request to work at home is approved, it means your managers value your contribution
and trust your work ethic. It’s not a license to goof off. Chances are your performance will be monitored
much more closely once you start clocking in from home.For employees, working remotely can help you maintain a better work-life balance and lower commuting,
wardrobe and dining costs. Allowing employees to work from home can also benefit companies.
Offering a flexible work environment can help attract and retain top talent.Some companies have even been able to reduce real estate costs and
other overhead associated with maintaining offices.
An arrangement that allows you to work at home requires more than your manager’s approval. Here
are some suggestions to maximize a smooth transition from working at the office to working from home:Hardware and Software
Before you ask to work from home, make sure you have a proper workspace available to you. Both your
computer and your Internet connection need to support the demands of your job. That means both must
be reliable. It’s  frowned upon when a home worker can’t function because the home Internet connection
has taken the day off.  Also, if you work with a specialized program, can your home PC support it? If not,
do you have (or can you get) a  company laptop that is capable of running the software?

Keep in mind that as a home worker, you’ll be expected to troubleshoot minor problems with your system.
Some companies do invite home workers to bring their systems into the office to install corporate software
and resolve problems. However, unless you’re married to an IT staffer, it’s unlikely a tech will make a trip to
your home.

Security
If your job requires you to work within the company’s firewall, you’ll need to remotely access it. The most
common way of doing this is to use virtual private networking software that tunnels into the corporate
network and encrypts traffic going in and out of it. Most companies have VPN solutions in place, and the
technology is available for  Windows and Macintosh computers.

Before you tunnel in, your company may require you to have the latest anti-virus software installed. This
will protect its network while you’re accessing it. It also will prevent important company documents from
being destroyed or  swiped by malware on your computer.

Time Management
Remote workers face two major time-management traps: Wasting time and giving away time.
The first category is often the result of a lack of oversight. Without a manager present, the worker may be
tempted to spend too much time surfing websites, chatting with family or on other non-work-related
activities.  They are violating the employer’s trust, and that will eventually be noticed as productivity
and performance  degrade. The second time- management trap is the opposite. Some home workers find
it difficult to stop working.  They do not have to catch a train or hop in the car to make it home for dinner.
So they continue working. The  workday bleeds into family time and,  eventually, spouses and children
notice. If the problem persists,  performance will degrade due to burnout.

The key to working remotely is managing time effectively. Workers need to be as organized and punctual as
they were when working from the corporate office. At the same time, they need to be able to step aside when
the workday is over and enjoy life beyond work.

Dealing with Distractions
There are distractions at the office (gossip, politics, deliverymen and chatty co-workers), but nothing
compares to the infinite number of distractions at home. Everyday things such as television, family
members, the telephone,  neighbors,  and even the need to run a quick errand can lure you away from
your home office and the work you  need to be doing.   As tempting as these distractions may be, you
must ignore them and focus on the job you’re  paid to do. Sometimes,  dealing with distractions can be
as simple as not answering the phone when the call isn’t  work-related, or closing the  door to your home
office. If you must run an errand during the day, tell your manager  first and explain why you have  to
do it during working hours.

Have a Plan
When your request to work remotely is approved, sit down with your direct manager and talk through
his or her  expectations.  Does your boss expect you to check in when you start the workday and check
out at the end? Some  managers ask their  employees to send a quick note summarizing the day’s
accomplishments and activities. You’ll  also want to make sure you know your manager’s communications
preferences. Some prefer phone calls while  others ask to stay in touch via email or  instant messages.
Finally, encourage the manager to be open about any problems that might arise. You’d rather hear about
these little annoyances over the phone than be called into  the office to discuss them after they’ve
snowballed into major  performance problems.

Staying Connected with the Workplace
You may no longer have an office, but you still need to stay connected with your co-workers.
This can be a challenge when you work at home.

First, if you are a remote worker, make sure you know your manager’s
expectations. Are you expected to be available every minute of the workday by instant message, email or
telephone?

Second, make sure you are on the right  email distribution lists for corporate and staff
announcements. When you’re in the office, you may get all your news from
co-workers while in the break room. That won’t happen when your break
room is your family kitchen so be sure to maintain a network of
coworkers so you don’t fall too far out of the loop.

Third, be extra diligent about  promptly responding to
emails and other communications from your managers and co-workers.
Finally, make it a  point to visit the office on a regular basis.
This will help ensure that your being out of
sight doesn’t mean you’re out of mind.