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| Title: | Are You Really Ready to Telecommute? |
| Author: | Angela Wu |
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Telecommuting is a big thing these days: no more commuting
nightmares, more time with the kids, more time for yourself,
flexible hours, increased productivity ... the list goes on and
on.
But what about the DISadvantages? And yes, there are plenty!
Working from home can be a wonderful experience for some people.
For others, it just isn't suitable. Some of the difficult things
about working from home include:
* Constant distractions: a dirty house, the TV, the eager dog
that wants to be walked ... you name it. Do you have the
willpower to ignore distractions and concentrate on your work?
* 'Out of sight, out of mind': telecommuters may not be kept 'in
the loop' with regards to company announcements, team issues,
whatever. Plus even if you consistently turn out excellent work,
your co-workers and boss may not see you and therefore they
don't really associate YOU with the high-quality work.
* Obsessive work: your home becomes your office, in a way, even
when you use a separate room as your office. You may be unable
to resist the temptation to do "just one more thing" ... and
before you know it, you spend much more time working than if you
were in the office.
* Pressure to 'prove yourself': telecommuters sometimes feel the
need to prove that they really are much more productive at home
than their coworkers in the office. This can lead to long hours
and significant stress.
* Lack of social contact: some people genuinely enjoy talking to
their co-workers. When they being to work from home, they don't
have that type of social interaction anymore. It's very easy to
feel isolated and alone.
* Misconceptions about home workers: unfortunate but true, there
are people who believe that anyone who "works from home" is
really just lazing around and having a vacation day at the
company's expense. Can you handle remarks of this nature from
coworkers, or even friends and family?
Everyone focuses on the BENEFITS of telecommuting - no surprise,
since who wouldn't enjoy the comfort and flexibility of working
from home? However, it's important to also look at the problems
surrounding telecommuting. Make no mistake, telecommuting is a
change in LIFESTYLE! Only you can decide if it's the right one
for you.
About the author:
Angela used to telecommute for a large corporation, but now
spends her days running an online business. She is the editor of
Online Business Basics, a newsletter for eBusiness beginners.
Visit her website at http://www.onlinebusinessbasics.com/ or
email her at mailto:angela@onlinebusinessbasics.com
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