Make the most of your office visit

Those dreaded words no work-at-home employee wants to hear: "We need you to come to the office for (this)."

Sends chills up your spine, doesn't it? Then your mind starts whirling around... I have to get up earlier? Do I still have any work pants that fit? Do I have gas in my car? What will I do with the dogs while I'm gone? And so on.

Let's face it. We're all going to hear it at some point. If you live close to work, you may hear it more often. If you live far away, it may not be as often, but tends to be a bigger ordeal to orchestrate. At some time, something will come up where your hands are tied and you have to go. After you complete the stages of grieving over the loss of your home for the day, you end up in Acceptance. And then what?

When you have finally come to terms with it, now you need to take advantage of it. If you had to leave your comfort zone, make sure you cash in. Make it worth your while. Don't come back home with any regrets or missed opportunities.

Here are some tips when planning your in-office visit:

• Don't book your day full of meetings. Leave as much of your time booked for impromptu conversations. Chances are that there are a large number of people that want to see you and you want to give them that chance. Staying locked away closes the door (literally) on those run-ins.
• Attend meetings in person. Take the room option, and if there isn't one, ask to make an exception this time. People will be so glad to see you that they won't mind the trouble of the conference room booking system.
• Let people know you are coming in. Share where you will be, what hours you have free, etc. Send an email or tell them on other meetings in advance so they can clear up some time to visit with you. Don't leave anyone telling you "I wish I would have known..."
• Schedule some social time. Arrive early, stay late, go out to lunch. Get in those casual meetings that are only slightly about work but help build lasting bonds.
• If you are traveling from further away, book an extra day or two to ensure you have time for all of your networking.
• Also if traveling, schedule something bigger with folks after work such as dinner or going to a local sporting event. Make every minute of your trip count.
• Reach out to someone you normally wouldn't. Expand your horizons. Build a bigger network.
• Don't complain about having to be in the office. No one wants to hear you whine. They are excited you are in, so don't belittle that with your bellyaching. 
• Don't forget the office rules. Double check on dress code, weather, traffic, meeting locations, and all the prep stuff so that your time in the office is focused on the interactions and not the distractions.
• Be present. Be available. Be social. Just be.
• Smile :-)