Represent

Did you know that the entire future of Work-At-Home rests on your shoulders? YOUR shoulders? Well, it does.

Work at home employees are constantly under a microscope. We know that we have to work 150%+ compared to the average worker to "compensate" for our distance. But what happens when work at home goes wrong? Answer: You ruin it for everyone.

It's an unfair reality, but any misstep when you are remote is associated with the fact that you are remote. The same mistake could happen in the office, or be worse in the office, but the world is wearing local-colored glasses and only sees your demographics. Whatever happened, being at home is to blame.

Worse, when they blame home for the mistake, they cast a wide net and associate that mistake with everyone. You all remember Yahoo! pulling back, right? Whatever their issue was, it surely wasn't the entire company. Closer to home, I am getting questioned about my own remote work because it is failing in another area. I have news for you - My team has outstanding engagement scores, high productivity, great quality, and the best individual people you'll ever meet. Whatever *your* problem is, don't reflect it on me!

But that is what inevitably will happen. Remote work is a scapegoat for whatever the real problem is. And yet the opposite is not true. If you are a rockstar at home, you don't see a movement for everyone else to do it. It only happens when it goes belly up.

What does this mean for you? It means that you must realize that you represent the entire remote community. Your success is your success, but your failure is failure for us all. You have a huge burden to always shine, and you probably don't even realize it. So I'm here to tell you, on behalf of all the remote workers out there (and especially myself, but I LOVE working from home), you better wow your colleagues every day. If not, we're forming a posse...

To quote Spock, in honorable memory of Leonard Nimoy: "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one."

Live long and prosper (from home).

Manage by measuring

Probably the most popular question I hear from managers about working at home is "How will I know my people are working if I don't see them?" To this my answer is always the same: "How do you know they are working now?"

If you are managing only based on the fact that you see someone's smiling face at their desk from 8-5, then you are a bad manager. Yes, I said it. The truth hurts sometimes.

Management should always be based on measurement. You should have a system in place that allows you to set goals and track progress towards those goals. Those goals should be SMART goals and have enough meat to really hold someone accountable for their work. They should focus on delivery, quality, effectiveness, customer satisfaction, and value-add.

I've seen associates do all sorts of things while in visible distance from their leaders. They spend all day on Facebook. They moonlight with a 2nd job. They daydream and wander aimlessly just collecting a paycheck. They may even be trying to do a good job, but may not be competent or need help. If you aren't measuring from multiple viewpoints along the way, you won't catch it until it is too late and you could, in fact, bring yourself down as a result.

So riddle me this - Would you rather

1. See your team members but have no idea if they are really performing, or
2. Never see your team members but have high confidence in their performance based on tangible measurements?

Hopefully you answered #2! If you are truly doing your job as a manager and have a measurement system in place, then physical location becomes inconsequential. 

Snow Day

Our local offices are closed today due to snow. Many of my work-at-home colleagues are bummed that they don't get the traditional "Snow Day". I get it... who wouldn't want the equivalent of a free vacation day? Sleep in, stay in your PJ's, watch trashy TV. It's almost nostalgic.

But I look at the Snow Day as a gift in a different sense. I'm thankful that I didn't have to listen to the weather this morning to determine if I was going to the office. Or worse, have it NOT be a snow day and have to drive in that mess! I'm thankful that every day I get to avoid traffic, not just on snow days. I'm thankful that I don't have to wear 7 layers of clothes to walk from my car to the office building. With the upcoming -30 wind chills later this week, those couple of city blocks are brutal!

Snow days for me are a gift. They remind me of how lucky I am to work from home. And, when the rest of the office is shoveling their driveway or making snowmen, I'm happy to be working without interruption and get a little caught up for a change. When they come back to work, they will feel days behind, and I'll feel a little ahead of the game.

Snow days help level the playing field, at least for a moment.

Get a backup plan

Random "hiccups" can happen whether you are at home or at work. The power can go out. The internet could go bump. Your phone could get cut off. All of these issues will prevent you from working as you usually do. In the office, everyone is there, so everyone knows. Being universally down is somehow more acceptable than being down at home. When you are at home, you are expected to be connected and never have these mishaps. So what happens when you do?

You have a much bigger responsibility to be prepared when you are at home. You need to be able to get a hold of your coworkers to let them know what is going on, and you need to find a way to work.

The easiest thing to do to prepare is to create your contact list. You should have the email addresses and phone numbers of your key contacts stored offline. This could be on paper, on your cell phone, on your personal PC, or whatever works for you. But consider all the options. If you lose power, you lose personal devices as well.

When you let people know you're situation, you have to let them know what you are doing about it. All of this will depend on your role and what you need to accomplish for the day. This can vary, so understanding all of your options under any situation is important.

• If you have power, but no internet, you may be able to work offline. If you have heads down work, you have materials locally you can work on, or your work is mostly by phone. You may be able to get by somewhat disconnected for a bit.
• If you have no power, working offline is going to be hard. Your battery will eventually die. You need to find another location to work such as a family member, physical office, or coffee shop.
• If you have both connections, but experience technical difficulties with your work connection only, you may have alternative connection options. Check to see if your company has a web mail client or an email app that will give you some means to connect.

If you are not prepared, it may cost you. You could lose face with your leader and peers, and you may even be out a vacation day because not working is not acceptable. 

What (not) to wear to work

Inevitably, the first thing coworkers state when they remember I am working from home is "You must be in your pajamas right now." No. I am not in my pajamas. This is work!

That is my single rule about how to dress for work when at home. PJ's are NEVER acceptable.

Why not? Everyone needs a certain shift to move from their "at home" mentality to being "at work". For those going into the office, this is an easy transition because they get up, get dressed, and drive somewhere. But for those staying home, it can be harder to make that transition. But this isn't a snow day, or a sick day, or vacation, or the weekend - it is a work day. A work day requires you to get dressed for work.

So what do you wear to work then?

Some people will wear the exact same clothes that they would if they were heading into the traditional office. This helps them prepare through keeping their routine and makes it feel more like work. This is also helpful if you are on professional video conferences throughout the day, or may have to go into the office or elsewhere to meet coworkers.

Some people will go slightly more casual, especially if their workplace is formal. Jeans, t-shirt, etc. To some, that's usual work dress anything.

Personally, I'm in workout clothes 90% of the time. I work out before work, and try to after work. And I like to be able to take my dogs for a walk during lunch or get in some other activity. I couldn't get away with it in the office, but it's part of my "at home" package and I take full advantage.

I believe there are only a few rules for how you should dress when working from home:

1. Comply with your company rules, your role, etc.
2. Never wear anything offensive - you never know when you will be on camera. Don't let casual dress get you fired.
3. NEVER, ever, wear pajamas

Work away from home

Most of us 'at home' workers have a luxury we very often forget - We are not actually tethered to our workspace! For most, we are lucky enough to have laptops or virtual machines that allow our work to be portable. We also have IP phones or cell phones that also enable our calls to be from anywhere. And yet, here we are with our imaginary ball and chain: the home desk.

Working at home can become tiring after a while. Same routine, day after day, no unique interactions and nothing to break up the day. It can cause cabin fever. But that's a prison we built for ourselves and a sentence we can break free from.

If you have the luxury of mobile technology, then you should experiment with being mobile. Take full advantage of your situation.

Do you enjoy a good mocha-cappa-latte-whatever? Why not work from Starbuck's on their wi-fi once a week! You can get your high priced coffee fix while getting out of the house. This break in routine can be just what the doctor ordered to keep your at-home situation fresh.

Is it the first day above freezing and the sun is out? Try working outside from your porch, or even just from another room that takes in all of the sunshine. Sunshine is a surefire cure for cabin fever. It will warm up your disposition and your routine. On those truly awesome days, find some work you can do offline and go work from the park. Being out in the world makes us feel like we're part of something bigger and not isolated hermits in our homes.

Is there something out of town you are passionate about? Did anyone say HOCKEY? We often don't take part in the events we have to travel for because we need to take time off to do so. But if you can work from anywhere, you can travel in the evening, work during the day, and go play that night. Get up and work the next day and then come home. You didn't lose a minute of vaca, you did something you really enjoy, and you got out of the house.

Think about the possibilities... As long as you can stay connected and focus on your work appropriately, location has become a matter of little consequence. You're limited only by your willingness to get out and the wi-fi at your destination.

It is very important though that your employer supports this cause. Some are old school and won't. Their loss, because eventually they will lose you. Be sure that you candidly discuss the options first and get support. And be sure that you have the connectivity you need - cell service, download speeds, enough quiet to still focus. It's not an excuse to not work. You should work even more, frankly. And lastly, be willing and able to offer up PTO time if it doesn't work out and you have to abandon work.

So what are you waiting for? Get out of the house!

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 :-)