It pays to be seen in the office

For many, being allowed to work from home can be a dream come true. Think of all the things that can get done in small frequent breaks that can range from taking care of small children to running errands. In addition, many may think that being away from an office could actually boost productivity. After all, there is no chance for confrontation or office politics.

Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Being away from the office can adversely affect your relationship with coworkers and colleagues, who gradually lose the personal connection and begin to see you solely through dry communication. This can even get worse with staff turnover or if you have to deal with a new boss that you never worked with in person.

Developing healthy work relationships is key. Towards this goal you need to make sure that you have the ability to communicate effectively with coworkers and consistently prove that your work is up to the mark. That is why if the opportunity to work from home arises, consider these points to remain a valuable member of the team.

Face time

As you settle into your new routine, it is important to focus on ways that allow you to spend as much face time as possible with coworkers and supervisors. Most companies may require telecommuting workers to attend regular meetings — some may be virtual — or report to the office occasionally. While keeping these meetings is a must, you should also not miss opportunities that allow you to spend casual time with coworkers. If you were used to go out after work, for example, make conscious effort to still make time for these get-together events – even if they become less frequent. Finally, don’t miss opportunities to meet and greet new hires in person.

Problem solving

Trying to solve problems by email or phone exchanges can be tricky. From sending the wrong message or using an inappropriate tone to the entire issue of who will be copied and who won’t, there is a great opportunity for creating office politics. If you feel that a problem is getting out of hand because of communication, ask for a meeting to sort things out. You may be surprised how people are more willing to negotiate and compromise when a discussion is less formal and more open. Be careful, however, not to escalate every single issue into need for a meeting.

Professionalism at play

Regardless to how you actually look like when you’re working at home — still in your pajamas at 3pm — you should always make sure that this isn’t reflected on your communication or connections. Having a child screaming in the background during one conference call may be understandable, but if this, or similar actions, becomes the norm, you’ll be running the risk of having to answer whether you’re able to provide a professional setting for your work or not. Any decrease in your productivity also can be blamed on your inability to focus on business, which eventually will lead to further trouble in the future. With that in mind, be punctual, keep your exchanges (written, instant or verbal) professional and always dress appropriately for office meetings.

Take initiative

To set yourself on the path of advancement, you must maintain that you’re able to develop new ideas and handle big projects that you haven’t taken before. This can be tricky if you get trapped in just doing your job duties from home. To advance, stay abreast of what is going around you, and find out about possibilities. This will help you contribute to ongoing plans and come up with your ideas.

Use technology

Companies that allow workers to telecommute often have a proper infrastructure for technology that allows successful communication. Use these resources to their fullest — even if you didn’t before. This is not limited to messaging, in fact make sure that you use the functions that allow you to schedule meetings — in person and virtual as well as to share documents, contacts and knowledge. In short, be aware that you’re missing out on all the water-cooler chats and the casual updates that you’d give your coworkers, say, about a project’s progress. When you facilitate communication with others and you make yourself accessible, it doesn’t really matter whether you’re at your desk in the office or at home.

Rania Oteify, a former Gulf News Business Features Editor, is currently an editor based in Seattle.

Work from home

Make time for personal communication

Don’t let problems get out of control

Portray professionalism

Use technology to remain in touch

— R.O.