The popular perks of working from home – you know, that total freedom, flexibility, and the fact that you can work in your pajamas – also contribute to the misconceptions about working from home. While it’s true you can work in your pjs, that idea creates an unprofessional image. And that’s the misconception that comes marching in, that working from home isn’t a “real” job, not a real profession, not to be taken seriously.
There are two elements to this misconception:
- How others view you and your work
- How you view yourself and your work
Both elements, if not dealt with, can keep your from achieving what you want to while you work at home.
The real business of working from home requires a professional mindset.
No, you don’t have to have a professional wardrobe. But you do need to get work done, communicate professionally, keep up high work standards, have a good work ethic, and do what you say you’ll do… even if the only person who knows what you said you’ll do is, well, you.
Get into that professional mindset by
- Setting regular work hours
- Dressing for work (tie your shoes! tuck in your shirt!)
- Making and keeping commitments
- Finding a way to be accountable
- Giving yourself a regular salary
- Having regular meetings
- Setting professional goals
- Being polished in your communication, presentations, etc.
Don’t let others take you less than seriously.
Remember: when you’re working, you’re not available for personal needs. This is true whether you’re working from home, working in a cubicle, in the middle of a meeting, having a conference call, or sitting in your bed, in your pajamas, drafting an article. The people who try to interrupt you don’t have to know the exact circumstances of your work; they just need to know that you’re working.
You’re not available; you’re working.
Don’t answer personal calls during your working hours.
Set boundaries for yourself. Don’t spend half your working time on Facebook and call it networking. The more you do this sort of thing, the less seriously you can take yourself, and other people will pick up on that attitude (and consequent availability) and interrupt you over and over.
Get childcare if you need to. Some people can care for their (young) kids and work from home. It’s a tricky balance. Young children may take you seriously, but they still need to be fed, changed, and generally taken care of, even during work hours.
The bottom line is this:
become serious about your work and others will respond in kind.
If you’re uncertain, open to interruption, distracting yourself, and not able to say no or set limits, you’ll be flooded with people who absolutely need you now. And you’ll find that your work hours are squandered on personal issues or even on work details that don’t really matter.
Keep your work time sacred; treat it as seriously as you would if your manager were standing by your side; and that attitude will result in fewer distractions, fewer interruptions, and a lot more work actually accomplished.
