| With fuel costs rising and the use of computers, the | | | | would be more convenient and less expense to work |
| Internet, and email continuing to increase, more and | | | | from home, that doesn't mean your company would |
| more people are beginning to consider the option of | | | | see a benefit to having you telecommute. Your |
| telecommuting, even if it's only one or two days a | | | | proposal must be very specific about the advantages |
| week. It may seem like an appealing option, but before | | | | telecommuting would have to the company's bottom |
| you commit to trying your hand at telecommuting, here | | | | line. Here are some suggestions for making your |
| are a few questions to ask yourself. First, take a | | | | proposal more appealing. Tell your manager than you |
| realistic look at your job. Does any part of your | | | | will be more productive at home, since you'll |
| occupation lend itself to being done from home? Next, | | | | experience fewer interruptions there than you would in |
| take an equally realistic look at your own unique | | | | the office. Let your superiors know that you'll make |
| personality and skills. Would you be able to have | | | | yourself available for all meetings or conference calls |
| enough self-discipline to work from home without any | | | | via the telephone. To entice your supervisors to give |
| outside supervision? Are you able to stay on task and | | | | telecommuting a try, offer a trial period to see if it will |
| to stay organized well enough to do your work | | | | work in your particular situation. At the end of the trial |
| efficiently? Finally, do you have an adequate | | | | period, everyone will be able to assess the results and |
| workspace and the appropriate technology at home to | | | | decide if the arrangement has been satisfactory. If it |
| be able to do your job effectively? That generally | | | | hasn't, at least you were able to try your hand at |
| means a home office space, equipped with all the | | | | telecommuting.Telecommuting is becoming increasingly |
| technology you'll need. If you were honestly able to | | | | popular, especially as more and more jobs involve the |
| answer all of these questions yes, both you and your | | | | extensive use of computers. With continuing advances |
| job may be candidates for telecommuting. The next | | | | in the Internet, email, video cams, and teleconferencing, |
| step is to approach your manager with a proposal that | | | | it's more possible than ever before to do all or most of |
| would allow you to do a certain amount of your work | | | | many jobs from home.If you feel that your job may |
| from home. Since it's a big step and would require | | | | lend itself to telecommuting, this may be the perfect |
| rethinking the way your job would be done, it's | | | | time to approach your supervisor and explore the |
| important that you anticipate, consider, and address | | | | possibility of working from home, whether it's on a |
| every area of concern that your manager might have. | | | | fulltime or part-time basis. Copyright © 2006 |
| Make sure that your proposal focuses on the benefits | | | | Jeanette J. |
| to your company and not to you. Just because it | | | | |