Writing for life

Published in the Evening Echo 21/04/2008

Telecommuting, remote working, working from home… call it what you will, the whole concept of working out of the office is an alluring one. The technology that enables remote working – a decent internet connection, mobile computing and mobile digital communications devices – is starting to become practically ubiquitous in our lives, bringing the prospect of remote working out of the realm of fantasy, and making it a very real possibility for many.

If you work on a computer, then you can do pretty much everything you normally do at work sitting at your desk at home (or even in your local coffee shop, if you prefer). Liberating yourself from the shackles that bind you to the office desk isn’t complicated or costly any more – but does demand very careful consideration. Ditching the daily commute, traffic jams and office politics may appear idyllic, but it’s not always the panacea it promises to be. Remote working comes with its own set of problems, in their own way every bit as challenging as those you’ll find in an office environment.

Writing in TechRepublic, seasoned telecommuter Jody Gilbert admits that remote working can be tough. “Successfully telecommuting – being productive, staying in the mix, keeping yourself on the executive radar, and not allowing work to bleed into your home life until you can’t tell which is which – definitely requires some discipline and vigilance. It’s not for everybody,” she warns.

So how can you tell whether or not you’re cut out for this remote working lark? Well, here are a few pointers that might suggest you’re better off staying where you are:

• You’re a sucker for distractions: if you thought distractions at the office were bad, outside the office things get much, much worse. With only yourself to keep you focussed on your work, you’d be amazed how tempting things like feeding the dog, washing the car, making a “quick” sandwich, popping out for some milk, helping the kids with their homework, etc. suddenly become.

• Infrastructure problems: if you can’t get broadband, forget it, basically. While broadband penetration is improving in Ireland, there are still plenty of areas where you simply can’t get it. If you live in one of them, sorry, but you’re out of luck.

• You’re not a natural communicator: the ability to communicate effectively becomes more, not less important when you work remotely. Communication is the cornerstone of successful remote working. If you’re not a pro-active communicator who’s comfortable using a variety of communications media to stay “in touch” with the buzz at the office, think long and hard about the viability of remote working.

• You’re not self motivated: some people simply work better under the guidance and supervision of others. If you need that external input to excel, then remote working will prove to be a real challenge.

• Drawing the line: one of the biggest problems with remote working, believe it or not, is overworking. It’s vital to know when to stop for the day, close the door and leave your work behind. If you can’t delineate between work and home life remote working can be a recipe for disaster.

These are just a few of the many challenges facing the remote worker. For the right sort of person, working away from the office can be a liberating and incredibly rewarding experience. For others, it can be miserable… so weigh up your options carefully before taking the plunge.