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Telecommute Effectively

Diversity Woman — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 19:00:14 +0000

Whether they’re salaried employees or self-employed business owners, more and more people want to work outside the office.

Telecommuting involves working anywhere from a half day to full-time off-site or on your own turf. Although the idea of driving less, computing in your jammies, or having the freedom to go shopping in the middle of the day may sound great, telecommuting needs to be done with care, says Gil Gordon, president of Gil Gordon Associates and an expert consultant to employers who set up mobile work programs.

Here are Gordon’s tips for making telecommuting work for you.

Choose the location that fits the task. Save the number crunching or head-down computer jobs for home, where you have a larger chunk of distraction-free time. Store up the communicating needs for the office, where you can more easily track people down in person. Don’t underestimate the power of face time, either, even if it’s informal.

Assess your work style. The best predictor of how you work effectively is to look at where you did your studying in college. In the study hall with noise all around—or in the silent library cubicle? That will tell you whether a more—or less—quiet home time is best for you.

Honestly evaluate your home environment. Young children running around? Sharing a small space with others? Constantly lured by the Wii? Chances are that you won’t be very productive working at home.

Focus on the work product, not the process. Don’t worry about clocking in 9 to 5 when you’re at home. If you can do a day’s worth of work from 5 to 7 a.m., don’t feel obligated to keep plugging. What’s important is that you get the deliverables to your boss or client on time.

Don’t telecommute for the wrong reasons. If you want to work at home because you know you can be more productive, pursue it. If you’re angling to be away from the office because you can’t stand your boss, find another job. DW

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Put Time on Your Side

Diversity Woman — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 03:00:57 +0000

It’s the plain truth that we’re all busier than ever before. Need proof? Just look at your own life. Chances are you’re always in a rush, and you are constantly nagged by the notion you’ve forgotten to do something, but you’re not sure what it is. “Women typically have longer to-do lists than men because they’re still juggling more of the home and family chores along with their job workload,” says Peggy Duncan, a time productivity expert in Atlanta and author of The Time Management Memory Jogger.

We asked Duncan for tips on how to better manage your workload and increase your productivity—and free time.

Stop procrastinating and take action. To reach your goals, put an action plan in place. Start with specific, measurable goals, and create deadlines, Duncan advises. “Say your goal is to get fit. Make one of your objectives something like ‘I will walk at least three miles three times a week.’”

Determine where your time goes. To jump-start your action plan, keep an “activity log” over several days to see how you spend your time and when you perform at your best. “Schedule the challenging tasks for times of day when you’ve got peak energy, and weed out the tasks that don’t help you reach your goals.”

Let Technology help. Streamline the paper clutter on your desk. Try personal- scheduling software that keeps a calendar, to-do lists, and phone and address books on your computer. But don’t get anything too complicated, Duncan warns. “The latest and greatest technology won’t help unless you know how to use it.”

Learn to say no. Turn off your cell phone and IM during non-office hours. When someone asks you to do something you don’t have time for, say so politely but firmly.

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Shortcuts: Break the Email Addiction

Diversity Woman — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:50:12 +0000

Do you respond to the “ping” of incoming e-mail the way Paris Hilton responds to a camera? Although it may be tempting to check your e-mail every few minutes—don’t. Dropping everything to see who or what might need your attention disrupts concentration, shortens your attention span, and is inefficient.

The solution is moderation. Avoid logging on first thing in the morning. Instead, use the early hours to tackle projects that require focus. Then check e-mail only during three or four defined times of the day. Kick your e-mail habit and watch your productivity skyrocket!

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Shortcuts: Learn How to Say No

Shortcuts: Learn How to Say No

Diversity Woman — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:03:43 +0000

“Despite growing up in the 1970s with feminism and Ms. magazine, I still feel the pressure to say yes to everyone,” admits Darcy Ing, a San Francisco psychologist of Asian descent. “The Asian emphasis on cooperation and solidarity places a lot of pressure on women to go along with whatever the group wants.”

Although Asian women may find this especially tough, many women have difficulty just saying no, particularly in the workplace. How do you tell a boss or a peer that you simply cannot take on another project, stay that extra hour, or attend a weekend event that would cut into precious time with your family?

Patti Breitman, coauthor of How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty, offers advice for saying “nay” the graceful way.

Remember that less is more. Don’t give excuses or reasons for why you can’t do something; just say you can’t. It’s nobody’s business why, and providing a reason gives others an opening for talking you out of your decision.

Whenever possible, evoke a “personal policy.” Gracefully decline by making statements like “It’s my policy not to…,” “I never take on other projects when I’m in the midst of another large one…,” or “I can’t work overtime tonight because I have dinner with my family every Friday and they’re counting on me.”

Avoid the superwoman syndrome. Who’s really driving you at work? Is it your supervisor—or you? Many women rack up overtime, extra work, and job-related obligations because they’re overly eager to please or think everything will fall apart without them. Take a breather, and give yourself a break.

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Shortcuts: Break the Email Addiction