Re: Telecommuting Advice?

["Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>]

Telecommuting is unworkable for me, since most of my global doc team is
located elsewhere and as manager I am in effect the "face" of every writer
who is not here.

If I did telecommute, I would prefer to split in-office and non-office time 
between
days of the same week, so that I could establish and advertise a regular 
routine,
i.e., in the office every Monday and Thursday, etc., rather than a "is he 
here this
week or next" kind of thing, especially if my company was one of those in 
which
people tend to be "out of sight, out of mind."  Modern communications 
technology
notwithstanding, there is much to be said for face-to-face interactions with 
people.

As far as the "face time" and conversation issues, there are most likely 
people you
interact with regularly, SME's, or management, etc.  Establish regular times 
for
teleconferencing spread across your week so you have routine.  And avoid the
temptation to leave the house during office hours to deal with non-office 
matters,
at least until you get established, to help reinforce the idea both in your 
mind and
in the minds of people in the office that even though you may be physically 
at
home, you are still "at the office" when they are.

Gene Kim-Eng


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jones, Donna" <DJones -at- zebra -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2005 8:35 AM
Subject: Telecommuting Advice?



Next week, I'm starting telecommuting part time (every other week on site) 
and eventually moving to full-time (on site when needed, maybe a week or so 
every month). I'm wondering if I'm doing the right thing even though it will 
eliminate a 2+ hour daily commute and will allow me to move closer to 
family. I almost dread the thought of not being in the middle of things 
every day (see my previous post about our work environment).

Anyone have any advice for someone about to start telecommuting and how to 
deal with the usual stuff--boredom, distractions, lack of "face time" with 
others? How do I keep from getting so starved for adult conversation that I 
latch onto strangers at the grocery store or talk my husband's ears off? How 
do I keep from rearranging the furniture in the house or doing my spring 
cleaning when I'm supposed to be working? I'd like to know what's worked for 
other people.



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