Don't go naked to your office!
A growing number of Americans work from home and the numbers are expected to increase in the coming years.In today’s economic crunch, more and more of us are looking for ways to cut back on our expenses, and an ever increasingly popular way to do so is to work from home. According to a study by GlobalWorkplaceAnalytics, 30 Million of us work from home at least once a week and that number is expected to increase by 63% over the next 5 years.Now as glamorous as that may sound, there are some things you need to consider and plan for carefully in order to make the jump to a home office a successful one.Although you may think you have your dream office firmly in mind, consider brainstorming again, coupled with writing a plan for your office. By writing a plan, you’ll find out what you may have overlooked or don’t know about creating an office that is best suited to your needs.So, here are some tips to get you started:
What is your budget? Considering that your move to a home office may be about saving money, you’ve got to be realistic about what amount of investment makes sense.
With the budget in mind, think about what you need to succeed. Separately list your “needs” from your “wants”, in case your budget is limited. Add your “needs” first, and then create a plan to add the “wants” when you are able.
Check out the laws. Are there any zoning restrictions that would prohibit you from having a home office? If not, do you need a business license from your local government to operate your home office?
Is the room in your home you are thinking of transforming really the best room for the job? Some people think in terms of an upstairs bedroom or another room tucked away from the regular household activities, but what is best for your needs? If you will be seeing clients at your home office you may not want them traveling through your entire house to reach it. A successful home office may mean transforming your existing living room into a separate office area (by adding a glass block wall, for example) rather than using an extra bedroom. Your comfort is important. Does your office have sufficient lighting? How noisy it is going to be? If you plan on being seated a great deal of the time, invest in a chair built to give you maximum support. Is there enough storage? Do you have wall space to hang whiteboards? Is it big enough to work with a stand-up Easel?
How will your family members deal with you working from home? Do you have arrangements for child and pet care? Will your clients want to interact with Rover or will they be uneasy? If Rover is used to being part of your household, he may react to banishment to the garage with insistent and incessant barking… not exactly the background noise you want when meeting in person or on the phone!
Don’t skimp on necessary technology—computer hardware, software, data storage, and peripherals, like scanners, printers, WiFi and Telephones. Reliable and effective tools are key to your success. Consult an expert and get them on your team to help you make the best decisions regarding your home office equipment. You’ll need them on your team in the future too when even the best of equipment goes awry!
Closely tied to the issue of technology are your communication needs. Shop around and compare. What kind of messaging service and phones do you want? Cordless, cellular, multi-line, or VoIP phones? Who is the most reliable cable or DSL Internet access provider? Don’t tie up your phone lines with your computer usage!
Consider if you want to set up a paperless office. If so, what software do you need to make that happen? What hardware?
Are you working as part of a Team? If so, what software do you need to be able to communicate with your Team effectively? How do you send documents back and forth so that there will be no glitches. Research what is used for PC’s and for Mac’s so your clients and colleagues don’t have to download any software when you are sending out your files.
Last but not least… “Don’t go naked to your office!!!” Remember, a commitment to a home office is a commitment to a professional atmosphere and quality work product. If you find yourself apologizing to clients for time-wasting things like, “I can't seem to open your document” or, “I'm sorry my six-year-old didn’t tell me you called”, your success is going to be limited at best! So be sure and consider all of the possibilities, have a plan, set the ground rules, and enjoy your stress-free commute to your new home office.
Call me at (406) 587-7482 or send me an email at clay@claynelsonlifebalance.com if you need help creating a plan and making it happen.Have a great day,Clay