Q. Due to cost-cutting measures, I now work from home and don’t have day-to-day feedback. In Getting There & Staying There, you encourage us to ensure that our behavior is appropriate. How do I know if I am acting appropriately?
A. Making the transition from the hubbub of a business office to the solitude of a home office can be jarring. I know, I made the transition and it took me a while to make the adjustment, especially when my friends joked, “Now you can work in your pajamas!” My response: No way; that’s not appropriate for me.
Here are few questions to consider:
- What are your office hours? Do they align with those of your clients? Manager? And other stakeholders?
- Do you have an office infrastructure that will support your success: Tech help? High speed lines? Office space that inspires you and allows you to be productive?
- What are you doing to stay connected? Networked? When do you venture out of your office?
- Are you staying current? Continuing to develop professionally?
- Do you have a regular “live” meetings schedule with your manager? Colleagues? Clients? Or, do you Skype?
- Do you think that you are missing out on information? If yes, what? What action do you need to take?
Remember—working from home will require discipline in more ways than one. Do honor your commitments to be available at scheduled times, but don’t fall into the trap of working 24×7 or sleeping with your smart phone because someone “might call.” Now is 
the time to act like you own the business and, in many ways, you are your own boss. Make it work for you. Plan ahead.