Cubicle claustrophobia
Despite common beliefs, nobody but you has the power to decide what is in your best interest. If working from your home as a permanent situation or even as a base a few days a week is what makes the most of your day and boost your motivation, you can make it happen!
But, before you get too carried away thinking about the possibility of this newfound heaven, start by asking yourself a few basic questions. Do you thrive in the office environment, interacting physically with colleagues and coworkers; or are you easily distracted by office noises such as the phones that seem to continually ring off the hook? The question isn’t about getting your daily tasks done in a timely and satisfying matter, but more about making the most out of your day and being as effective as you can be. Try to figure out what works best for you!
Perhaps there is a coworker who is difficult to work with, or maybe you don’t like the general office environment, but this does not mean you aren’t gaining valuable work experience that will help you in the long run as your career progresses. Perhaps the wisest choice here and now will be to stick to your current situation and learn how to tackle both the positive and negative sides of being a company employee. The best-case scenario would be to run your own company and set your own rules, but as statistics show, only a limited few succeed.
If you’ve reach the conclusion that telecommuting is what best suits you, it’s time to plant the initial seeds to make it happen. Most managers will not likely approve your request instantly so you need to adequately prepare before you set out. We all know despite our best efforts and skills, anyone within an organization can be replaced. Therefore, you will want to be ahead of the pack and be seen in the best possible light. It will always be more difficult for a manager to turn down a request from one of their best employees.
Try to outperform your in-office colleagues and help them achieve their deadlines. Emphasize these efforts when you have performance meetings with your manager. By going beyond what is expected in a project and surprising your superiors with your energy and level of motivation, you show how eager you are to make things work and will be rewarded for these efforts.
When you have earned the option of working from home, you will on occasion, be understandably requested to come to the office for a meeting or to tend to a situation that requires your presence. Be sure to arrive ahead of time and without complaint; not allowing them to second guess giving you the privlege to work from home and casting doubt on its feasibility.
The key to winning over your manager is, obviously, your performance. This is the only way management is going to allow you to telecommute. If your company doesn’t have a policy in this field or worries whether it’s workable or not, suggest a trial period to see how it goes - be proactive, offer to do reviews and amaze them with the results you’re bringing in. You will be spending less time commuting, thus sleep longer hours and have more time to work properly without disturbances. You will even be able to distribute your work throughout the day, fitting it around your schedule - whatever works best for you.
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