Can Professionals Really Work Effectively from Home? Part 2 of 2

As we discussed last week, many tasks and assignments in the modern workplace can be performed just as well, if not better, by employees working from home. As we evolve increasingly into a knowledge economy, more and more professionals are discovering that they do some of their best work from home. But it's not all pajamas and slippers 24/7 by the keyboard.

Real-world case study

Designer Laura Gilbert, of Guilford, Connecticut-based Boomerang Studio used to work entirely from home when not meeting with clients. But like many creative professionals, Gilbert missed the “organic collaboration, networking” and bouncing-off of ideas that occurs more naturally in an office environment.

A married mother of two school-age boys, Gilbert started working two days a week at The Grove, a co-working space in nearby New Haven, CT. “Because the office is at home, the lure of working is always there. Creating limits on your work schedule is very important if you are trying to maintain a balanced life,” related Gilbert, a graphic designer who deconstructed the pros and cons of telecommuting for us below:

The Pros

1.      No distractions. At home, there’s no small talk about your weekend, the weather, the Big Game, etc., so you can be incredibly efficient with your time. An hour of solid working from home is the equivalent to 3 to 4 hours of working in an office. (This is not scientifically proven however.)

2.      Flexibility. There is incredible freedom in your schedule. This is especially helpful when you have a sick family member, an event at your child's school, a contractor coming to the house, etc. “I may end the day earlier than 5 p.m. but return to my desk after the kids are asleep to finish some work, or return emails,” related Gilbert.

3.      Fewer meetings. You only have impactful meetings with clients, or my assembled teams--no HR workshops, or tedious meetings about the new company insurance plan.

4.      No "face-time" requirement. You’re only at your desk when you really need to be working--no office politics!

The Cons

1. Built-in distractions. Some people cannot work efficiently at home, because they feel like there are too many distractions, i.e. laundry, home improvement projects, their bed etc. “Luckily that's not an issue for me,” said Gilbert.

2. Self-collaboration? As a designer, collaboration is incredibly important, noted Gilbert. “When you are working from home, the chances for organic collaboration and networking are greatly reduced. So you have to make a concerted effort to make that happen.” To that end, Gilbert is on the board of Spark, a design organization of independent design business owners. She also started working out of her spacious home two days a week at The Grove, a co-working space in nearby New Haven, CT.

3. Work/life imbalance. “Because the office is at home, the lure of working is always there. Creating limits on your work schedule is very important if you are trying to maintain a balanced lifestyle,” explained Gilbert.

Conclusion

Our highest-performing clients strive to find the right balance between (a) “group time” for collaboration and (b) “alone-time” for doing your best critical thinking. Humans are complex creatures. Productivity is a very personal thing. Sorry HR people. There’s no one-size-fits-all policy or solution. Find the right balance for each member of your team and turn them loose. Their families and your clients will thank you—and so will you CFO each quarter.

Have a good week. HB

Our blog has more, as does the FREE Resources page of our website.

Tags: Laura Gilbert, co-working, Boomerang Studio, Spark design, The Grove, work from home pros and cons for professionals.

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