The Field Guide To Telecommuting

Imagine starting your workday in sweat pants, sipping a freshly brewed cup of coffee as you maneuver your commute down the hallway to your home office. Sound appealing? This is how millions of people start their days in the world of telecommuting, and it can be your reality too. The Field Guide to Telecommuting is a book for potential, new and seasoned telecommuters. Formatted to read as an ?ala carte guide, it captures data from numerous sources including other telecommuters, employment agencies, human resource professionals, government sources and personal experience to create an easy-to-view format that can be read from cover to cover or in relevant sections. Useful to both those who telework for a single company or are freelancers, The Field Guide to Telecommuting offers valuable tips, links to resources and explanations of terms, laws and issues that surround the world of telework. In addition, purchase of this e-book includes free access to a webpage of updated resources, and PDF version of the guide and checklists to help steer you through the maze of creating a functional telecommuting experience.

Working away from a corporate office presents great (often unexpected) challenges and offers even greater rewards. Woody Leonhard takes on the toughest aspects of telecommuting and gives you the straight scoop on how to make it work for you. Whether you're a telecommuter, a telecommuter's boss, or just curious, The Underground Guide to Telecommuting will give you the tools and information you need to turn electricity and a phone line into major productivity. Set up your office right the first time, even if your budget bears more resemblance to your kid's allowance than to the boss's expense account. Woody offers no-nonsense advice on what hardware and software to buy, what hot new technology will pay for itself, and which gizmos are a waste of your time and money. Decipher the alphabet soup of telecommunications - find out the difference between ISDN, ATM, and ESPN, and what's best for you. Get valuable and occasionally devious tips on how to stay on the good side of the zoning board, the postal service, the IRS, and, most importantly, your neighbors. Learn about the "virtual corporation" - the hottest trend in telecommuting.

Get your best work done, no matter where you do it. Video calls from your couch. Project reports in a coffee shop. Presentations at your kitchen table. Working remotely gives you more flexibility in how and where you do your job. But being part of a far-flung team can be challenging. How can you make remote work work for you? The HBR Guide to Remote Work provides practical tips and advice to help you stay productive, avoid distractions, and collaborate with your team, despite the distance that separates you. You'll learn to: Create a regular work-from-home routine Identify the right technology for your needs Run better virtual meetings Avoid burnout and video-call fatigue Manage remote employees Conduct difficult conversations when you can't meet in person Arm yourself with the advice you need to succeed on the job, with the most trusted brand in business. Packed with how-to essentials from leading experts, the HBR Guides provide smart answers to your most pressing work challenges.

Discover the secret to being productive and successful no matter where you are with this essential guide to remote work. During COVID-19, working from home became the new normal. Now, both employers and employees find that the remote work they were forced to adjust to may be, well, better—financially, sustainably, and even in terms of overall morale and productivity. But working from home is not without its challenges. It can be difficult to eliminate distractions, strike a solid work/life balance, and maintain social connections that are crucial in the workplace. Whether you’re trying to find and land a job from the comfort of your home, learning to manage a virtual team, or dream of living a digital nomad lifestyle, The Everything Guide to Remote Work has everything you need to be successful. You’ll learn to optimize your own workplace culture, whether it’s in your home office or a constantly changing backdrop. So whether your company continues to work remotely full time or you only have to go to the office a few days a week, you’ll be armed with all the tools you’ll need to make the most out of this new lifestyle.

The classic guide to working from home and why we should embrace a virtual office, from the bestselling authors of Rework “A paradigm-smashing, compulsively readable case for a radically remote workplace.”—Susan Cain, New York Times bestselling author of Quiet Does working from home—or anywhere else but the office—make sense? In Remote, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, the founders of Basecamp, bring new insight to the hotly debated argument. While providing a complete overview of remote work’s challenges, Jason and David persuasively argue that, often, the advantages of working “off-site” far outweigh the drawbacks. In the past decade, the “under one roof” model of conducting work has been steadily declining, owing to technology that is rapidly creating virtual workspaces. Today the new paradigm is “move work to the workers, rather than workers to the workplace.” Companies see advantages in the way remote work increases their talent pool, reduces turnover, lessens their real estate footprint, and improves their ability to conduct business across multiple time zones. But what about the workers? Jason and David point out that remote work means working at the best job (not just one that is nearby) and achieving a harmonious work-life balance while increasing productivity. And those are just some of the perks to be gained from leaving the office behind. Remote reveals a multitude of other benefits, along with in-the-trenches tips for easing your way out of the office door where you control how your workday will unfold. Whether you’re a manager fretting over how to manage workers who “want out” or a worker who wants to achieve a lifestyle upgrade while still being a top performer professionally, this book is your indispensable guide.

In the 1990's, working at home has become a more feasible option due to technology that can easily link homes and offices. This book examines all aspects of telecommuting, from what type of computer and fax machine is needed, to defining the new relationship between workers in the office and the home employee.

In Managing Telework, Jack Nilles illustrates that telework is undeniably the corporate wave of the future on a global level. Telework, or telecommuting, a term coined originally by Nilles, means basically moving the work to the worker instead of the other way around. Although there are both risks and opportunities involved in managing a virtual workforce, the opportunities usually far outweigh the risks. As Nilles explains, the key to a successful virtual workforce is making the best use of those opportunities through proper planning and the development of an appropriate management style. Management philosophy, style, and technique constitute the foundation of this indispensable resource. Managing Telework provides crucial information on every part of the telecommuting process. Nilles first explores the issues of selecting the right type of telecommuter-candidates who are likely to be effective workers without the structured environment of the office-and how to find or make proper workplaces for an effective telecommuting program. He then goes on to discuss that central, often unspoken managerial fear of telecommuting: the threat of losing control. Nilles explains that leaders, not administrators, are the key players in successful telecommuting, and that leadership can be taught. There must also be a basis of trust between the worker and the manager, and constant, open communication. Many other pressing topics are discussed in detail, such as how to select the best technology for your specific organization, how to navigate the formal rules and regulations of telecommuting (including union rules and zoning laws), how to measure results, and how to set up a home office. Plus, there is absolutely critical advice provided on other legal, corporate, and cultural issues. This step-by-step guidebook to telework is the only management resource you'll need for the future of business. Learn how to get out of the office. A step-by-step guide to managing a successful, efficient, and happy virtual workforce. "There is no better guide to telework than Jack Nilles. His insights are of growing importance to managers and teleworkers at all levels and sectors of government, business, and industry." -William H. Dutton Professor, Annenberg School of Communication and School of Public Policy and Urban Development at the University of Southern California, and former national director of the UK's Programme on Information and Communication Technologies(PICT) "From his twenty-five years of pioneering and perfecting telework, Jack Nilles defines the essential leadership philosophy of the successful telemanager and presents his time-tested techniques for Managing Telework. These pages are packed with top-notch expertise. I wouldn't be without it!" -David Fleming Fleming LTD "In Managing Telework, Jack Nilles describes what managers and workers need to do to create successful telework programs and explains the benefits they can derive from this way of working." -Paul Gray Professor of Information Science, Claremont Graduate University "Another milestone from the father of telecommuting; an essential reference and stimulation for the biggest change in work organization since Henry Ford." -Peter Johnston Directorate General XIII BI, Telecommunications, Information Market and Exploitation of Research, European Commission "The success of any telecommuting program hinges on thoroughly training telemanagers and non-teleworkers as well as telecommuters themselves. Nilles presents his guidelines in a practical, straightforward manner."-Margaret A. Klayton-Mi, PhD Associate Professor of Business Administration, Mary Washington College "A major transformation in the nature of work is in process. Jack Nilles, for years the foremost expert and visionary leader in the field of telecommuting, has written the definitive book on the subject. This is where the future begins. Don't miss it." -Burt Nanus Author, Visionary Leadership Professor Emeritus of Management, University of Southern California

Thinking about teleworking or want to improve your telecommuting experience? Learn how to make the telecommuting experience work for you. Uncover the truth about being a teleworker - the good, the bad, and the compromises you'll need to make. Inside Virtual, you'll find: A quiz to help you discover if telecommuting is right for you Six steps designed to ensure your virtual experience is a success Lots of simple how-tos, from how to better manage your day, to how to be seen and heard when you're not "at the office" The top 10 helpful tips every teleworker should know Common mistakes you'll want to avoid Pulling from more than a decade of telecommuting experience, the author shares her insights, checklists and advice so you can make the most of going Virtual.

Offers practical advice to help telecommuters stay connected with their customers, managers, and coworkers to maintain communication, involvement, visibility, and promotability.