According to an article in the Kansas City Star, there’s evidence suggesting that more and more employees are seeking opportunities to work from home, while many managers and business owners are still reluctant.

According to the Star, middle managers are fearful that allowing employees to work from home will adversely affect productivity. According to Martha Jenkins, however, this does not necessarily have to be true. Jenkins and her company, Jenkins Coaching, offer practical advice to small business owners and contractors who work from home, helping them make the best use of their time.

According to Jenkins, clear communication and well-understood expectations are essential for making home-based employment work. She offers the following five tips for maximizing the work-from-home experience:

1. Ensure you know what your employer’s expectations are: See to it that there are no unanswered questions about work hours, breaks, company equipment, and so forth.
2. Ensure that your results are communicated to your employer: Working long hours will not matter if your boss is not aware of what you accomplish.
3. Set up an effective work space: Make sure you have a work area that is free of distractions and is also comfortable and separate from the rest of your house.
4. Establish boundaries with your family and friends: Make sure they are aware of the demands of working from home.
5. Assess your progress on a regular basis: Record your achievements and mark your progress along the way, and make regular evaluations to your work habits.

Jenkins says working from home is ultimately successful when it is treated like a job. “In order to convince an employer you are serious about it, the bottom line is to behave in as professional a manner as possible.”

Published with permission from RISMedia.