Strategy Tips from
First-time Telecommuters Who Got
Their Manager's Approval to
Work from Home
From Erika Chandler in North Carolina:
I did a lot of research on
telecommuting because alternative working plans in my
office had always been rejected in the past. In fact, I
was rejected at first and I came back with a second
approach...
Strategy Tip: Recognize that a ‘no’ doesn't have
to be final. Try later and/or try a different approach.
Circumstances change, business objectives change,
individual outlooks change, any of which may work in
your favor.
In Erika's case, coming back with a second approach that
built a stronger case from the employer's perspective
(using the content in Flex
Success) made the difference. Her
telecommuting proposal was approved.
From J. Duncan, Director Media Relations for Universal
Sports America (USA) in Dallas: My
[approved] proposal outlined an arrangement where I work
at home three days a week and go into the office two
days a week. I kept the words ‘baby’,
‘family’, and ‘house’
out of the proposal, concentrating more on ‘at-home
office’, etc., which I think was a useful tactic.
Strategy Tip: Again, you are making a business
case for restructuring your job. While you might refer
to ‘outside responsibilities’ and balance, leave out
emotionally-charged words that relate to your personal
needs. Flex
Success guided you in this regard.
From E. Andersen, Assistant Manager Educational Services
Dept., CorNet International, Ltd. Software Development
in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania:
I...prepared for all kinds of objections...When I met to
go over the proposed plan with my superiors, they were
so impressed with my forethought, they gave me their
grace immediately, and recognized we could even consider
some of these options for other employees.
Strategy Tip: While it’s unusual to get instant
approval, the value of thorough preparation is certainly
highlighted in her case!
From Lori Atkins, a Reports Administrator in Chicago:
My boss said that my proposal was
what swayed him to agree to let me do this. Up to that
point he was on the fence about whether or not
[telecommuting] would work.
Strategy Tip: Lori's experience reinforces the
importance of a written telecommuting proposal, a
key strategy for acceptance.
Find many more Strategy Tips in
Telecommuting Flex Success.
Find
out more or...
Can your job be done from home? Find out how to Redesign Your Job
into Telecommuting with free self-paced planning
exercises
found here.
Related articles:
How Many
Days Should You Ask Your Manager to Work from Home?
Flexible
Work: Get a YES by Doing These Steps
One way you
can bolster your case to telecommute is to show
your boss how can do your job using the latest technology.
I recommend my
Telecommuting Flex Success customers use GoToMyPC for that purpose.
Click here to get your free 30-day trial of GoToMyPC,
 which allows you to access your work computer from home.
|
