Trust is the Key Issue in Teleworking

Hurricane Ike hasn't even hit yet and has caused a 20 cent spike in gasoline prices, highlighting the need for businesses and employees to find alternatives to the daily commute.

Telecommuting has become more and more popular in the face of energy costs, globalization and other forces. But many employees still find resistance when they ask for a work-at-home arrangement.

Interestingly, today the AP ran a story - Bosses Worry if Telecommuters are Really Working. hitting the nail on the head of the key issue in teleworking or working from home. Most bosses don't trust their employees. Many bosses won't say so in so many words, but one did in this article, voicing an opinion that many, many bosses have but may or may not say outright.

Lloyd Princeton, the president of Design Management Co., said "The biggest issue I have is tracking time and knowing when he's working . . . The doubt starts to happen when he has offsite meetings -- various doctor appointments or the vet." Of course, most of us juggle personal appointments with our daily grind even if we work in an office, but it makes bosses feel better when they can see us come and go.

I think this is probably compounded when popular books like the Four Hour Workweek advise employees to manipulate their output to make it look like they're more productive while working at home than working in the office. Author Tim Ferriss may have done "the cause" more harm than good for the with that little gem.

So, where does that leave you as a work-at-home employee or an office dweller that wants to negotiate a work-at-home deal?

Clearly. trust is the key.

Here are some thoughts on how to build trust with your boss:

• Show commitment to your job and your team. Never let anyone down that's depending on you for something, including your boss.
• Quantify your output. Create and email regular status reports, even if your boss hasn't asked for them. A good format is to list tasks you expect to achieve this week, and then use the same list to report on progress the following week, followed by a new list for the new week.
  
• Maintain a transparent schedule. Don't make anyone come looking for you or wonder where you are.
  
• Find out your bosses favored method of communication- some dislike email, instant messaging, or phone. Use what they prefer, not necessarily what makes the most sense to you. If your boss isn't happy with the way you're communicating, you're wasting your time making the effort.
  
• If you do work at home, make sure you sound professional on the phone during working hours. Make arrangements for kids, dogs, and others in your home, and have a quiet room or office where you can do business uninterrupted.
• Maintain "face time" in one way or another - when ARE in the office, be very visible. Walk around and make small talk with everyone. Get a camera for your computer so that you can do instant messaging from home. People believe what they see.

Some ideas to build trust with your employees:

• Set expectations and model good behavior. Be a team player, make sure decisions are made for the good of the project or the company rather than individuals.
  
• Set up a system that quantifies output in an objective way. Set up a format for status reports that works for you and makes it easy for you to see what is (or isn't) getting accomplished.
  
• Maintain a transparent schedule. Set up a web-based or software-based calendar program so that you can see who is "on duty" at any given time. Enforce its use.
  
• Set checkpoints using your favored communication vehicle. (Phone, email, IM, etc.)
  
• Set expectations that anyone who works at home has agreed that other responsibilities (kids, pets, etc.) are taken care of some other way and don't become an excuse for not getting work done. (Within reason- of course if there's an emergency your employee would leave his cubicle to take care of the situation - expect the same at home.)
  
• Arrange for bonding time with your team on a regular basis - weekly or monthly meetings to ensure communication is good and some healthy socializing takes place. People communicate better, and have more accountability to, people that they see on a regular basis.
  

Whether you're the boss or an employee, the best way to ensure your work at home privileges is to work on trust.