Traits for work at home Success

working from home requires certain traits in order to be successful. What are those traits and can they be cultivated?

Trait 1:  Focus
In order to work productively and successfully from home, you must be able to maintain focus when you are working.  When you're home, there is laundry to do, neighbors to visit with, children to watch cartoons with, and Oprah or the afternoon televised baseball game to watch.  All these things are fine to do, when you're not working.  But if you've committed yourself to a job that requires you to work during certain hours, or if you are up against a deadline, you really must be the type of person who can focus and get things done.  Make sure you are not the type who is easily distracted.  If you find yourself having issues with being distracted from your work, ask yourself why this is happening.  Are you bored with your job?  Is your work area too much in the middle of all the activity or too close to that tempting TV?  If you need to, revamp and/or move your work area to provide for a more productive setting.  If you are simply bored with or don't like the job you're doing, see about changing jobs or changing your attitude towards what you are doing.

Trait 2:  Self-Directed
Simply put, if you are working from home, you have got to be able to start yourself up and keep yourself going through your work day or project.  Some of us need to be in an environment where there are others around, working as well.  Some of us need to have a supervisor checking up on us to keep us motivated. 

Trait 3:  Not Easily Discouraged
You need to be your own cheerleader.  You may not have a boss or supervisor or co-worker in close proximity to constantly be encouraging you or telling you that you're doing fine.  So, you need to be the type of person who is good at keeping himself or herself moving along and willing to put things back together if they start to fall apart.  You will of course, have contact with your employer, but in a work at home situation, you have to be your own supervisor. 

Trait 4:  Organized
This probably goes without saying, but you need to be very organized.  Your work area, your calendar, your time management, everything about your work life needs to be organized when you work from home.

Trait 5:  Flexible
Actually, the ability to remain flexible is important regardless of your work situation, much like all of the traits listed here.  Flexibility is one of those traits that is valuable because each and every day there will be things that come up, tasks that change, projects that have glitches.  These moments will offer you an opportunity to be creative in problem solving.  Flexibility is an asset that is highly prized by employers.

Trait 6:  Doesn't Mind Working Alone
Working from home removes you from the daily commute, puts you nearer your children and your home life, but takes you away from the office environment that some people really enjoy.  Many of us love the camaraderie, the break time chats and the after work trips to the pub.  working at home changes your work-life social situation, and if you are bothered by spending lots of time on your own, you might find working from home to be discouraging. 

These traits are not necessarily requirements for you to be a success as a Work At home professional, but they are important to consider.  Some can be cultivated, and some probably can not.  Take time to consider each.  Remember that while working at home is ideal for many people, it may not be the ideal situation for all.

Posted:Monday, August 13, 2007