Before You Decide to Telecommute: Telecommuting...

Telecommuters (a.k.a., remote workers or teleworkers) enjoy many great benefits, but there are also downsides. Before you decide to explore a remote work arrangement, here's what you should consider/ask yourself:

Do the telecommuting pros outweight the cons for you?

Telecommuters enjoy:

More flexibility and control over working environment and scheduleIncreased productivity: Fewer distractions; work at your own paceLess stress: Avoid rush hour, office politics, cubicles and harsh lightingGreater work/life balance: Stay closer to the people you love

However, telecommuters are also more vulnerable to:

Isolation: You may feel left out of or miss office socializingDistractions at home: chores, home deliveries, family interruptions, etc. may replace office disruptionsBecoming a workaholic: without firm boundaries, you may feel like--or end up--always working

Do you have the personal qualities needed to be a successful remote worker?

Teleworkers need to have:

Self-sufficiency and motivation: Since no one's watching over your shoulder, you need to be self-motivatedGood communication (especially writing) skills: Email and phone will replace most in-person communicationsOutside relationships: Since you'll be away from the in-office community, you may need to establish stronger friendships outside of workOrganization skills: Your desk and your files are really yours to maintainGeneral technology comfort: Telecommuters need to be able to perform basic computer tasks and use online technologies like email, IM, and web conferencing

Do you have an appropriate office for remote work?

Sure, technology makes it easy these days to stay in touch anywhere and anytime, but if your proposed remote work environment is your unfinished leaky basement and all you have is dial-up Internet service, that's a recipe for disaster.

Thankfully, the tech requirements and general guidelines for setting up a home office are really minimal. If you have a computer, decent Internet connection, and can carve out a comfortable, productive space for working at home--it doesn't have to be an entire room--you should be fine.

Is your job suited for remote work?

This is a make-or-break question that will be evaluated by your supervisor/employer, so be honest with yourself about how much of your work can be done remotely. Most knowledge-based work can be done outside of the office, but jobs requiring your physical presence (e.g., teaching or medical care) will be tougher to negotiate for telecommuting. A sign of the times, however--half of US school districts offer online courses and online doctor consultations are growing. So even traditional occupations may be translated into telecommuting positions.

The key here is finding out how well the telecommuting workstyle fits you.