Strategies for Working from Home: Six Tips to Keep You Focused and Productive

Working from home can be great, but in order to be successful, you have to employ some simple success strategies to help keep you focused and productive. The key is focus more on the work, and the less on the home.

The pros of working from home

Working from home sounds amazing, doesn't it? You can work in your PJs with Fido at your feet and Nine Inch Nails in the background. You don't have to shower if you don't want to. Your commute is however long it takes to get to your computer, so you save time, money, and the stress of having to get to the office every day.

There are also no unwanted interruptions from office mates or office drama to distract you. This offers more potential for increased focus, concentration, and productivity. Potentially, you can get much more work done.

The cons of working from home

The downside to working from home is that you miss out on the social interactions at work. The workplace is s social organization, and when you work from home that social fabric is missing. You can feel disconnected. This can hurt you emotionally, especially if you are social person or an extrovert, but it can also hurt teamwork and workplace relationships, both of which are crucial to getting things done. You may also miss out on the political “game” of the office, which is a crucial component of networking.

Conversely, even if you like to be out of the mix, you can feel as if they don’t trust you, especially if they ask you to attend meetings, check in, or they call to check up on your work. Also, if you are not a self-motivated person or if you need a lot of instruction or supervision, working from home may not be right for you.

Setting yourself up for success

In order to be successful working from home, you have to learn to focus on the work, not the home. You have to take it seriously, set clear boundaries, and minimize distractions. Here's how:

1. First, carve out a home office. You need to have a dedicated space for your work. The couch won’t cut it. You have to take teleworking seriously, and this is best achieved if you take your workspace seriously. You need a place to work without distraction, a place that is recognized by your family as your workspace, a place where you can keep your work materials safe and separate from your home life.

Your couch is not an office. Carve one out in your home.

2. Second, create boundaries with your family and friends. Establish boundaries and a protocol with your fiends and family. Make clear when you are working and when you shouldn’t be disturbed. Working from home usually affords a bit more flexibility, but it’s a slippery slope, so set boundaries and be firm with family and friends. And don't feel bad about doing so; if you respect your working hours so will they.

3. Third, equip yourself properly and professionally. Get a computer just for you and your work. Get the proper supplies. And get a dedicated phone, voicemail, and email for your work. If you’re a freelancer or consultant you’re on your own, but if you are a company employee, your firm may be willing to provide or offset the cost of a phone, a dedicated phone line, a computer, or other supplies or equipment for your home office. Just ask.

A real office in your home is essential.

4. Fourth, reduce distractions. You have to be able to ignore the laundry, the dishes, your DVR, running errands, and other household distractions. And, just like at the office, don’t constantly answer personal phone calls, e-mails, or surf the Internet while working.

Set aside time every hour or so to check your personal stuff. Throw in a load of laundry on one of your breaks if you like, but don’t go down any rabbit holes of housework or goofing off. Remember, working from home is more about the working than the home.

Yes your kid is cute. Just don't let him answer your work phone.

5. Establish your working hours. If you are with a company find out when they want you to be available and stick to that. If you are freelance, you can obviously establish your own hours, and you have to decide what those will be. Do you want to be nine to five, Monday through Friday? Or will you take client calls in the evenings and on weekends?

Very often, clients assume that since you work from home you are always available. That’s fine if you want it that way, but think about setting some parameters so that you aren’t working round the clock. Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have set hours. Decide what those will be and make sure your clients are aware of them. Most importantly, stick to them.

Establish and stick to working hours so you aren't working 24/7.

6. Keep networking. Whether you are an extrovert or an introvert, one of the most important things to do in business is network. People who work from home are already cut off from the workplace, so you have to make an extra effort to get out there and network.

These days, lots of networking can be done on-line, through LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook, but you still need to maintain an active physical presence. Nothing beats face-to-face interactions, and you should look for ways to do so. If you work for a company, make sure you go to the office at least once a week. Attend meetings, lunches, social gatherings, and other opportunities.

If you are a freelancer or a consultant, find ways to network. Go to parties, lunches, seminars, and programs. Join clubs and professional and trade organizations. You have to combine the electronic world with the physical world in order to keep your network healthy and growing.

Working from home can be productive, rewarding, convenient, and cost-effective. The key is to take it seriously, set yourself up for success, and focus on the work. Good luck!

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To learn more about Careerstone Groups’ programs, please visit:

http://www.careerstonegroup.com

To listen to Mary’s radio shows or watch her TV appearances, please visit: http://www.careerstonegroup.com/media.html

How to Cope with Unemployment: 7 Tips to Help You Survive and Even Thrive

Coping with unemployment is extremely difficult. Being unemployed can be devastating on every level—professionally, psychologically, financially, and emotionally. So much of our identity and our sense of self-worth are wrapped up in our jobs and careers. In many ways, we are what we do, and being unemployed can rock us to the core.

However, you can cope and grow as a person through unemployment. I know that sounds Pollyanna-ish, but it’s true. It’s not easy, though. It takes focus, grit, determination, and a little bit of faith to come through it, but you can do it.

Here are a few tips to help you survive and even thrive through unemployment:

1. Stay positive. Don’t let yourself fall into despair. You have to force yourself to remain positive. As corny as it sounds, positive thinking brings about positive results. Your actions and attitude go where your thinking goes, so if you are depressed and grumpy and down-in-the-dumps all the time, that is how you will behave and appear to others. And that’s no good. No one wants to be around a Debbie Downer, let alone help them find a job.

Do whatever it takes to stay positive.

So do whatever you can to keep your spirits up. Make your physical and emotional health a priority. Take walks, eat right, get enough sleep, and do whatever it takes to stave off the stress, anxiety, or despair.

2. Stay active and productive. Resist the urge to become a hermit. Opportunities come from other people, so make sure you stay out and about in the world and are engaged with activities and projects that keep you energized, focused, and productive. You never know what chance encounter is going to lead to your next job or your next lead. But it won’t happen if you sit home all day.

3. Connect with your network. Again, opportunities come from other people, so make sure everyone you know is aware that you are on the market. They don’t necessarily need to know details of your unemployment, but they do need to know you are looking for a new job. Cast your net wide. Take people to lunch or dinner, have drinks after work or coffee in the afternoon. Get out there and network.

Network, network, network. Now more than ever.

4. Learn a new skill/engage in professional development. Make this "downtime" a time of learning. The more skills you have the better off you are and the more marketable you become. This also helps keep you fresh, energized, and valuable in the workplace. It also expands your network by introducing you to new people.

Think about what you did in your last position. Were there skills you needed but never got around to developing? Are there new skills that can make you even more marketable? Think it through and then take action—now is the perfect time.

5. Volunteer. Volunteering is a great way to keep your skills sharp, learn new skills, meet new people, connect with the community, grow your network, and get more business exposure. Volunteering is also a great way to maintain your self-esteem and lift your spirits. Doing good feels good. It also gives you something to talk about when people ask you what you have been working on.

Now is the perfect time to volunteer. Get out there!

6. Follow your passion. This is a natural time to reflect on what you would really like to do. If you have to start over, maybe this is the time to recreate yourself based on what you love to do. This might be the right time to explore your entrepreneurial side, for example. If so, I recommend The Economy of You: Discover Your Inner Entrepreneur and Recession-Proof Your Life by Kimberly Palmer. 

7. Help others. Reach out and do what you can to help other people who are also looking for work. Even if you don’t have a job you may know someone in a field that could help another person. It's good karma, and it helps build up your favor bank. Good people help other good people.

Help others find jobs. It's good karma.

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Coping with unemployment is undoubtedly one of the most difficult things an adult has to deal with. Of course, none of these tips will help you pay the mortgage or put food on the table immediately. I know that. But by using these strategies your unemployment can be a time of growth and purpose, and you can come out even stronger. It’s worth a shot. Good luck!

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To learn more about Careerstone Groups’ programs, please visit:

http://www.careerstonegroup.com

To listen to Mary’s radio shows or watch her TV appearances, please visit: http://www.careerstonegroup.com/media.html

Emotional Intelligence -- What It Is, How to Get It, and How to Use It

Many things factor into a person's success: intellect, skill, resourcefulness, knowledge, drive, etc. But there is one factor that most successful people share—a high EQ.

EQ is emotional intelligence, the ability to use your emotions in a positive and constructive way in relationships with others. It’s about reading and understanding the emotions of others and engaging people in a way that brings them towards you, not away from you. It’s about being “choiceful” in how you interact and engage with them.

Many studies show that EQ is a much more accurate determinant for success and career growth than technical skills or a high IQ. According to the Center for Creative Leadership, the biggest reason that managers fail is because of poor interpersonal skills. Another survey showed that EQ accounts for an 85 percent difference between a good leader and an excellent leader.

This says it all...

Simply put, whatever your position—leader, manager, co-worker, self-employed, intern, assistant—people with great interpersonal skills (those who are more attuned to the emotions of others) are more successful. The higher your EQ the more successful you will be.

EQ at Work

The workplace is a social network. It’s a hotbed of emotions, egos, stress, and conflict. Emotional intelligence can help you:

• Develop robust relationships
• Solve problems using both logic and feelings
• Maintain an optimistic and positive outlook
• Cultivate flexibility in stressful situations
• Help others express their needs
• Respond to difficult people and situations calmly and thoughtfully, and
• Respond to change with grace and calm

EQ is important for managing change, understanding the political landscape for a new project, dealing well with setbacks or workplace obstacles, motivating and influencing others, and working with or for a team with different personalities.

Emotional Intelligence really comes into play when managing and dealing with difficult people, including customers, employees, colleagues, and bosses. Your ability to understand and empathize goes a long way.

EQ is critical for success in the workplace.

EQ is critical for any person, in any position, who deals with other people. Even if you are self-employed you still have to engage with others (in fact, when you’re self-employed that may be even more important).

Developing your EQ

Some people are born with natural EQ skills. In certain fields, EQ often goes hand in hand with success, like sales. Many companies actually use EQ competency testing as criteria for selection into highly engaging positions like sales. A recent survey showed that companies that selected their sales people by using EQ competency criteria decreased their first year turnover rate by a whopping 63 percent.

But EQ can also be taught, and many companies hire consultants (like me!) to host workshops to train employees on emotional intelligence. Ask HR if they have an EQ workshop or training. If not, you can develop it on your own.

The Four Factors of EQ

Emotional intelligence may come easily for some, harder for others. It’s about paying attention to other people, engaging them, and developing solid interpersonal skills. There are four basic competencies involved in EQ. These are the things you need to develop:

1. Self-Awareness: This is recognizing how emotions affect your performance, and it requires a candid self-assessment of your strengths and weaknesses. Self-aware individuals are reflective and learn from experience. They are open to candid feedback, new perspectives, and self-development.

2. Self-Management: This is basically self-control, the ability to manage or control your own emotions, internal states, impulses, and reactions. It means being choiceful in your interactions with and reactions to others. People with the ability to self-manage are perceived as trustworthy, conscientious, adaptable, Innovative, and optimistic.

You can master EQ on your own.

3. Awareness of Others (Social Awareness): This is the awareness of other people’s feelings, needs, and concerns. It means having empathy, seeking to understand others, and being able to read and tune in to the emotional state of others. Social awareness skills include understanding others, developing others, service orientation, leveraging diversity, and having political awareness.

4. Relationship Management: This competency is about successfully engaging with others. It includes the ability to communicate, relate, and listen well to others and to induce desirable responses in them. People with this ability understand that emotions are contagious. They can adapt their communication styles to people and situations.

Take One of These EQ Tests

EQ is pretty basic, really. It's all about developing your interpersonal skill set, which requires an understanding of your own emotions as well as the emotions of others. The place to start  is deterring your own level of emotional intelligence. There are lots of great books out there, like “Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ” by Daniel Goleman. There a re lots of resources on the web, like this article: 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/05/are-you-emotionally-intel_n_4371920.html

Or just jump right into it by taking an EQ test, like these easy ones from the web:

http://psychology.about.com/library/quiz/bl_eq_quiz.htm

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-squeaky-wheel/201311/test-your-practical-emotional-intelligence

http://www.queendom.com/tests/access_page/index.htm?idRegTest=3037 (Be warned: this one has 146 questions!)

Once you know where you stand EQ-wise, you’ll know what to work on. EQ is a new key to success, and it's something you can develop, like any skill. 

Good luck!

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For more information on Careerstone Group, please visit our website:

http://www.careerstonegroup.com

To watch or listen to Mary's media appearances, please visit our media page:

http://www.careerstonegroup.com/media.html