Executive Business Coach Chuck Boyce: Where You Work Effects How You WorkTaking Control of Your Environment It’s a typical day in the life of home-based businessman Bob Kornfeld. And, as usual, things are a just little bit hectic. A client called to discuss an upcoming project, but Bob can’t find the notes from their last conversation anywhere on the desk in his home office. One of the kids must have been using his computer yesterday, because his settings are wrong and it’s running slow. But then again, he’s had to answer so many phone calls he hasn’t had time to get anything done anyway. Now he’s got to organize a last-minute teleconference before the plumber arrives to fix the kitchen sink…which of course could be at any time in the next three hours. Small business coaches know that for people who run home-based businesses, one of the biggest professional challenges is managing what can sometimes be a very unprofessional environment. The more distractions there are, the harder it is to concentrate on the task at hand and do it well. But there are solutions available to help small businesspeople get the most out of their work space. Draw a Line between “Home” and “Office” An office is a place to work. It is not a place for the kids to hang out and play computer games, or a spot for solitaire breaks while cleaning the garage. It should be a place that fosters productivity and focus. A place where work gets done. So if a home office is to serve as a functional place of business, it helps to follow a few ground rules. 1. Devote a separate space to the office. A spare room is ideal, but if you don’t have space, a separate corner or area will do. Physically Separate “Home” from “Office” If course, even if the best of circumstances, finding the space and privacy necessary to work productively at home can still be an issue. But there are other options available to small businesspeople. An executive suite offers all the perks of a traditional office the pressure of a long-term commitment. Often available month-to-month, they are usually professionally furnished and equipped with all the necessary communication and technological equipment. They come in a range of sizes to suit one-person operations as well as larger ones. And the best part is, they include mail, administrative support, cleaning costs and more. Another, even more affordable solution is the Virtual Office. These offer only the services you need, from a separate address and phone service while you still work from home to meeting space, conference calling and other flexible, pay-as-you-go solutions Located just off the I-95 in Wilmington, Delaware, Executive Suites by Brandywine Executive Center offer professionally-furnished, fully-supported office suites at an affordable price, as well as a wide range of state-of-the-art virtual office solutions. For more information, go to www.bwecenter.com. Listen to the audio here! Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. |
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