One benefit of leaving the traditional "office" was escaping the squabbles and group drama, but you'll find out that home sweet home can also have the same politically-charged atmosphere if you don't set boundaries.
Listen to the gurus: do it right the first time. This way you're spared from surprise outbursts like "you don't love us anymore. You care only about your work!"
Some women complain it's difficult to be taken seriously when you work at home. If you find that family members don't respect your situation, it's time to put your foot down.
Or put another way: play the part.
Playing the part means projecting a particular image: look, speak and behave like a pro. In your home office, you're first and foremost a business worker, wife and mom second. Don't confuse the ranking.
To look professional, peel off those jogging pants and the oversized T-shirt. You don't need a stiff suit, stockings and spiked heels. You have every right to dress comfortably in your own home - but don't be a schlub either.
Next, speak like a professional would. This is a tall order considering it's easier to scream your lungs out when the children are making too much noise. To avoid these screaming bouts and feelings of resentment, set boundaries at home. If you explain to the children in a nice way that they should not disturb you unless it's urgent, they will understand and even be sympathetic to your cause.
Examples of Setting Boundaries
1. If you have a home office that is separate from the living room and other common areas, it is easier for the kids to distinguish the yes and no zones. Tell them gently that when you're in the office, they are not to come in unless it's necessary. You may want to close the door so the kids are not tempted to invade your working area. If they don't see you, they will most likely not bother you.
2. If you don't have a defined work space and you're working from the garage or a part of the kitchen, tell your kids to respect your working hours. What you can do is set a timer. The timer goes off at the lunch hour which will signal to them that they can be with you during lunch. You set the timer again in the afternoon or early evening. This way, when the timer sounds, they know they can spend time with you.
3. Ideally, you should have your own phone line and computer for your business. If not, tell the kids that they are not to use phone or computer at specific hours. If you can afford it, we strongly recommend that you purchase your own computer which will be used strictly for business and install a dedicated phone line for your exclusive use. It becomes unwieldy when you have teens in the house because they like spending time on the phone.
4. By setting boundaries, you're asking family members to respect your wishes. Respect, however, goes in both directions. Show them that you also take their interests to heart by not taking any business calls during the family dinner. Be physically and emotionally present 100% for them.
5. When you engage in recreational activities, don't take along your laptop (unless everyone agrees it's okay to do so) or check your PDA every hour. When you're on a brief weekend vacation out of town, don't run inside an internet cafe so you can check your emails.
6. If you're on a date with your spouse, resist the urge to talk about business. Quality time does not mean spicing up your conversations with stories about your clients and their unreasonable demands.
A couple of details worth remembering: don't spend time chatting on the phone with your friends after you just said you had an urgent deadline. Don't file your nails, don't take a snooze in front of your computer and don't re-touch your makeup.
If your body language doesn't match your speech, setting boundaries will turn out to be a monumental task.
Carrie Wilkerson is the voice of experience. From corporate life to teaching high school to direct sales, she has 'been there and done that' professionally and personally. An 'overnight mom' to 2 toddlers through adoption, her priorities instantly changed and so did her workplace. She's now built several businesses and coached others to do the same while overcoming extreme debt, losing 110lbs and having 2 more children, for a total of 4 children, ages infant through 12! As 'The Barefoot Executive', Carrie and her network of experts have quickly become the definite resource for helping women achieve extra income and career goals while working from home. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carrie_Wilkerson |  |
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