1. LIFESTYLE
M
y home office is now known as my corporate world headquarters. I love
the fact that I don’t have to navigate up and down the traffic-laden
tollway, yet I still have most of the conveniences of the big ivory tower
where I used to spend most of my time.
The corporate landscape is still changing from long commutes and cubicles to
convenient and cozy home offices. But working at home requires discipline and
professionalism. There is no reason for your clients to wonder if you are working in
a home office. You should have the same professionalism as you would if you were
in an office building. It is crucial that you leave all your customers with the
impression that they are dealing with a professional.
Here is advice from home office professionals who have already learned the hard
way — what not to do!
Faux Pas
■ Allowing your pet to make sounds. If you are on a business call
and your dog is barking in the background, it will destroy your professional image.
■ Snacking secretly. It is easier to have snacks at your home office desk,
so do not be tempted to have a little snack or crunch on ice while talking on a
conference/business call.
■ Crying babies or screaming children. This, too, will destroy your
professional image when you try to carry on a business call — you will not be taken
seriously by the person on the other end of the phone. Plan your business call while
the kids are away or napping.
HOME OFFICE ETIQUETTE
By Joy Weaver
■ Watching daytime TV! Turn the television or radio on mute while you’re address on your website.
on a business/conference call. ■ Ringing doorbells. Turn the volume down on your doorbell so that it
■ Performing household chores. Refrain from doing the laundry or does not sound like “Avon calling” to your client on the other end of the line.
loading the dishwasher during a business call. Your audience can hear every move ■ Using an improper office setup. Set up your office in a separate
you make on the other end of the line. PLEASE, do not even try to sneak in a part of your home, develop a mindset that this is your place of business and treat it
bathroom break during a call — you might as well flush your professional image as such.
goodbye. ■ Wearing pajamas and fuzzy slippers. Working at home, you may
■ Using a family voice mail message. A professional message is as find it easy to wear your pajamas to the office. Go ahead and get dressed; it helps
essential as a separate business phone number at your home. you get into the work mode.
■ “Whaz’up?” Allowing little ones or teenagers to answer your business line will ■ Losing power. Be prepared for technical failures/power outages, and have
leave a bad impression on your business caller. Limits must be established for your phone numbers handy in case you need prompt help.
home office telephone. Explain “professionalism” and the importance of your ■ Not receiving your faxes. Many home offices have the same fax
children not answering your phone. number and office number; make sure to switch the fax machine over when you are
■ Having call waiting on your phone. This is a dead giveaway that expecting a fax.
you are on a home phone and do not have a professional home office setup. It is best
to have a business line that sends another caller into a second line or directly into
voice mail. Do not allow the home phone to ring continuously while you are on the Joy Weaver is a renowned etiquette expert, speaker and author of Just Ask Joy… How
other line. to Be Socially Savvy in All Situations — a book highly endorsed by Jean and Zig
■ Forgetting to use the mute button. If you are on a conference/ Ziglar. Joy represents designer Joseph Ribkoff and is a regular guest on ABC’s Good
business call, use the mute button on your telephone if you should need to have a Morning Texas. Her clients vary in range from corporate giants such as Raytheon,
side conversation. Sprint and Balfour Construction to Junior Leagues and National Charity Leagues
■ Playing music for everyone. Make sure your hold button does not across the nation. Joy is nationally published and has been featured on ABC’s The
play music when using it during a conference call. View, in the Associated Press, New York Times, USA Today, Southern Living
■ Giving your home address as your business address. If Magazine, Dallas Morning News and The Dallas Business Journal. Protocol
possible, leave “drive” or “avenue” off your business address. It is best to rent a post Enterprises/Just Ask Joy is based in Dallas and has served clients across the country
office box, which will give a professional appearance and offer personal security and since 2000. You can follow Joy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SociallySavvy and
privacy. Remember, also for safety reasons, you should avoid putting your home learn more at www.justaskjoy.com.
66 AFFLUENT MAGAZINE