Maintaining a professional image while working out of your home can be challenging.
But it is a challenge that can be overcome with a little planning.
You will need to create a professional "mental image" and, as much as possible, a professional physical space.
Start by getting dressed.
Your dress will affect your mental attitude.
I have read articles saying that as long as you are focusing on the client it doesn't matter what you are wearing.
This may be true, but creating "work-time" cues is great for switching gears into business mode.
And getting into business mode is important regardless of whether or not you will be on the phone today.
A full suit is not necessary, just real clothes.
Business casual clothing says "competent professional", while a bath robe and fuzzy slippers say "cozy Sunday morning.
" Now that you are in business mode, have a schedule.
Define your "business hours" in advance and STICK TO THEM.
It's fine to break up your work hours with a chunk of personal time, just make sure you have defined this ahead of time.
Try not to vary your business hours too much from day to day.
Clients need to know when they can reach you "in the office.
" At the end of each business day plan the next day, including which hours are for work and which are for personal time.
During your "regular business hours", make sure other household members understand you are working and not to be disturbed except for true emergencies.
This is easier if you can separate your personal and work space.
If you can possibly swing it, have a separate room with a door you can close.
This room can be multi-purpose, but should be used for only one thing at a time.
If your office turns into the family room at night, turn off the computer and put away your files before switching into family mode.
If you have to work late, your family will need to have another space they can occupy for those hours.
Make sure you close that door or have some other kind of signal for quiet when you are making sales calls.
This is critical! If you want a potential client to believe that you will be giving his project your full attention, you can not have proof to the contrary screaming in the background.
Obviously if you have children in the house you cannot expect 8 hours of absolute silence.
But even small children can understand that there are short periods of time when no loud noise is allowed.
A fun sign with a cartoon saying "Shhh" or something else simple can help them remember.
Once you have an established relationship with a client, he is more likely to be understanding about the occasional family noise.
Speaking of phone calls, have a business phone line with voice mail (NOT an answering machine).
Many telephone providers do not allow residential lines to be used for business.
Not to mention, nothing looks more unprofessional than a residential caller ID on a business call.
If you absolutely cannot afford a business line right away, get a virtual phone number.
I like the Onebox servicefrom j2 Global (www.
onebox.
com).
With this service, you get both a local number and a toll-free number, voice mailbox and fax service.
You can set the system to ring to any phone, or even several phones until you answer one.
You even have the option of having a real live person answering the call and then forwarding to you, as if you have a secretary.
There are several service levels and prices are very reasonable.
Return calls with a cell phone if you do not have a business line.
Cell phones are so ubiquitous today that nobody questions a business person returning calls from "on the road" with their cell.
Nobody needs to know that you are actually at home in your office.
Really the most important thing is your attitude.
A professional attitude can overcome most of the potential pitfalls of working at home.
And remember, EVERYBODY loses clients.
If your little one caused a failed sales call, it's not the end of the world.
Remind him (gently) of the quiet-time policy and move on.
Your next call might just be your dream client.
But it is a challenge that can be overcome with a little planning.
You will need to create a professional "mental image" and, as much as possible, a professional physical space.
Start by getting dressed.
Your dress will affect your mental attitude.
I have read articles saying that as long as you are focusing on the client it doesn't matter what you are wearing.
This may be true, but creating "work-time" cues is great for switching gears into business mode.
And getting into business mode is important regardless of whether or not you will be on the phone today.
A full suit is not necessary, just real clothes.
Business casual clothing says "competent professional", while a bath robe and fuzzy slippers say "cozy Sunday morning.
" Now that you are in business mode, have a schedule.
Define your "business hours" in advance and STICK TO THEM.
It's fine to break up your work hours with a chunk of personal time, just make sure you have defined this ahead of time.
Try not to vary your business hours too much from day to day.
Clients need to know when they can reach you "in the office.
" At the end of each business day plan the next day, including which hours are for work and which are for personal time.
During your "regular business hours", make sure other household members understand you are working and not to be disturbed except for true emergencies.
This is easier if you can separate your personal and work space.
If you can possibly swing it, have a separate room with a door you can close.
This room can be multi-purpose, but should be used for only one thing at a time.
If your office turns into the family room at night, turn off the computer and put away your files before switching into family mode.
If you have to work late, your family will need to have another space they can occupy for those hours.
Make sure you close that door or have some other kind of signal for quiet when you are making sales calls.
This is critical! If you want a potential client to believe that you will be giving his project your full attention, you can not have proof to the contrary screaming in the background.
Obviously if you have children in the house you cannot expect 8 hours of absolute silence.
But even small children can understand that there are short periods of time when no loud noise is allowed.
A fun sign with a cartoon saying "Shhh" or something else simple can help them remember.
Once you have an established relationship with a client, he is more likely to be understanding about the occasional family noise.
Speaking of phone calls, have a business phone line with voice mail (NOT an answering machine).
Many telephone providers do not allow residential lines to be used for business.
Not to mention, nothing looks more unprofessional than a residential caller ID on a business call.
If you absolutely cannot afford a business line right away, get a virtual phone number.
I like the Onebox servicefrom j2 Global (www.
onebox.
com).
With this service, you get both a local number and a toll-free number, voice mailbox and fax service.
You can set the system to ring to any phone, or even several phones until you answer one.
You even have the option of having a real live person answering the call and then forwarding to you, as if you have a secretary.
There are several service levels and prices are very reasonable.
Return calls with a cell phone if you do not have a business line.
Cell phones are so ubiquitous today that nobody questions a business person returning calls from "on the road" with their cell.
Nobody needs to know that you are actually at home in your office.
Really the most important thing is your attitude.
A professional attitude can overcome most of the potential pitfalls of working at home.
And remember, EVERYBODY loses clients.
If your little one caused a failed sales call, it's not the end of the world.
Remind him (gently) of the quiet-time policy and move on.
Your next call might just be your dream client.