Never Let Them See Your Pajamas: Powwownow Reveals Its Top 10 Tips for Telecommuting Success

Online, June 15, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Boston, MASS - June 14, 2010 - From mundane to historic, and natural to man-made, businesses today contend with countless, often unexpected challenges. As a result, forward-thinking businesses are considering alternative work models such as telecommuting to empower their workforce to get work done from wherever they are. To further support this flexible and beneficial work option, Powwownow offers its' Top 10 Tips for Telecommuting Success.

"One never knows when disaster will strike next. That's why it's important that businesses provide employees with the ability to work from anywhere. Telecommuting not only allows businesses to maintain productivity in an emergency, but is also a beneficial long-term strategy for better employee morale and decreased turnover," said Andrew Pearce, CEO of Powwownow.

Derived in part from the experiences of its' own loyal customers who use smart tools like Powwownow to conduct business from their home or mobile office, Powwownow's tips focus on tried and true tactics from telecommuters everywhere. Coupled with today's advanced and affordable technologies, these tips can help anyone telecommute successfully, enabling businesses and employees to increase productivity, improve morale and achieve work-life balance.

"Successful telecommuting doesn't just happen; businesses and employees must understand the challenges and be prepared to adjust their work habits and expectations to make this model work. The tips we've shared are proven best practices from our own customers and can help anyone telecommute with success," continued Pearce.

Top 10 Tips for Telecommuting
1. Give it time. It takes time to adapt to a new strategy. Like any new undertaking, it can be challenging to change work habits, but the positive outcomes are very rewarding.

2. Get organised. Organisation is vital to an efficient home office. Use task lists, calendars, filing systems, whiteboards, or web-based project management tools to help keep your workplace and workload manageable and looking neat and professional. More tips here.

3. Make use of technology. There's a plethora of free technology available to encourage work-at-home success, such as online collaboration and web conferencing tools. Free conference calling via mobile or landline from Powwownow can create a virtual office anywhere, enabling you to connect with customers or colleagues all over the world. To make mobile conferencing even easier, look for some of the great iPhone apps that make working remotely a breeze.

4. Schedule breaks. Take time out of your day to actually 'walk away' from your desk. Often times, working from home can result in constant work mode - it's important to get up, walk around, and go outside. A little fresh air and sunshine can result in a more productive workday.

5. Keep things quiet. Ensure you have a quiet and functional work area, preferably in a location with a door that can be shut to keep noise and distractions out.

6. Plan your day. Create a list of what you need to do. Use a paper planner, a whiteboard, or software based task list to organise the day's priorities. As a telecommuter, you are responsible for ensuring your work gets done; be proactive and stay organized.

7. Communicate regularly. Just because you're dispersed, you don't need to feel disconnected from your co-workers. Be proactive and schedule check-ins with your teams or colleagues at regular intervals to ensure quality and productivity. Use phone and web conferencing as well as instant messaging for quicker communications.

8. Focus on work. If you're a parent and want to telecommute, ensure proper childcare is in place. Your workday should be spent working. You not only owe it to your employer, but you'll feel and be more productive without distractions or guilt.

9. Stick to a schedule. Try to avoid working late night/after work hours. It's all too easy to get sucked into work when your office is in your home. Your task list will always be there - try to do your best to prioritise and to work smart during work hours.

10. End distractions. If your fingers tend to wander to Facebook or email or you encounter problems staying focused, limit yourself to 1-2 scans daily so you can concentrate on your deliverables. This will increase productivity and help you stay focused longer.
For more tips and advice on telecommuting, working virtually and operating a successful small business, visit the Powwownow or Andrew Pearce blogs.

About Powwownow
Powwownow was founded in 2004, offering customers low-cost conference calling facilities with the ethos of no booking, no billing, no fuss. The customer does not need to book a conference room and never receives a bill from Powwownow. They only pay the cost of their own call, which is added to their standard telecoms bill. For more information or for a free download, visit http://www.powwownow.com/.

Powwownow is Europe's fastest growing free conference call provider and operates in 15 countries including the UK, US and major European markets.

Powwownow and Audio-Cast are trading names of Via-Vox Limited, which is a UK incorporated company registered at Companies House (Company Number 04646978).