home office

Teams are the typical building blocks of an organization: They provide companies with the means to combine the various skills, talents and perspectives of a group of individuals to achieve corporate goals. In the past, managers used to colocate team members because of the high levels of interdependencies that are inherent in group work. Today, though, more and more companies organize projects over distance, with teams increasingly consisting of people who are scattered over various offices and locations. While virtual teams provide a number of benefits, it can be quite challenging to manage them efficiently. Following the five- step program on Inc.com will help you manage a decentralized workforce.

1. Clear Understanding of Project Objectives – One of the greatest challenges facing any virtual team is a clear understanding of what they need to accomplish.

2. Communication – While communication is imperative for any project to be completed, it is of even greater importance when you have a decentralized team.

3. Clearly Defined Roles and Responsibilities – Problems are sure to arise when members of the team are unsure about the role they play and what is expected of them.

4. Don’t Rely on Nonverbal Communication – Oftentimes managers become over-reliant on emailing, texting or other forms of written communication.

5. Flexibility – Because virtual teams don’t have the same access to managers from afar, it is advisable to be lenient regarding work hours, deliverables, and timelines.

Innovative software and applications from services like Box.net and Huddle.com suggest new concepts for how to work and communicate in the knowledge age and apparently offer an alternative to long-established players like Microsoft or Oracle. Some of these companies seem to be taking collaboration technology past traditional conventions to reshape the way we approach the workday…

As a freelancer, you are most likely doing some form of social media marketing to reel in a job, project or engagement. Tell me if I’m wrong. But which social sites are best for which marketing outcomes? This useful chart by CMO.com & 97th Floor shows which social networks are best for various organizational, CRM and marketing objectives. So, in case you’re not sure if Flickr is good for SEO or whether Tumblr drives traffic, it might just be what you’ve been looking for. The infographic gives a great overview of each channels suitability in terms of customer satisfaction, brand exposure, traffic, and SEO. I think it comes in really handy as quick point of reference. What do you think?

image courtesy CMO & 97th Floor

Working as a freelancer becomes more fashionable nowadays and therefore working at home as well. Especially the fact that one can set it’s own hours is a pleasing side effect. So setting up your working place effectively is an important part of working at home. A well organized and structured office makes the working hours at home easier and more enjoyable. Here are some helpful hints for freelancer to arrange their office conveniently:

basic needs for your home office

In general you shouldn’t fill up your office with stuff which is not necessary for your actual work.

• choose a quiet or separated place for your office at your flat or house, to avoid the feeling to work all time
• you’ll need a computer or even better a laptop (you can take it with you when working at a coworking space)
• a comfortable chair with a chair mat to protect your floors
• keep your office filed (even if you need your “creative chaos”, tidying up at regular intervals helps to facilitate your workday life)

“with the increasing traffic congestion (despite all the new flyovers and sea-link routes), and the long travel distances, it isn’t surprising that people seem to prefer to work from home. with more and more people opting for it, a SoHo (Small office/Home office) has become an important space in homes, whether it is a large home or the small apartment. with a bit of planning, organising and attention to the décor and design, your home office will become the ideal workspace…”

…read article here.