It seems that every day brings a new round of articles that talk about how to be productive while working from home. As a home worker for the past 5 years or so, I can attest that it took time to get used to working outside the office daily. There’s a lot that can distract your attention.
But a thought occurred to me that no one ever writes about learning to work from an office. When we get our first job in the real world and sit in our first cubicle, it’s simply assumed that we can figure it out. Someone may tell you when you are supposed to show up, when to leave, where the copier is, where the break room is, etc, etc but no one tells you the habits you need to form to successfully work in the office.
The first thing most people try to figure out how the office actually works. Does the boss come in at 8, 8:30, 9 or some other time every day? Are people leaving at 4:30, 5, 6 or can I get away whenever? Joe over on the other side of the floor is a good guy to kill an hour talking football with. Sandy goes to lunch at noon and then Dave goes at 12:45 which lets me kill 90 minutes. Does IT filter web traffic or can I watch videos at my desk?
Some of the most unproductive people I’ve ever met work from an office showing up at 8 and leaving at 5. They have the situation scoped out, know how to look productive, and show up consistently. Because they work from the office, people don’t question what they are doing day-in, day-out.
Just something to think about.