Author: admin

I do like to work at home. For me it’s like having a really plush office that has sofas, a cool TV, a garden to sit in on warm days and a well stocked fridge when snack time comes a callin’.

Who wouldn’t want to work in an office as lovely as that?

However, working at home can also cause a few headaches, not least during school holidays when my office is overrun with little people, wielding Moshi Monsters and asking complex questions about Pepper Pig. Joyful though it is to have time with the children, when you’re trying to write a new leadership course this kind of interruption can become irritating. Working at home certainly has it’s ups and downs, but I do like it and so here are 5 top tips for success:

1. Stop at the end of the day. If you’re working from home and have completed a solid 8 hour shift then stop. People seem to think that working at home requires us to work 12 hour days to prove we’re not time-wasting.

2. Work to your rhythm. If an office has 9-to-5 hours and you work better from 3-to-10 then don’t fight it – if you are at home then enjoy working the hours that work for you. I prefer to do the school run in the morning and then work late at night and I am much more productive that way too.

3. Explain deadlines to your family. Work involves timescales and deadlines and if you want to avoid an argument then make sure your family understands when you need to be left alone to complete a project.

4. Go networking. Working at home can cause us to feel isolated, as we can be cut off from the office banter and miss human interaction. Thanks to the likes of Twitter we can connect with people and have fun and make new friends. It doesn’t matter if we network at a business club over breakfast, or Tweet to our friends during a break – all networking is useful because it broadens our world and introduces us to new and interesting people.

5. Schedule thinking time. One of the best bits about working from home is the freedom from distractions. We can silence the phone, switch off the internet connection and allow ourselves to become immersed in a piece of work. I have several business coaching clients who now use working at home as a way to get space for clear thinking, away from the tension and pace of their office. If you had a day at home next week, what would you think about?

Working at home is increasingly going to be a part of working life for many of us and we can think sensibly about it and make it work for us. I’m off to sit in the garden and enjoy the Autumn sunshine and if you hear snoring….I’m not asleep, just deep in thought….

Next week: Building the Rocket

The world is full of people who need our help and as a private individual I am happy to sponsor friends as they attempt to cycle up Everest or run a marathon carrying an egg and spoon. Good luck to them I say!

However, from a business perspective I have been less keen to sponsor people, events, or good causes. Not because I am inherently mean, but because as a smaller business I am not sure I can afford to compete with the big boys (and girls) who seem to have the funds for impressive events and large banners.

It was interesting, therefore, to reflect on the nature of ‘corporate sponsorship’ on Business Life the other week. This is the radio show I host on Future Radio each Thursday from 12noon to 2pm, ably assisted by Anna Stevenson, my co-host. We celebrate all walks of business life on the show and have a stream of interesting people who join us to share their expertise and their passion.

On this particular show we were discussing the nature of sponsorship and two things struck me:

1. That sponsorship is open to small companies as well as large ones.

2. That sponsorship can be an effective part of a marketing plan.

It seems obvious when you think about it – small businesses can generate great PR for less than £100 by sponsoring an event, or being part of a larger group of sponsors. When we do sponsor someone, or something, that can be a carefully considered part of a wider marketing plan, designed to increase brand awareness and lead us to more sales.

If you’re thinking – oh how obvious – then this week take a fresh look at your marketing plan and see if it mentions corporate sponsorship anywhere. Ask yourself what you could sponsor for £100 to raise your profile…the costs of corporate sponsorship can be lower than you think.

I’m off to sit in a bath of beans – all sponsorship welcome!*

Next week: Working at home top tips

*Being a good leader I may delegate this task!