by Caroline M.L. Potter, Yahoo! HotJobs
You may have spent several years working your way toward a corner office only to discover there aren't any offices -- at all.
As disappointing as this may be, if you want to continue to succeed in this or any economic climate, adaptability and flexibility are key. Embracing nontraditional work arrangements (e.g. consulting and telecommuting) as well as nontraditional work environments that feature touchdown stations rather than dedicated desks are essential to your professional ascent.
Use these tips to survive and thrive in a non-traditional work environment.
1) Scope out a space. Alexandra Levit, a business and workplace author and speaker, advises off-site workers without a home office, "Create a space to call your own. This might mean staking out a regular table at your local Starbucks or library. It's important for your emotional well-being and productivity to have a place to work with minimal distractions."
2) Insulate yourself when you're out in the open. If you find yourself sitting in a different place each day, moving around often, carry some comforts with you, such as headphones and a sweater, to help you adapt wherever you are asked to work. "An iPod with familiar music that is mellow enough that you can work to it can provide a temporary barrier to interruptions," says leadership expert and consultant Stever Robbins.
3) Watch what you say. Remember that loose lips can sink ships -- and careers. Levit, author of "They Don't Teach Corporate in College: A Twenty-Something's Guide to the Business World," says, "When you don't have an office, you have to assume that others are listening when you talk. If you know you have to have a chat you don't want others to overhear, book a conference room or take a walk outside with your cell phone."
4) Create a virtual office. Robbins recommends, "Use online collaboration tools, such as Basecamp, to keep your work online yet accessible from any of your mobile locations. Understand the security implications, however, if you are working on sensitive data."
Levit agrees that you should look online for support, saying, "When you don't have a dedicated office space in which to store things, there's no place like the Web with its free tools you can access anywhere!"
5) Don't forget face time. Levit reminds mobile workers, "Just because you don't have dedicated office space doesn't mean you're not a part of the team. Make an effort to attend meetings in person, especially if you're giving a presentation or a status report. And, maintain your coworker and manager relationships by inviting those individuals to coffee or lunch."
You may have spent several years working your way toward a corner office only to discover there aren't any offices -- at all.
As disappointing as this may be, if you want to continue to succeed in this or any economic climate, adaptability and flexibility are key. Embracing nontraditional work arrangements (e.g. consulting and telecommuting) as well as nontraditional work environments that feature touchdown stations rather than dedicated desks are essential to your professional ascent.
Use these tips to survive and thrive in a non-traditional work environment.
1) Scope out a space. Alexandra Levit, a business and workplace author and speaker, advises off-site workers without a home office, "Create a space to call your own. This might mean staking out a regular table at your local Starbucks or library. It's important for your emotional well-being and productivity to have a place to work with minimal distractions."
2) Insulate yourself when you're out in the open. If you find yourself sitting in a different place each day, moving around often, carry some comforts with you, such as headphones and a sweater, to help you adapt wherever you are asked to work. "An iPod with familiar music that is mellow enough that you can work to it can provide a temporary barrier to interruptions," says leadership expert and consultant Stever Robbins.
3) Watch what you say. Remember that loose lips can sink ships -- and careers. Levit, author of "They Don't Teach Corporate in College: A Twenty-Something's Guide to the Business World," says, "When you don't have an office, you have to assume that others are listening when you talk. If you know you have to have a chat you don't want others to overhear, book a conference room or take a walk outside with your cell phone."
4) Create a virtual office. Robbins recommends, "Use online collaboration tools, such as Basecamp, to keep your work online yet accessible from any of your mobile locations. Understand the security implications, however, if you are working on sensitive data."
Levit agrees that you should look online for support, saying, "When you don't have a dedicated office space in which to store things, there's no place like the Web with its free tools you can access anywhere!"
5) Don't forget face time. Levit reminds mobile workers, "Just because you don't have dedicated office space doesn't mean you're not a part of the team. Make an effort to attend meetings in person, especially if you're giving a presentation or a status report. And, maintain your coworker and manager relationships by inviting those individuals to coffee or lunch."
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