Convince Your Boss About Teleworking: Start Talking

Are you bored of going every morning to the office and spend all day in front of a computer when you could do the same job from home or any other place? I guess many of you are. Wouldn't it be great convincing your boss to let you telework?

In these series I'll discuss some ideas you can use with the big guy or gal. I'll show you how to prove that you can be as much productive without actually being there, at the office.

The first step: don't be afraid of talking.

I've seen many people that work in a constant state of repression. Persons that do their job as human robots, never expressing their ideas or maintaining a normal relationship with their bosses. Come on! How do you expect getting somewhere if you can't even exchange some words with one of the most important persons, at least for you, in the company?

During my years as an IT consultant I made many friends, many of them bosses, in charge of managing employees, and they were quite sociable persons. I could go into their office and have a casual business chat or share a laugh. I was just an outside consultant with no rank or interest in the company, maybe that's why I didn't care too much about internal politics, but anyway, the bosses were just fine, common persons.

However, some of the employees that went to talk with the boss had this “Sir, yes, sir” attitude. You could feel this submissive state of mind in them, a lack of self-respect.

You must be friend of your boss, he or she must trust your judgement and respect your decisions, and you only get there when you start talking.

How to do it? I'd begin by keeping my head up, don't think bosses are always right or know much more than you just because of their position in the company. Smart bosses like to have challenging workers with fresh ideas, not dumb followers.

I've noticed that talking casually will break the ice with most people, try it.

Don't use fancy words or behaviors, remember many of us, including bosses, don't like smarties or the “I know all about it” kind of persons.

Share your ideas, the moment you start doing it, and these are well accepted and considered, you become more and more independent.

Your goal is to get your boss considering you as an adviser more than just another name in the payroll. When you've got that attention and you can talk like friendly colleagues then it's time for the next step in the becoming a teleworker road.

It's worth noticing than some bosses are just not the talkative type, and unfortunately bosses are not returnable items. The only choice I see is looking for another job or a new position in the company. Remember you need to feel good doing what you do to be productive.

Let us know your ideas to start talking with your boss, the first step to become a successful employed teleworker.