What are the first three things that come to your mind when you think of your office? Are they good things? Are they things you can change? Are they things that add to, or take from your production and knowledge? Face it we all have working environments that either work for you, or don’t. That is especially true for the folks who are working in a home office. Your environment is one critical component of your success. It is the field you play on every day. It is the place where you win and loose and keep track. It is where you practice and perfect your skills. I ask again, is your environment working for you?
I looked around at offices over the years looking for the answers, I have some things that I think are crucial to your environment and all good offices have these things in various styles.
- A phone system that works for you, not against you. Does your phone always get answered? Does the caller have options and know exactly when you will get back to them? Can the caller leave you information and get answers to frequently asked questions?
- Organized Files and Systems. This is where price and style make a difference, but it is a MUST in all good offices. We are talking about all the paperwork and electronic files that pass through us in a day. A way to access and retrieve that information in an easy manner allows you to run your business from a dashboard and not be wasting your time.
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Training, Mentor, Networking. I lump all these together because they are people centered and learning and growth centered. Every great office has a spirit of learning and sharing—even your home office. Look around you. Put up some things that inspire you, make you want to accomplish today. Have conversation with people who challenge you on a daily basis. Don’t be sitting down all the time, or all the time on the phone, have face time everyday with other people whom you learn from and challenge you. - Doer’s. All good offices have people who are doing things. Get the phone to ring by making calls, get in the farm area and prospect both electronically, through the mail and in person. Do it all. Sign more papers. Get agreements to sign papers in the next meeting. People who do things. If you are in a home office, this is up to you then. Don’t shirk the duty; good offices have people who are getting things done.
- Supplies. A good office has supplies at hand so that you are not stopped at a critical time to go out and buy toner, or paper. If coffee is your thing, then have it available. Water. Comfortable chair and desk. You want to have this field be the place you come to strap it on and win today’s game.
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