y home office is now known as my corporate world headquarters. I love

the fact that I don’t have to navigate up and down the traffic-laden

tollway, yet I still have most of the conveniences of the big ivory tower

where I used to spend most of my time.

The corporate landscape is still changing from long commutes and cubicles to

convenient and cozy home offices. But working at home requires discipline and

professionalism. There is no reason for your clients to wonder if you are working in

a home office. You should have the same professionalism as you would if you were

in an office building. It is crucial that you leave all your customers with the

impression that they are dealing with a professional.

Here is advice from home office professionals who have already learned the hard

way — what not to do!

Faux Pas

■ Allowing your pet to make sounds. If you are on a business calland your dog is barking in the background, it will destroy your professional image.

■ Snacking secretly. It is easier to have snacks at your home office desk,

so do not be tempted to have a little snack or crunch on ice while talking on a

conference/business call.

■ Crying babies or screaming children. This, too, will destroy your

professional image when you try to carry on a business call — you will not be taken

seriously by the person on the other end of the phone. Plan your business call while

the kids are away or napping.

■ Watching daytime TV! Turn the television or radio on mute while you’re

on a business/conference call.

■ Performing household chores. Refrain from doing the laundry or

loading the dishwasher during a business call. Your audience can hear every move

you make on the other end of the line. PLEASE, do not even try to sneak in a

bathroom break during a call — you might as well flush your professional image

goodbye.

■ Using a family voice mail message. A professional message is as

essential as a separate business phone number at your home.

■ “Whaz’up?” Allowing little ones or teenagers to answer your business line will

leave a bad impression on your business caller. Limits must be established for your

home office telephone. Explain “professionalism” and the importance of your

children not answering your phone.

■ Having call waiting on your phone. This is a dead giveaway that

you are on a home phone and do not have a professional home office setup. It is best

to have a business line that sends another caller into a second line or directly into

voice mail. Do not allow the home phone to ring continuously while you are on the

other line.

■ Forgetting to use the mute button. If you are on a conference/business call, use the mute button on your telephone if you should need to have a

side conversation.

■ Playing music for everyone. Make sure your hold button does not

play music when using it during a conference call.

■ Giving your home address as your business address. Ifpossible, leave “drive” or “avenue” off your business address. It is best to rent a post

office box, which will give a professional appearance and offer personal security and

privacy. Remember, also for safety reasons, you should avoid putting your home

address on your website.

■ Ringing doorbells. Turn the volume down on your doorbell so that it

does not sound like “Avon calling” to your client on the other end of the line.

■ Using an improper office setup. Set up your office in a separatepart of your home, develop a mindset that this is your place of business and treat it

as such.

■ Wearing pajamas and fuzzy slippers. Working at home, you may

find it easy to wear your pajamas to the office. Go ahead and get dressed; it helps

you get into the work mode.

■ Losing power. Be prepared for technical failures/power outages, and have

phone numbers handy in case you need prompt help.

■ Not receiving your faxes. Many home offices have the same fax

number and office number; make sure to switch the fax machine over when you are

expecting a fax.

Joy Weaver is a renowned etiquette expert, speaker and author of Just Ask Joy… How

to Be Socially Savvy in All Situations — a book highly endorsed by Jean and Zig

Ziglar. Joy represents designer Joseph Ribkoff and is a regular guest on ABC’s Good

Morning Texas. Her clients vary in range from corporate giants such as Raytheon,

Sprint and Balfour Construction to Junior Leagues and National Charity Leagues

across the nation. Joy is nationally published and has been featured on ABC’s The

View, in the Associated Press, New York Times, USA Today, Southern Living

Magazine, Dallas Morning News and The Dallas Business Journal. Protocol

Enterprises/Just Ask Joy is based in Dallas and has served clients across the country

since 2000. You can follow Joy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SociallySavvy and

learn more at www.justaskjoy.com.  

66 AFFLUENT MAGAZINE

LIFESTYLE

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HOME OFFICE ETIQUETTEBy Joy Weaver

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