Telework and Telecommuting Instructor Guide
TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface ..............................................................................................................................................6 What is Courseware? ................................................................................................................................ 6 How Do I Customize My Course? .............................................................................................................. 6 Materials Required ................................................................................................................................... 8 Maximizing Your Training Power .............................................................................................................. 8 Module One: Getting Started ........................................................................................................... 10 Housekeeping Items................................................................................................................................ 10 The Parking Lot ....................................................................................................................................... 11 Workshop Objectives .............................................................................................................................. 11 Pre-Assignment ....................................................................................................................................... 12 Module Two: Core Skills Required .................................................................................................... 13 Self-Management ................................................................................................................................... 13 Time Management ................................................................................................................................. 14 Organizing and Planning ........................................................................................................................ 15 Communication....................................................................................................................................... 16 Case Study............................................................................................................................................... 17 Module Two: Review Questions.............................................................................................................. 18 Module Three: Self-Management (I) ................................................................................................. 21 Solving Problems on Your Own ............................................................................................................... 21 Being and Staying Motivated ................................................................................................................. 22 You Have More Freedom – Don’t Abuse It.............................................................................................. 23 You and Only You are Accountable ......................................................................................................... 24 Case Study............................................................................................................................................... 25
Module Three: Review Questions ........................................................................................................... 26 Module Four: Self-Management (II) .................................................................................................. 30 Recognize and Remove Bad Habits ........................................................................................................ 30 Reflect on Mistakes and Learn from Them ............................................................................................. 31 Establish Good Habits ............................................................................................................................. 32 Be Assertive with Yourself....................................................................................................................... 33 Case Study............................................................................................................................................... 34 Module Four: Review Questions ............................................................................................................. 35 Module Five: Time Management (I) .................................................................................................. 38 Build a Little Flexibility into Your Schedule ............................................................................................. 38 Identify and Remove Time Wasters ........................................................................................................ 39 Working with Time Zones ....................................................................................................................... 40 Using Free Time Wisely ........................................................................................................................... 41 Case Study............................................................................................................................................... 42 Module Five: Review Questions .............................................................................................................. 43 Module Six: Time Management (II) ................................................................................................... 46 The Urgent/Important Matrix ................................................................................................................ 46 Setting and Sticking to Deadlines ........................................................................................................... 47 The Glass Jar: Rocks, Pebbles, Sand and Water...................................................................................... 48 Recognize When You Are Procrastinating .............................................................................................. 50 Case Study............................................................................................................................................... 51 Module Six: Review Questions ................................................................................................................ 52 Module Seven: Organizing and Planning (I) ....................................................................................... 55 Plan for Additional Stress........................................................................................................................ 55 When to Seek Help.................................................................................................................................. 56 Being Proactive – Not Reactive............................................................................................................... 57
Establish Priorities and Attainable Goals................................................................................................ 58 Case Study............................................................................................................................................... 59 Module Seven: Review Questions ........................................................................................................... 60 Module Eight: Organizing and Planning (II) ....................................................................................... 63 Setting Up Your Home Office .................................................................................................................. 63 Remove Unneeded or Distracting Items ................................................................................................. 64 When Technology Fails ........................................................................................................................... 65 Develop a Normal Working Day ............................................................................................................. 66 Case Study............................................................................................................................................... 67 Module Eight: Review Questions ............................................................................................................ 68 Module Nine: Communication (I)...................................................................................................... 71 Stay in the Loop ...................................................................................................................................... 71 Use the Correct Medium ......................................................................................................................... 72 Be Clear and to the Point ........................................................................................................................ 73 Virtual Communication Can Be Impersonal ............................................................................................ 74 Case Study............................................................................................................................................... 75 Module Nine: Review Questions ............................................................................................................. 76 Module Ten: Communication (II) ...................................................................................................... 79 Open and Frequent Communication ....................................................................................................... 79 Share Your Information .......................................................................................................................... 80 Have a Collaborative Attitude ................................................................................................................ 81 Setting Expectations with Family and Friends ........................................................................................ 82 Case Study............................................................................................................................................... 83 Module Ten: Review Questions .............................................................................................................. 84 Module Eleven: Additional Challenges .............................................................................................. 87 Building Trust and Rapport ..................................................................................................................... 87
Feeling Isolated ....................................................................................................................................... 88 Always in the Office ................................................................................................................................ 89 Lack of or Less Feedback ......................................................................................................................... 90 Case Study............................................................................................................................................... 91 Module Eleven: Review Questions .......................................................................................................... 92 Module Twelve: Wrapping Up .......................................................................................................... 95 Words from the Wise .............................................................................................................................. 95 Review of Parking Lot ............................................................................................................................. 95 Lessons Learned ...................................................................................................................................... 95 Completion of Action Plans and Evaluations .......................................................................................... 96
The best teamwork comes from men who are working independently toward one goal in unison. James Cash Penny Preface What is Courseware? Welcome to Courseware.com, a completely new training experience! Our courseware packages offer you top-quality training materials that are customizable, user-friendly, educational, and fun. We provide your materials, materials for the student, PowerPoint slides, and a takehome reference sheet for the student. You simply need to prepare and train! Best of all, our courseware packages are created in Microsoft Office and can be opened using any version of Word and PowerPoint. (Most other word processing and presentation programs support these formats, too.) This means that you can customize the content, add your logo, change the color scheme, and easily print and e-mail training materials.
How Do I Customize My Course? Customizing your course is easy. To edit text, just click and type as you would with any document. This is particularly convenient if you want to add customized statistics for your region, special examples for your participants’ industry, or additional information. You can, of course, also use all of your word processor’s other features, including text formatting and editing tools (such as cutting and pasting). To remove modules, simply select the text and press Delete on your keyboard. Then, navigate to the Table of Contents, right-click, and click Update Field. You may see a dialog box; if so, click “Update entire table” and press OK.
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(You will also want to perform this step if you add modules or move them around.) If you want to change the way text looks, you can format any piece of text any way you want. However, to make it easy, we have used styles so that you can update all the text at once. If you are using Word 97 to 2003, start by clicking the Format menu followed by Styles and Formatting. In Word 2007 and 2010 under the Home tab, right-click on your chosen style and click Modify. That will then produce the Modify Style options window where you can set your preferred style options. For example, if we wanted to change our Heading 1 style, used for Module Titles, this is what we would do:
Now, we can change our formatting and it will apply to all the headings in the document. For more information on making Word work for you, please refer to Word 2007 or 2010 Essentials by Courseware.com.
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Materials Required All of our courses use flip chart paper and markers extensively. (If you prefer, you can use a whiteboard or chalkboard instead.) We recommend that each participant have a copy of the Training Manual, and that you review each module before training to ensure you have any special materials required. Worksheets and handouts are included within a separate activities folder and can be reproduced and used where indicated. If you would like to save paper, these worksheets are easily transferrable to a flip chart paper format, instead of having individual worksheets. We recommend these additional materials for all workshops:
Laptop with projector, for PowerPoint slides
Quick Reference Sheets for students to take home
Timer or watch (separate from your laptop)
Masking tape
Blank paper
Maximizing Your Training Power We have just one more thing for you before you get started. Our company is built for trainers, by trainers, so we thought we would share some of our tips with you, to help you create an engaging, unforgettable experience for your participants.
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Make it customized. By tailoring each course to your participants, you will find that your results will increase a thousand-fold. o
Use examples, case studies, and stories that are relevant to the group.
o
Identify whether your participants are strangers or whether they work together. Tailor your approach appropriately.
o
Different people learn in different ways, so use different types of activities to balance it all out. (For example, some people learn by reading, while others learn by talking about it, while still others need a hands-on approach. For more information, we suggest Experiential Learning by David Kolb.)
Make it fun and interactive. Most people do not enjoy sitting and listening to someone else talk for hours at a time. Make use of the tips in this book and your own experience to keep your
participants engaged. Mix up the activities to include individual work, small group work, large group discussions, and mini-lectures. 
Make it relevant. Participants are much more receptive to learning if they understand why they are learning it and how they can apply it in their daily lives. Most importantly, they want to know how it will benefit them and make their lives easier. Take every opportunity to tie what you are teaching back to real life.

Keep an open mind. Many trainers find that they learn something each time they teach a workshop. If you go into a training session with that attitude, you will find that there can be an amazing two-way flow of information between the trainer and trainees. Enjoy it, learn from it, and make the most of it in your workshops.
And now, time for the training!
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Teams should be able to act with the same unity of purpose and focus as a well motivated individual. Bill Gates Module One: Getting Started For some people, working from home can seem like a dream opportunity. But they may not realize that this kind of position comes with a great amount of responsibility and challenges. Since these employees are not working in a centralized office, they may have the advantage of having flexible schedules and shorter or no commute, they can have disadvantages when it comes to receiving feedback and being able to communicate with teammates. Through this workshop you should be able to stay motivated in your ‘office’ while still feeling connected to the rest of the team.
Housekeeping Items Take a few moments to cover basic housekeeping items.
If you need an opening or a way to introduce the participants to each other, utilize the Icebreakers folder to begin or between breaks during the day.
Let participants know where they can find washrooms, break facilities, and fire exits.
Ask participants to turn off their cell phones or at least turn them to vibrate. If they must take a call, request that they do it outside.
Take this time to encourage the group to ask questions and make this an interactive workshop.
Write the words Respect, Confidentiality, and Practice on a piece of flip chart paper and tape it to the wall. Explain to participants that in order to get the most out of this workshop, we must all work together, listen to each other, explore new ideas, and make mistakes. After all, that’s how we learn!
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The Parking Lot Explain the concept of The Parking Lot to participants.
The Parking Lot is a visible place where you will “park” ideas that arise which are not on the agenda, may be off topic, or are better addressed outside of the program.
At the end of the session, we will review parked ideas and follow up, or make suggestions for your own investigation when you are back at work.
Suggestions for the trainer: 1. If you are working with a large group of participants, you may wish to nominate a recorder to park items as you are facilitating. 2. It’s a good idea to note the name of the contributor along with the parked item. Items noted on the parking lot can be useful to you later as you plan future training sessions.
Workshop Objectives Research has consistently demonstrated that when clear goals are associated with learning, it occurs more easily and rapidly. With that in mind, let’s review our goals for today. At the end of this workshop, participants should be able to:
Know the skills required for working outside the office
Learn keys to proper self-management
Learn ways to manage time efficiently
Know different methods of organization and planning
Identify various forms of communication and their proper use
Address and resolve challenges that teleworkers can face
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Pre-Assignment Complete this worksheet before the class begins. Make note of what you hope to learn or goals you want to address after the class.
1.) Have you ever been a part of a teleworker or virtual team? ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ 2.) What do you think are the benefits of having teleworker teams? Disadvantages? ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ 3.) What obstacles do we face when we try to communicate with a teleworker team? ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ 4.) What do you hope to learn from this course? ______________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________
Any other thoughts: ______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________
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All of the top achievers I know are life-long learners, looking for new skills, insights, and ideas. Denis Waitley Module Two: Core Skills Required As with any job position, certain skills and abilities are needed to be a successful teleworker and member of a virtual team. Common skills needed are ways to manage your time and organize all assignments and duties. When building your virtual team, remember to find employees that can work well under minimal supervision and can function with different types of technology.
Self-Management More employees are choosing to work from home or outside the standard office. It not only saves the company money, but it allows them to expand into other areas and cover more ground. But when working outside of a standard office, you must learn to self-manage. A manager cannot always be present and cannot always watch over your shoulder. You must be able to monitor your own progress and be able to keep track of your assignments and deadlines. If you do not have basic skills of selfmanagement, then you won’t be able to function in a virtual office. Common tools for self-management:
Make a schedule and stick to it
Keep a calendar of important dates and deadlines
Check in with team members periodically to stay in the loop
Estimated Time
10 minutes
Topic Objective
Learn methods of self-management
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Self-Management Topic Summary
Discuss different methods, techniques, and tools that can help with selfmanagement.
Materials Required
01-Learning Self-Management
Planning Checklist
None
Recommended Activity
Complete the handout individually. Share your answers with the rest of the class.
Stories to Share
Share any relevant personal stories.
Delivery Tips
Encourage everyone to participate.
Review Questions
What is self-management?
Time Management When you work with little supervision, it is important that you are able to manage your time on your own. This does not necessarily mean you must manage every minute or try to force yourself to stay focused. Time management means recognizing when you have deadlines and knowing how long it will take you to finish a project or assignment. Sometimes you can let in too many distractions or try to take on too many duties at once. This in turn can cause you to manage your work time poorly and fail to do a good job. Your manager cannot completely manage your time and resources for you. Instead they will give support and offer advice on ways to stay focused and on track. Many employees have the knowledge of good time management skills and methods, but may need a reminder on how to use them.
Estimated Time
10 minutes
Topic Objective
Learn how to manage your time effectively. Time Management
Topic Summary Discuss different ways we can successfully manage our time. Materials Required
02-Learning Time Management
Planning Checklist
None
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Recommended Activity
Complete the handout individually. Share your answers with the rest of the class.
Stories to Share
Share any personal relevant stories.
Delivery Tips
Encourage everyone to share their ideas.
Review Questions
Why is time management important?
Organizing and Planning When a teleworker has to work in their own office, you need to be sure that all files and assignments (paper or electronic) are fully organized, which is a form of selfmanagement. Ensuring that the office is always organized can boost productivity and reduce errors made by misplaced files or a forgotten assignment. Planning is also an important part of organization because you need to be able to manage your time and resources – especially since you do not have a manager to supervise you at all times. Be encouraged to adapt a universal or adaptable filing system to organize your work for easy access. Also feel free to utilize different methods of planning and organizing your time, such as day planners, email timers, or reminder systems. Common tips for better organization:
Create a pattern in your day to organize and plan different tasks
Keep a calendar or planner with important dates and reminders
Plan ahead and know what assignments or deadlines are approaching
Set up your email account to remind you periodically of important dates
Use a filing/storage that can be adapted in case there are any changes or modifications
Estimated Time
10 minutes
Topic Objective
Learn different methods of planning and organizing. Organizing and Planning
Topic Summary Discuss various methods of effectively organizing and planning in the office. Materials Required
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03-Organizing and Planning
Planning Checklist
None
Recommended Activity
Complete the handout individually. Share your answers with the rest of the class.
Stories to Share
Share any relevant personal stories.
Delivery Tips
Encourage everyone to participate.
Review Questions
How does good organization affect teleworkers?
Communication Communication can be a difficult aspect to master with a virtual team. You will not only deal with traditional communication issues among team members and management, but you can face additional problems that can cause you to feel additional stress. With your peers not being able to directly come to you when they need to talk; this extra time to reach out to teammates can be a cause of friction. It is important for everyone to be aware of the various methods of communication available to them, including email, phone, fax, mail, etc. Employees should know how to use each method of communication and what kind of information they can be used for. Be open and clear about what you want from your teammates and let them know of ways they can reach you if they have a problem. Example forms of communication for teleworkers:
Instant messaging
Phone call
Text messaging
Video call
Estimated Time
10 minutes
Topic Objective
Learn different forms of communication. Communication
Topic Summary Discuss various methods of communication and how they are used.
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Materials Required
04-Communication
Planning Checklist
None
Recommended Activity
Complete the handout individually. Share your answers with the rest of the class.
Stories to Share
Share any personal relevant stories.
Delivery Tips
Encourage everyone to share their ideas.
Review Questions
What difficulties do teleworkers face with communication?
Case Study Jason is trying to select a new employee for his team of teleworkers. He knows that the candidate must have great skills in self-management and communication. The employee must be able to work from home with minimal supervision. Jason interviewed Stacey, who was from a different department. Her manager had given her a good recommendation based on her self-management and time management skills in her current position. She has managed many of her own projects and works great with other employees. When Jason asked about how she felt working from home, Stacey was excited and said she already had a home office she uses when not at work. Jason felt as though Stacey would make a great addition to his teleworker team and welcomed her aboard.
Estimated Time
5 minutes
Topic Objective
Outline the Core Skills Required case study. Case Study
Topic Summary Discuss the core skills required for working as a teleworker. Recommended Activity
Discuss the results of the case study. How did Jason decide to hire Stacey?
Stories to Share
Share any relevant personal/professional story.
Delivery Tips
Encourage everyone to participate.
Review Questions
What skills did Jason see in Stacey?
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Module Two: Review Questions 1. Why is self-management important for teleworkers? a) b) c) d)
They have to work on their own They have to work odd hours They have to work in groups They have a test on it
Teleworkers often have to work on their own and without much supervision, so having characteristics of self-management is important. 2. What is one tool of self-management? a) b) c) d)
Creating different stacks of work Throwing unneeded items in a box Piling files on top of the desk to do Writing deadlines on a calendar
Writing information on a calendar, such as deadlines or important dates, is a form of selfmanagement because it is one way to manage important information and keep focused. 3. What is one aspect of time management? a) b) c) d)
Learning about the assignment Recognizing deadlines Completing the weekly reports Conserving energy
Recognizing deadlines is an area of time management because it makes the employee focus on assignments and projects and manage their time accordingly to get them done. 4. What is one tool of time management? a) b) c) d)
Filing reports in a cabinet Ordering more office supplies Creating a daily schedule Changing the copy paper
By creating a schedule, whether daily, weekly, and monthly, etc., the employee is learning to manage her time and divide it up between necessary tasks.
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5. What is a benefit of making plans ahead of time? a) b) c) d)
It reduces errors in plans It gives the employee something to do It creates room for chaos It makes the employee feel more important
When an employee plans ahead and tries to work things out beforehand, they reduce the risk of making errors and cut down on the chance of something going wrong. 6. What is one form of organization? a) b) c) d)
Hanging up your coat Moving files to another desk Modifying your desk area Emptying the trash can
One form of organization is the task of modifying a desk area to make it more suitable and usable. This normally includes moving items within arm’s reach and putting unnecessary items away. 7. Why is communication important to teleworkers? a) b) c) d)
They have to talk to their teammates even if they don’t want to They want to make lots of friends They want to work alone They must work together although they’re separated
Many teleworkers work in various offices in different locations, so communication is important because it keeps the employees connected across the miles. 8. Which of the following is a common tool of communication? a) b) c) d)
Scrapbooking Emailing Reading Blogging
Emails, or electronic mail, are a form of communication that allows people to type letters to each other and send them electronically.
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9. What position was Jason trying to hire for? a) b) c) d)
Administration secretary Virtual team manager Office manager Teleworker team member
Jason wanted to hire someone for the open position on his team of teleworkers. 10. Stacey said she already had what at home? a) b) c) d)
A home office Her own copier A spare bedroom A filing cabinet
When interviewed by Jason, Stacey told him she already had a home office set up in her home, which let Jason know she was prepared to be a teleworker.
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The first and best victory is to conquer self. Plato Module Three: Self-Management (I) While self-management can mean different things in different fields, for teleworkers it means being able to manage your job duties and responsibilities on your own, with very little supervision from management. This requires a lot of self-discipline and a sense of selfawareness as to what the employee is capable of and accomplishing it. Remember that while many things can be managed by the teleworker, nothing replaces the manager’s role in their professional development.
Solving Problems on Your Own Teleworkers often face many obstacles and problems when working in an office away from the central location. Since they are not always in reach of management, these workers will have to learn how to solve many problems on their own. For minor problems, such as computer malfunctions or even an unhappy customer, you should be prepared to solve the problem and possibly prevent it from happening again. The key is to make sure that you have the resources needed to solve problems can and will arise. Lay out action plans with your teammates regarding what to do when a problem arises. Determine how much they should handle on their own and at what point they need to reach out for help. Questions for solving problems:
“What has happened?”
“What would it take to resolve this?”
“Can I do this on my own – or do I need help?”
“What is the next step I should take?”
Estimated Time
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10 minutes
Topic Objective
Learning how to handle different problems. Solving Problems on Your Own
Topic Summary
Review different kinds of problem situations and discuss how they should be handled.
Materials Required
Flip chart/dry erase board, markers
Planning Checklist
None
Recommended Activity
Ask the group to think about some problems they have had on the job before. Write down their answers on the flip chart/dry erase board. Then ask them which of the problems they could/would have solved on their own. Did they? How did it turn out?
Stories to Share
Share any relevant personal stories.
Delivery Tips
Encourage everyone to participate.
Review Questions
How can employees solve various problems on their own?
Being and Staying Motivated Motivation is one of the key aspects of being successful at work, especially on a virtual team. It has been shown that employees who are motivated in their work are happier, more enthusiastic, and more productive. If you are not motivated in your work, you will not be able to function in your home office, much less with the rest of the group. Sometimes at the beginning of an assignment, you can feel highly motivated, but that motivation can wane if you do not take action. Review what has happened so far and realize how far you’ve come and how far you need to go. While periods of low motivation can happen now and again, it is important to make sure it is only temporary and do not sink into a permanent situation. Keys for staying motivated:
Establish your goals
Create a plan of action to achieve these goals
Feel good about your achievements and build on them
Review any mistakes made and learn from them
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Estimated Time
10 minutes
Topic Objective
Review ways of being motivated. Being and Staying Motivated
Topic Summary Discuss how goals and priorities are related to being motivated at work. Materials Required
05-Getting Motivated
Planning Checklist
None
Recommended Activity
Complete the worksheet individually. Share your answers with the rest of the class.
Stories to Share
Share any relevant personal stories.
Delivery Tips
Encourage everyone to participate.
Review Questions
How can motivation affect an employee’s productivity?
You Have More Freedom – Don’t Abuse It Any truthful employee will tell you that when management is not present, they will be more lenient in their current assignments or duties – similar to “when the cat’s away, the mice will play”. But teleworkers will not always have a member of management around them, so they must avoid that feeling of wanting to play and should remain focused on their work. Whether a manager is present or not, assignments will still be due and the employee will still be subject to reviews and evaluations. Company supplies still belong to the company, so the employee should not be using them for personal use, such as making personal calls or printing flyers with the company copier. You should be able to manage your time and activities in the same manner as you would in any other office and not abuse the new freedom you’ve been given.
Estimated Time
5 minutes
Topic Objective
Discuss the importance of being accountable. You Have More Freedom – Don’t Abuse It
Topic Summary
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Discuss how having more freedom does not free the employee from accountability and shouldn’t be abused.
Materials Required
Flip chart/dry erase board, markers
Planning Checklist
None
Recommended Activity
Ask the class to share some of the times where they worked in a situation where management had little or no involvement. Did they feel a sense of freedom? How did they handle it? Did they take it for granted? Write their answers on the flip chart or dry erase board.
Stories to Share
Share any relevant personal stories.
Delivery Tips
Encourage everyone to participate.
Review Questions
What is one problem of having more freedom in the office?
You and Only You are Accountable Working from home can seem like a leisurely job with few problems, but that is not always the case. You are working as an individual entity (when not working as a team player) and are held accountable for your work, or lack thereof. You cannot fade into a sea of faces or cannot pass the blame to a member of management when a mistake is made. Do not allow outside distractions or problems to hinder what you do inside the office. You are the only one that can be held accountable for the actions you take and what you do in the office. Because of this, you should focus on all duties, job performance, and ensure that you keep a ‘clean nose’ at all times.
Estimated Time
5 minutes
Topic Objective
Learn about being accountable for yourself You and Only You Are Accountable
Topic Summary Discuss what it means to be accountable and how it can be done. Materials Required
06-Being Accountable
Planning Checklist
None
Recommended Activity
Complete the handout individually. Share your answers with the rest of the class.
Stories to Share
Share any relevant personal stories.
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Delivery Tips
Encourage everyone to participate.
Review Questions
Why are teleworkers the only ones held accountable?
Case Study Kathy is a teleworker that works at home several miles away from the office. She’s had her fair share of problems in her home office that she had to know how to handle, such as the time her phone line went down or the time her computer froze all her files. Kathy knew things like that would be part of working at home. She admitted to her manager that she was having trouble staying motivated and asked for some advice and guidance. She realized she was spending too much time doing non-work related tasks and needed to make better use of her time. After speaking with her manager, Kathy made herself a daily schedule to stick with and better manage her activities. “Now I know I’ll stay on track!” she told herself.
Estimated Time
5 minutes
Topic Objective
Outline the Self-Management (I) case study. Case Study
Topic Summary Discuss the different characteristics of self-management. Materials Required
None.
Planning Checklist
None.
Recommended Activity
Discuss the results of the case study. How does Kathy manage to work in her home office environment?
Stories to Share
Share any relevant personal/professional story.
Delivery Tips
Encourage everyone to participate.
Review Questions
How did Kathy show signs of self-management?
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Module Three: Review Questions 1. Teleworkers can solve problems on their own if they have what? a) b) c) d)
Resources Copy supplies Up to date telephones A company car
Employees are capable of handling many problems on their own as long as they have the proper resources to do so. It is important to review possible problems that could happen and ensure that the employee has the resources needed to handle them. 2. What is an example of a problem an employee can handle on his/her own? a) b) c) d)
A computer crashes The office catches fire A paper jam in the copier The internet server goes down
Minor problems, such as a paper jam, can be handled by the employee and can be solved without the involvement of management. Bigger problems, such as computer crashes or phone line damage need to have management notified for assistance. 3. A lack of motivation in employees can lead to what? a) b) c) d)
Decreased absences Decreased productivity Increased anger Increased vacations
When employees lack motivation, they often lose the drive to complete their work on time, or at all, and their productivity can suffer for it. A motivated employee is more confident and displays how they want to do a good job. 4. What is one method of staying motivated? a) b) c) d)
Writing sticky notes Taking on more assignments Taking a vacation Establishing clear goals
Employees who establish goals they want to achieve are proven to be more motivated and willing to work toward those goals. Goals help establish a path for the employee to take and allow them to be in control of what they want.
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5. When management is not around, employees tend to be ____________________. a) b) c) d)
Happier More productive More laid back Lonely
When management is not in sight, employees tend to over relax and are more laid back in their work. For some employees, this can lead to a lack of motivation or drive and abusing their freedom of working independently. 6. Teleworkers should be able to manage their time without what? a) b) c) d)
A big calendar A set schedule A computer A manager present
Teleworkers should have enough self and time management skills to manage themselves when a supervisor is not around. Just because they work in separate offices does not mean they are not responsible for their work. 7. Only _______________ can be held accountable for their work. a) b) c) d)
The employee The manager The coworker The CEO
The employee is the only person that can be held accountable for their work because they are the only ones that are responsible for their behaviors and management skills to stay on top of what they need to do. 8. The employee cannot blame ______________ for not being accountable. a) b) c) d)
Themselves Outside distractions Their performance Their time management
Some employees may try to blame outside distractions, such as friends or family, for their inability to be accountable for their work. However, only the employee is responsible for their work and is the only one that can determine how productive they are.
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9. What was one instance that Kathy had to handle on her own? a) b) c) d)
Her phone line went down Her printer ran out of ink Her copier stopped working Her monthly report got rained on
Kathy said she was used to handling certain situations on her own, such as the time her phone line went down in her office. 10. What did Kathy do to help manage her day better? a) b) c) d)
Hire a personal trainer Create a schedule Wake up earlier Eat a bigger breakfast
To better manager her tasks and activities, Kathy decided to make herself a schedule and stick to it.
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END OF FREE PREVIEW FULL WORKSHOP AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT:
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