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Exercise #6
Communication

This exercise will help you determine what your communication patterns are, whom you need to communicate with and how you will communicate with those people while you are telecommuting. For more information on how to communicate while you are telecommuting, read the "Communication" section of the Telecommuter Manual.

Directions for completing this exercise:

1. Determine what tools you used last week to communicate while doing your job.
2. Fill in how many times last week you used a tool to communicate.
3. Next, indicate whom you communicated with.
4. Last, identify whether the communication was critical or day-to-day.

Directions for analyzing your communication patterns:

1. If most of your communication occurs over the telephone or electronically, you should not have difficulty communicating with people while you are telecommuting.
2. If most of your communication occurs in meetings, or face-to-face, you may have to make some adjustments in how you communicate while you are working at the Telecenter.
3. Be particularly cautious of your critical communication. If most of your critical communication occurs during face-to-face conversations or in meetings, determine if that communication can be conducted during times that you are in the office. Perhaps it is possible to shift some of those conversations to the telephone.
4. If most of your communication is day-to-day, be sure to inform those people of your telecommuting status.

The Communication Restructuring Worksheet can be used to assist you in restructuring your communication patterns:

Directions for completing the chart:

1. Determine what communication tools you use in the office that can be used at the Telecenter. Take, for example, the telephone. If you conduct a lot of business over the telephone, does it make a difference whether you're talking on the phone in your traditional office or at the Telecenter?
2. Start analyzing how your current communication patterns will change when you begin working at the Telecenter.
3. Use the following chart to determine the appropriate tools to communicate with your supervisor, peers, staff or clients when you work at the Telecenter. Check the appropriate box regarding which tool you will use to communicate with whom when you are at the Telecenter.

The following instructions explain how to complete this exercise alone, with your telemanager, or with your telemanager in a training class:

If you are a telecommuter reviewing this as a self-guided manual

1. Read the "Communication" section in this manual. If you can attend a training class, do so.
2. Complete the previous exercises to determine what your current communication patterns are and how they will change when you are telecommuting.
3. Discuss communications with your supervisor and determine how you will communicate while telecommuting.
4. Keep an open mind when you begin telecommuting and be creative with alternate methods of communication.

If you and your telemanager are reviewing the self-guided manuals

1. Read the "Communication" section in the Telecommuter and Telemanager manuals. If you can attend a training class, do so.
2. Complete the previous exercises as a team to determine what your current communication patterns are and how they will change when you are telecommuting.
3. As a team, discuss how your communication will change when you are telecommuting.
4. Keep an open mind when you begin telecommuting and be creative with alternate methods of communication.

If you are a telecommuter attending a training class

1. Fill out the worksheet according to the instructor's directions. When you return to your office, read the "Communication" section in the Telecommuter manual.
2. Share your exercises with your telemanager.
3. As a team, discuss how your communication will change when you are telecommuting.
4. Keep an open mind when you begin telecommuting and be creative with alternate methods of communication.

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