101 Tips for Telecommuters—Successfully Manage Your Work, Team, Technology and Family

77. Treat People As People

Something as basic as treating people with respect and courtesy can get lost amid the pressure generated by work demands, family demands, and feelings of frustration and isolation telecommuters sometimes experience. This can be true especially in handling situations with suppliers where performance is below your expectations and you're feeling completely exasperated by the need to deal with the situation, by the time it's robbing from your work, and by the anxiety caused by the resulting compromise in your own ability to hit performance targets. Anticipating that there will be points where the pressure mounts, the conflicts abound, and your patience runs thin also will help you anticipate how to handle your interactions ...