Office Away from Home
originally published in "Women in Business Section of All Things Girl
(part of the "Falling" edition of All
Things Girl October 2004)
Until recently, I had never noticed the number of people using Starbucks or the Café of bookstores as a place to meet with others.
No, I’m not talking about meeting a friend for a chat or a safe place to meet that guy you found on-line (although it’s commonplace for that). I’m talking about it being a place to meet business associates.
What sparked me writing this? The day I noticed three men meeting about one of those multi-level marketing programs at a table next to me in Barnes & Noble. With the advent of technology, the use of Starbucks (or other public places with hotspots*) has increasingly becoming the office away from home. Since I began working from my home, I’ve been thankful for a place to meet with clients to sign paperwork, a place to check my email between presentations, and sometimes, it’s simply nice to have a break from my desk but still get some work done.
Why don’t we talk about some tips to make the use of public places better for you, your fellow patrons as well as the people who work there?
Scoping Out Your Spot
If you’re a regular in your local coffee shop with a hotspot, you probably have a favorite spot to sit. But keep this in mind:
If you will be plugging in your laptop or palm, scope out a wall plug. The Starbucks closest to my home is used to business people as well as students and they’ve added a power strip at both of their plug locations so more customers can have electrical access.
If you know you won’t be plugging in, sit away from the plugs so those who need them can get to them. This will cut back on interruptions in your work if others ask if they can crawl under you to plug something in!
If you’ll be spending a large potion of your time on your phone, go for a seat away from the crowd. It may be a critical call for you, but fellow patrons don’t really want to hear out wonderful your products are. Consider sitting outside as well since reception on cell phones is often LESS inside buildings.
Endear yourself to the Workers
Always order something. Even if you are on a tight budget, order a cup of coffee or tea. It’s doubtful the workers would ask you to leave – but they might. Besides, it's just rude if you use their space but not any of their services.
Clean up after yourself. The workers should not have follow along behind you top pick up scraps of paper or empty cups at your table.
If you visit one spot often, learn the names of the employees. This goes further with them than you can imagine, and they'll make sure you get your beverage - or a sample of something new.
Don’t overstay your welcome. It’s one thing to spend an hour so that you can meet with a client, check your email, or simply get away from your desk. It’s quite another thing to spend six plus hours there.
Be a kind “co-worker”
If you’re on the phone, watch the volume of your speech. The same goes for conversations with clients. Your fellow patrons really don't care about what you're selling. And it shouldn’t have to be said, but if you plan to talk about anything remotely confidential, don’t do it while you’re in a public place. No matter how low you speak, others may hear you.
Stay within your space. Sometimes, I’ll escape from my office in order to spread out a bit, but confine your things to your table. There’s nothing worse than being elbowed by a stranger when you’re trying to concentrate.
No matter how interesting a conversation, don’t butt in unless asked. Pretend the space around your table – as well as your fellow patrons’ tables – are walls and should be respected as such. This doesn’t mean “don’t network” – but if someone is having a meeting in person or on the phone – just don’t butt in.
Using a space other than your home office (or your desk at work) can be a refreshing break from your own space, just what you need to kick a slump into gear, or a welcome refuge when on the road. Just keep these few things in mind to make the experience more pleasant for you and others.
*A “hotspot” is a public place that has wireless broadband services for mobile visitors. Subscription services are often necessary to access this Wireless Service, but not always.