Working from a home office is more and more common in twenty-first century business – and for good reason too.
By Craig Falck for Africa Report
Photograph: © Alex Bramwell | Dreamstime.com
For as long as anyone can remember, homes are where you live, eat and sleep, and offices are where you go to work everyday and make money. But the general consensus for the last decade or so is that homes can also be where your office is and where business can take place. Here’s why…
Small to medium-size enterprises are increasingly making use of home offices instead of populating office blocks. Firstly, you don’t need a million and one square metres of workspace. Even medium-sized businesses can get away with offices in the space of a house. By running a business from a house, you’re being more effective when it comes to utilising space. You’re more careful about how equipment and materials are packed and stored and the overall layout of the office. This means that you’re being smart and not wasting space, which in turn means that your money is working for you. If you rent a massive office and only use 80 percent of the space, that means 20 percent of your rental that you’re paying over every month is going to waste. And in the current financial climate, wasting money is the last thing that you want to be doing.
Home offices are also found in communities and this gives your business a more homely and friendly atmosphere and perception than a big, cold, dark office block. It’s not always the case because your business might be colder than an igloo in winter, but it’s the perception that you give off that’s important. It also gives a sense of community awareness and building that is great when it comes to word of mouth. If you show that you’re interested in the upliftment of your community, you’ll be on the tips of people’s tongues, and we all know that nothing moves as fast as the word of mouth.
Home offices make it easier for the bosses to have an eye over everything and keep their business and staff under control. This is made possible by the small form of a house rather than a large office block where there are various sections and far more ground to cover. It also means that business can be improved – because your departments are situated closer, they will be able to chat to one another regarding business instead of sending “impersonal” emails to ask questions. This will also assist the team in bonding, as they will be more used to their other colleagues instead of seeing them in and around the hallway at an office and nowhere else.
Home offices are becoming more and more popular for businesses these days because they are more economical, make for a lighter and friendlier atmosphere, and make business more relaxed than dreary and cold office blocks. Don’t be surprised when offices buildings are torn down because they belong with the dinosaurs.
