We’re more than halfway through 2010, and I continue to be amazed at the technology that is available to us. With more communication options than ever before, it’s easier than ever for professionals to work remotely.

Although working in an office is an important social experience and allows for plenty of interaction between coworkers, office space can get expensive. If you work for an association with just a few full-time employees, it can be difficult to justify spending a great deal of money on rent if you can provide computer equipment and technology to your staffers and allow them to work from home.

I previously shared some tips for working remotely back in December. However, I have a few tips that go beyond the basic relationship between supervisor and employee.

1. Get out of the house. Seriously. It’s so easy to become a bum and sit around on your computer all day with no face-to-face human interaction. I love working in one of the hundreds of Starbucks locations in my area because they supply free wifi and a steady stream of caffeine. (What more could I need?!) However, if that’s not your cup of tea (ba dum dum ch!), at least go for a walk around the block before settling down in your home office to work. The fresh air will do you good.

No matter where you work, make sure it's organized.

2. Power strips are your friends. If you do work in a coffee shop, bookstore or other public place, bring power strips. Other patrons will thank you when everyone can simultaneously charge their laptops. And if your laptop is charged, don’t be an outlet hog — let others use it for a bit. Other great equipment if you work in a public place? Headphones.

3. Establish a schedule. Everyone has different times of the day when they’re most productive. If you have the opportunity to work from home, establish a schedule that makes the most of your productivity. Plus, your supervisor and fellow staffers should know when you’re going to be available to answer e-mails and instant messages.

4. Take breaks. Part of the beauty of working from home is creating your own schedule. Go for a run in the middle of the day (maybe not in the summer, though), take 45 minutes to read a novel or meet a friend for an afternoon coffee. It’s important to keep your mind fresh, and having the freedom to work from home allows you to take advantage of that.

5. Have clear objectives. Establish clear objectives, deliverable material and goals with your supervisor. If you have the ability to meet deadlines and work well independently, telecommuting may be a good option for you. Telecommuting does not work without mutual trust from both supervisor and employee. I really think it’s the most important aspect of working from home.

Telecommuting is not for everyone. Not every position lends itself to working from home, and not everyone will thrive in an unstructured environment. However, telecommuting can be a good option for organizations that have too few staffers to justify paying for office space. With so many different software options that allow for cloud computing (accessing your data from any computer, anywhere), as well as tools such as Skype, telecommuting is certainly a viable option for small staff associations.

Have you ever worked from home? What are some of your tips for increasing productivity while working remotely?

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“I uh, I don’t like my job, and, uh, I don’t think I’m gonna go anymore.”

“Yeah, I just stare at my desk; but it looks like I’m working. I do that for probably another hour after lunch, too. I’d say in a given week I probably only do about fifteen minutes of real, actual, work.”

You might recognize the above quotes from the 1999 movie Office Space. Hopefully these aren’t the real thoughts of people in your own office. But to many people, I’m sure the sentiment still rings true sometimes.

Not everyone is cut out for working in an office every day. But many jobs that follow a college diploma involve an office in some way or another. Why? Because that’s how it’s always been.

Tuesday’s #assnchat, led by Kiki L’Italien, focused on telecommuting for associations and the issues involved. I read the chat’s transcript (available here) Wednesday morning and found the topic especially relevant for 2009 (almost 2010!), especially with the widespread availability of technology that allows employees to work remotely.

Granted, offices are essential for interacting with your coworkers and conducting in-person meetings. But office space costs a lot of money, and allowing employees to telecommute can be an effective way to save cash. Small-staff associations could especially benefit from working remotely — since there are fewer staffers, it would require less coordination. For example, in Tuesday’s #assnchat, Debra Helwig said her entire association (a staff of six) works remotely.

The main issue employers generally have with telecommuting involves trust. Not every employee will thrive in a remote location. Many people need the structure of an office to stay productive — although it’s no secret many employees are not 100 percent productive all day, every day. Slacking can occur in the office almost as easily as it can occur at home!

You, as the employer, can’t control productivity no matter where your employees work. But here are some tips for those working with telecommuters:

1. Set clear expectations. If you, as the boss, are constantly worried about your telecommuting employees, set performance metrics. They can give you a clear sense of how much work is being accomplished and you’ll get some peace of mind, as well.
2. Don’t micromanage your telecommuters. If your remote employees thrive in an unstructured environment, let them work on their own time, as long as they meet deadlines.
3. Communication is crucial – even more so than having all employees work in an office. Use tools such as Skype (a free chat, phone and video service), instant messaging, GoToMeeting and Wikis to keep everyone updated.
4. Above all, trust your employees. Sure, maybe you won’t let your brand new hire telecommute right away. There has to be mutual trust established between employer and employee.

And for those employees who work remotely, I think Bruce Hammond said it best during Tuesday’s #assnchat:

“Four D’s of telecommuting that an employee must have: Discipline, Determination, Diligence, ability to deal with Distractions.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Explore telecommuting if you have the opportunity — even if it’s just one or two days a week. Don’t be like The Office‘s Peter Gibbons: “I was sitting in my cubicle today, and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it.”

(Image via Flickr.)