Which supervisors should manage telecommuters?

Not all supervisors possess the abilities to manage telecommuters. Supervisors who are resistant or fearful of change, lack ability, or who are envious of telecommuters pose a serious threat to the success of the program. Select supervisors that:

• Are confident of their ability to supervise;
• Believe that the work is portable and adaptable to telecommuting;
• Have a desire to participate;
• Have demonstrated the ability to effectively delegate;
• Trust subordinates;
• Can communicate successfully;
• Are highly organized, computer literate and have a detail oriented, yet flexible, management style, with a proven ability to manage change successfully.

Even supervisors who believe that telecommuting is a good option may be concerned about the effects that telecommuting may have on their ability to manage employees. Supervising telecommuters, is not however, much different than supervising non-telecommuting employees, especially if telecommuters work out of the office only one or two days a week.