Possible Cure For The Reluctant Manager
If all of the facilities, and the self-discipline, needed to allow you to work from home are in place, and the only block to telecommuting is a reluctant manager then maybe you can strike a "No win, no fee", deal for a trial period.
For one week you work from home and, if your output isn't equal to or greater than that which you would have achieved at the office then that week comes off your annual leave entitlement. If you match or exceed in-office performance then telecommuting continues.
The thought of the loss of a week of leave is a great aid to focus, and remember, the time normally spent traveling can be added to your work day at home with no real loss to yourself. So exceeding in-office performance should be easy.
One major caveat though. This does depend on you having the kind of boss who can be trusted to honour the agreement and make a fair assessment of what you have achieved during the week. Those with unscrupulous managers should not even think of attempting this. You'll just be losing a week of your leave.
Remember also that some managers are total control freaks, and the thought of not being able to see exactly what you are doing at any time they choose to look may be anathema to them. Promises of IM, video calls, whatever, will do nothing to persuade them to let go of the leash.
For those thinking of telecommuting but who are worried about the isolation, a split system of one or two days in the office and the remainder at home can allow the social interaction, brainstorming, keeping up to date (including office gossip), opportunities that they need.
