More and more, the idea of teleworkers is appealing to companies both large and small. They can hire talent anywhere in the world without the cost of relocation and providing workers with a physical workspace. The company might have a salesman in Seattle, a web designer in India, a technical writer in New York.

The teleworker can work from anywhere that has a plug and wifi. Go into any coffee shop and you’ll see industrious employment at work. A win-win, right? Well, before you go talk to your boss about your new “office space” or let your employees head for home, we’ve got a few things for you to consider.

These are all observations made using the innate strengths and limitations found in each color of the Color Code. They may not apply to you. If, for instance, you are a Yellow that has been raised with a strong work ethic, the filter might override your natural tendency of distraction. Consider only those observations that apply to you.

Okay, here we go!

1. Self-discipline and setting your own hours.

• Reds are good with this. They sit down, make a list, perform the task, and cross it off the list. They charge the exact hours, confidant that it is fair, and turn off their computers when the workday is over. They might prove to be inflexible about working extra hours or covering for someone else.

• Blues will buckle down to work, but will be concerned that their employer might not believe they have put in an honest day’s work. They will undercharge their hours as not to appear to have taken too long on any given task. They will have a tendency to pick up the phone or answer emails long after their workday is done, interfering with their home-life.

• Whites who’s natural tendency is procrastination, might feel that they can put off certain jobs until the deadline is upon them, then spend all night working to complete the task. This could become a pattern that is frustrating to both the employer and employee.

• Yellows might be tempted to look at Facebook, Twitter or other social networks, and lose track of time. If a friend calls for lunch, they are too happy to go. They could end up missing deadlines, and making excuses for why this happened. They might require extra communication from the employer in the form of deadline reminders.

2. Lack of socialization.

• Reds don’t mind being alone with their work. They feel they know what needs to be done and like to do it their way. On the other hand, Reds need respect and they like to lead, both of which is difficult to achieve when telecommuting

• Blues need people. After all, they are motivated by intimacy. Blues are interested in the day-to-day lives of their coworkers and often form long lasting bonds coworkers. Technology such as Skype won’t give them the same satisfaction as face-to-face interactions.

• Whites, like Reds are content with their own company. Even when working in a typical environment, Whites often shun the inherent social bonds. Whites may miss the motivation that company meetings and progress sessions provide.

• Yellows, like Blues, need the socialization that workmates provide. They are more likely than Blues to be satisfied with technological communication, because it is brief and can be spontaneous. I/Ming is perfect for the Yellow who likes the gratification of sending and receiving replies instantly.

Communication

• Reds might be criticized for their communication skills. Their emails are often to the point and can be considered gruff. They won’t spend a lot of time with small talk and prefer to get straight to the point. Many Reds have a sarcastic sense of humor that doesn’t translate well in written form, causing misunderstandings.

• Blues have a tendency to over-explain what they are working on. Conversely, they require frequent and positive feedback on their job performance. They might try to build an online relationship with the email recipient. Blues will always send a thank-you email in response to an email sent to them.

• Whites have a tendency to under-communicate. They will give you the work when it is done, and not bother with updates along the way. If a progress report is required, they will likely do it, but not until they have to. They will not include extraneous information.

• Yellows love communication. They might pick-up the phone and call with updates rather than complete all those boring forms. Any job that requires communication and public interaction is the perfect job for a Yellow telecommuter.

Remember, these observations are only pointing out the inherent behavior in the Color Code’s colors and may not pertain to you, but are clearly food for thought. Not everyone is happy working alone from home. You will need to make your own decision if it is right for you. Best of luck!