I spoke to an acquaintance recently who told me about an editor, a young mother, who worked from home. This acquaintance was her client and was appalled by the editor’s lackadaisical attitude on the phone. The acquaintance felt ignored, frustrated and annoyed when the editor interrupted their conversation to chat in baby talk to her child.

Since I work from home, this conversation had me evaluate how professional I am. I don’t have to concern myself about young children interrupting a business call, but when my adult daughters are around while I’m working they know not to shout to me from another room, even if it’s to ask if I need my dry cleaning picked up. (That would almost be worth an interruption.)

I have a dog, but she is so old that I think she’s forgotten how to bark—either that or she just doesn’t have the energy to do so. I don’t schedule any business calls if I am expecting an electrician, plumber or any other possible disturbance.

I am quite sure that the aforementioned editor is happy to be working from home, as am I, but we must remember to maintain professionalism and give our clients every bit of our attention. Otherwise, the privilege of working from home may be short lived.