Mobile offices offer a host of advantages to both employees and businesses. Employees can set their own schedule and pace, work when they are most productive, and enjoy independence and autonomy. For businesses, mobile offices cut costs and broaden the potential labor pool exponentially.

But mobile office employees can encounter a number of pitfalls as well. Some common mistakes include:

1) Infrequent communication and socializing. The mobile office employee misses out on the camaraderie fostered by daily interactions with colleagues. The resulting isolation can impede motivation and team commitment.

2) Finding a place for physical meetings. Some situations require a physical meeting, and it isn’t easy to find occasional meeting space on short notice or for short periods. Mobile employees seldom have adequate or appropriate meeting space in their home or mobile office.

3) Letting home and office overlap. Mobile offices are often in the home, and separating those two spaces can be difficult. Spouses, children, and household chores are just some of the many distractions that can interrupt the employee’s concentration and pull him/her away from work.

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4) Working too much. Mobile employees who work from home are “always at work,” because they never truly leave the office. When they fail to set firm boundaries, mobile office workers can spend all of their evening hours, weekends, and/or vacation time at their desk or on the phone.

5) Failing to keep a schedule. When working remotely, it’s easy to start work late, run errands, or find other distractions from work. These distractions can be especially alluring when they offer a chance to interact with the outside world.

6) Failing to get help or direction. When help is needed, a mobile office employee cannot simply walk down the hall to consult a colleague or superior. It takes precious time to get information, especially when the source is not immediately available, and so mobile employees may too often try to go it alone.

7) Inadequate technology. Mobile employees need to have up-to-date and even state-of-the-art technology available to work and communicate effectively from afar. Investing in, installing and supporting these tools can be daunting for both employee and employer.

To avoid falling victim to these pitfalls, the mobile employee needs to be sure to stay connected with outside communities and to schedule regular, virtual or physical meetings with colleagues and superiors.

Give regular status updates to fellow employees and supervisors, and check in with their progress as well. Don’t be afraid to ask for help; doing so not only fosters success but also builds camaraderie and teamwork. Set firm boundaries between home and office, work and life by establishing a work schedule and sticking to it.

“Just say no” to distractions, even when they come in the form of spouse or children. And finally, invest in a good Internet connection, a webcam, a robust handheld device, and other relatively cheap web-enabled tools (like gotomypc.com) to keep your mobile technology effective and up to date.

A mobile office can be just as productive – and even more so – as a traditional office if you treat it like the latter. Maintain boundaries, balance life and work, and make an effort to keep in contact with the “real world,” and you’ll enjoy the best that mobile employment has to offer.