Team unity, improved collaboration and reduced costs are all terms thrown about when championing the benefits of co-working. But what isn’t mentioned is the lack of privacy, constant distractions and the near-agoraphobic experience of constantly rubbing shoulders with your colleagues.
It can be hard to stay focused in an open-plan office. But prepare yourself properly and you can turn your co-working space into a productive retreat.
1. Expect interruptions
They’re inescapable. There once was a time when you had to go for a walk and knock on a closed door to get information from a co-worker, and that spatial distance and physical obstacle were usually enough to make people think twice before bothering anyone with inane queries. Now they’ll just tap you on the shoulder or holler from their desk to get the answers they need.
So factor it into your time. Don’t expect a two-hour piece of work to get finished in two hours. Instead, set aside an extra half hour so you’ll have plenty of time to sit through your colleagues’ daily complaints.
2. Lead by example
If you’re inconsiderate in a tight space, you can bet your co-workers will start to think that you don’t mind if they act the same way. Take your pungent lunch somewhere else, keep your trivial questions to a minimum, and use your indoor voice – hopefully, those around you will learn to do the same.
3. Learn to communicate
You’re probably going to be stuck elbow-to-elbow with those around you for at least forty hours a week, so you might as well learn to get along with them. If someone’s bothering you, don’t bother the boss about it. Make sure you speak directly – and gently – to the offending worker and try to find an arrangement that’s mutually beneficial. You might find that a diplomatic discussion reveals that you’ve been displaying some annoying habits of your own.
Perhaps just as importantly, learn when not to communicate. Others need to concentrate just as much as you so don’t pester them with a barrage of complaints and queries. Instead, write them down and save them for a more appropriate time, or send them through e-mail so people can respond when they’re ready.
4. Drop hints with props
Placing a “Do not disturb” sign on the edge of your desk probably isn’t going to be taken very seriously and it hardly gives off a friendly attitude. Instead, try some less confrontational approaches, like putting on visible headphones when you need to stay focused. They might help to cut out some of the background noise, and they’ll at least give you an excuse to pretend you can’t hear anyone trying to get your attention.
Alternatively, use some cunningly-placed personal decorations to mark off your territory. Gradual encroachment might seem like a petty issue, but it can get frustrating when your colleague’s disorganised clutter starts to invade your well-kept workspace. Just be sensible – while a towering fortress of books and staplers might make people think carefully before bothering you, it’ll probably make them think carefully before inviting you to social events, as well.
5. Try and get a prime location
If you’ve any freedom in where you get to sit, it’s worth choosing the best spot. Don’t sit near the supply cupboard, the printer or the stairs – you’ll just be bombarded with people asking you to fix a paper jam or to help them find the highlighters!
And if you know your team well, take advantage of their personality quirks. A seat next to someone shy could mean far fewer interruptions, as could a seat surrounded by people who spend most of their time out at meetings.
6. Collaborate to compromise
Most workers don’t have a choice about working in an open office. But that doesn’t mean they can’t have their say when it comes to laying down a few ground rules. Get everyone together for an informal discussion, and find some common ground that everyone can agree on – like banning speaker-phones, or a seating plan that lets those that constantly work together be next to each other.
7. Get away from it all
Hopefully, your open-plan office has at least one separate conference room or meeting room and if you’re allowed, you can try to book it out for an hour or two for those really demanding projects. But don’t hog it as it’s not your personal office and everyone else deserves a chance to get their own quiet-time, too.
If you don’t have a separate room, or it’s constantly in use, you could always find a quiet workspace outside of the office – a bit of privacy and a change of scenery might do you some good.
8. Or just get into it
It doesn’t have to be all negative. Consider making the most of the arrangements you already have. Enjoy the camaraderie, share some gossip, and utilise the expertise and experience of those close around you. In fact, by keeping an ear open, you might even pick up a few useful rumours or secrets that could work to your advantage someday, too.
