| Many work environments now are open plan, with only | | | | Try to answer your phone or have your voicemail pick |
| a few senior managers having offices of their own. | | | | it up within three rings. Select a mobile phone ring that |
| This style of work can have great benefits for team | | | | won't annoy others. If you will be away from your |
| building - fostering cooperation and collaboration and | | | | desk for a prolonged period divert your phone to your |
| can be wonderful for developing the social aspects of | | | | mobile or voicemail.Take a message. Answer your |
| teams, but on the flipside, it can drive some people | | | | neighbour's phone if it is appropriate. If you take a |
| crazy and be damaging to productivity. Most open plan | | | | message send the details to them in an e-mail |
| offices require large numbers of people to learn to | | | | immediately to avoid lost phone messages on scraps |
| work together in very close proximity, which can | | | | of paper and post-its.Hang a 'Do Not Disturb' sign. I've |
| present challenges, particularly relating to how we | | | | mentioned this one before, but it's worth repeating |
| manage the physical environment, the noise and the | | | | here. Agree among your team on a signal which will |
| constant interruptions. Share some of these strategies | | | | indicate to other people that you are unavailable - that |
| with your teammates to help you achieve a working | | | | you are trying to concentrate on something or are on |
| environment where everyone is respectful of the | | | | a deadline and do not wish to be disturbed. It might be |
| needs and space occupied by others.Keep it down! It's | | | | an item placed on top of your computer monitor or |
| easy to overlook how far your conversation can | | | | desk, or even a sign taped to the back of your chair. |
| travel in a confined space - be mindful of what you | | | | When the signal is up, everyone agrees to not disturb |
| can hear of others' conversations and remember that | | | | you, when the signal comes down, people know that |
| they can hear yours too. Especially if you are loud or | | | | it's business as usual again.Clear desk policy. Adopt a |
| have a unique voice (like me!) be aware of your | | | | clear desk policy. It makes the overall environment |
| volume.Walk the floor. Don't yell across workstations - | | | | more pleasant and comfortable, rather than looking like |
| walk over to the person's desk or use your e-mail or | | | | a hurricane has been through, and it's excellent for both |
| phone. Not everyone in the vicinity needs to be | | | | personal productivity and security.Stash it away. If you |
| disrupted by your conversation.Careful where you | | | | need some extra storage space, make use of space |
| stand. Don't stop for conversations or hold impromptu | | | | under your desk, rather than in walkways, but be |
| meetings at other people's workstations - be | | | | careful not to crowd yourself or to create a |
| considerate. If you want to have a meeting, choose a | | | | cockroach haven.Smile. Include some personal touches |
| space that won't impact others.Get a room. If there | | | | on your workstation, but don't overdo it - you and your |
| are two or more people and you don't have a discrete | | | | workstation are on display to your teammates and |
| space to meet, book a meeting room and be sure to | | | | others who pass by your area and you want to leave |
| tidy it up before you leave.Anyone for music? If you | | | | a professional impression. Choose a photo of your |
| like listening to music, keep it down to a level where it | | | | family, a picture of a place you dream of going to or |
| doesn't interfere with the concentration or comfort of | | | | something else that inspires you and makes you feel |
| your colleagues. If everyone agrees, you might choose | | | | happy.Neen is a Global Productivity Expert: by looking |
| a particular style of music and play it at a volume that | | | | at how they spend their time and energy - and where |
| suits everyone. Otherwise, buy yourself some | | | | they focus their attention - Neen helps people to |
| headphones and keep the music to yourself.Telephone | | | | rocket-charge their productivity and performance. A |
| etiquette. Be considerate about how you manage your | | | | dynamic speaker, author and corporate trainer, Neen |
| phones, the constant ringing of desk phones and | | | | demonstrates how boosting your productivity can help |
| mobiles with their various show tunes other 'ditties' can | | | | you achieve amazing things. With her unique voice, |
| be distracting and annoying. Turn your ringer-volume | | | | sense of fun and uncommon common-sense, Neen |
| down to the lowest level that is appropriate for you, | | | | delivers a powerful lesson in productivity. |
| rather than let it blare though the office unnecessarily. | | | | |