January 22, 2017
It was April, 2010. I remember the day so clearly because I made the brave decision to make a change in my life, and pursue a more public writing career. Up until then, I had a long-standing administrative career spanning numerous enterprises from Hospitality to the Wine Industry. I applied to several online publications and my first article appeared on the Examiner.com on April 8, 2010. I was extremely proud and eventually had several columns in which I wrote.
Unfortunately, in June, 2016 I received notification that the Examiner.com was closing its doors as of July 10, 2016, and advised us to download our articles or lose them. It was a good thing that I did, because I would have lost over 300+ articles that I had spent countless hours in crafting.
I am proud to re-publish my articles here on my own website and I look forward to sharing them with all of you.
In the Worplace
Tips for working in a noisy office space
Private offices are a thing of the past. Cubicles with high walls have become obsolete. The walls have been lowered and the noise level has escalated. How do we get those big projects done when the sounds of phones, fax machines, and the constant chatter from the co-worker next to you interrupts your train of thought?
Recent firsthand experience has prompted an update to this article. Please take a look below for more helpful tips on how to work in a noisy office environment.
- Tune out the surrounding noise by playing music.You don’t need a big radio anymore. The new mp3 players take up less room and fit easily inside your pocket. Maintain mobility by pairing them with a set of in-ear headphones. Other alternatives:
Noise cancelling headphones– This is an interesting solution, but may only work in certain types of environments. Also, if phone answering is a part of the job description, they won’t work at all as those important phone calls may get missed.
Ear plugs– another great solution but only if the office noise is deafening!
- Tune inward. Starting a big project can be daunting. Sometimes it is best to clear the mind so one can fully concentrate on the tasks at hand. Try tackling the smaller jobs first to make more time for those projects that need larger blocks of time.
- Place the phone on Do Not Disturb.When deadlines are looming, pressing the phone’s DND button is perfectly acceptable. Leave a voicemail greeting that let’s the caller know all calls are important and will be returned as soon as possible.
- Move to a different room. Finding a quiet space in a conference room or another unused office down the hall can be really helpful. Being able to “close the door” to the usual office noise will help with the concentration and get the work done faster.
- Work from home. As a great alternative, businesses recognize the benefits that working from home provides. Using the internet to access your work files is easier than ever. Software such as Microsoft® Office Live Meeting allows you to instantly collaborate with your co-workers from anywhere in the world.
When all else fails and the talking is more than one can handle, perhaps it is time for a one-on-one conversation with the folks that are raising the volume in the room. Keep the conversation non-confrontational and light. Sometimes by letting others know that the volume is a bit too high is all that they will need to turn it down.
Finally, it’s important to remember that only you know how much time you need to complete the tasks at hand. Look at your schedule and be sure to block out enough time during the day to get each one done. Some projects will require more time than others. Setting aside enough time plus a little extra for each task will allow you to breathe a bit easier, especially when the office noises distract you from your work.