Quiet in the cube please
Q. I work in a shared office with six employees. Each day some office personnel have lengthy work and even non-work conversations in our cubicle area. People in nearby cubicles are distracted by the conversations. I believe the work environment should be friendly but these are long distracting conversations. How do I get the point across without hurting feelings or creating an unhappy non-cooperative work environment?
D. R., Troutdale Oregon
A. It’s really not a matter of if you’re going to do something to change their behavior; it’s more a matter of how you’re going to go about it. One option is to talk with them right then and there. The key is to be non-confrontational and non-accusatory in tone. Make it about you and not about them: “Hey guys, would you mind taking your conversation to the conference room? I’ve got a report due in an hour.”
Alternatively, you can bring this problem up in a staff meeting. As a group, you might brainstorm other ideas. When everyone is aware how the group is affected, you have a better chance of raising awareness and coming up with a solution that works for everyone.
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Patricia Hunt Sinacole is president of First Beacon Group LLC, a human resources consulting firm in Hopkinton. She works with clients across many industries including technology, biotech and medical devices, financial services, and healthcare, and has over 20 years of human resources experience.
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