Surviving Open Plan
As I may have mentioned in my blog, I have just moved into an open plan environment.
Can't say I like it. Yesterday a colleague - without asking I hasten to add - just opened the window to let some air in. It was freezing!
There is noise around and everyone is looking at each other which I am highly conscious of.
Yesterday one of my immediate colleagues commented that I was "very quiet". I didn't realise this, but I suspect that the change of environment has something to do with it.
As I also mentioned in my blog, I am going to try and stay busy throughout the day. I think that this is the best way of coping with these conditons.
The move is relatively temporary - around 7 months - but I need to work through this period.
Does anyone have any thoughts about other techniques I could deploy to assist in the process?
Open Plan
Sounds like this plan is a bit overwhelming and will take time to adjust. I think I might've been a little shaky if I had to be put in a plan like this. Sometimes temperature becomes a issue in our area. There are times either the A/C is too high or the heat is too high. There times either the heat is too low or the A/C is too low. Then there are people who are hot and others who are cold. I rarely get into major confrontations or issues with this situation unless it really bothers me.
Well at least it's something temporary. 7 months usually goes fast either though it doesn't seem like it. Good luck!
Just do your work and keep to yourself.
I wish I had some advice for
I wish I had some advice for you. There is a war over temperature with my coworker and I. I am always hot and/or sweating. She is always cold. The thing is, she can see the sweat running down my face at the same time I am clutching her chilly hands. I have a fan at my desk which is on constantly, but if I need to move to do some filing or work at the copy machine, I am instantly very uncomfortably hot.
I wonder could your
I wonder could your co-worker wear a warm coat or cardigan or some fingerless gloves? I also feel the heat and find it tricky to cool down without having a fan at my desk even when others are saying it's cold.
Protocols
Its a good suggestion but I honestly don't think I could ask and it would run the risk of making me appear "different" I think as its quite an unusual (AS) approach.
On Thursday, I closed the window after the person had left the room for a while. I nearly did it without asking my other colleagues beforehand - quid pro quo!!!
I had to remind myself to do so. They agreed but I nearly made the same error.
It would be a boring world
It would be a boring world if everybody were the same but kudos for asking the opinion of the other workers before shutting the window.