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quite -> quiet, dairy -> diary ;-)
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user8036
user8036

A lot of companies are moving towards an open office, and I have faced some of the problems you have mentioned. It is simply too loud for me as well to work effectively. You may talk to someone about your situation, but I doubt it will make the company as a whole go back to the previous settings. LotLots of people will lesser work load and different concentration cycles may actually be enjoying it. That being said, there are a few tips and tricks which can be used

Try to find a quitequiet corner. Just mention that your space is too noisy and you would like to move to be able to better focus on the job. Even open office plans will have corners or a last row or a space behind a pillar where you are less visible. If you don't want to be direct, just mention that the noise from the freight lift andand the CNC mill disturbsdisturb you and it will be helpful if you are moved around.

Also try to get some good noise cancelling headphones. I have not tried them but heard they are pretty good.

For people listening to music  - three things can work here:

  1. Tell them politely that it is disturbing and they should use a headphone.
  2. Find their manager and complain that it disturbs you.
  3. This one works for me,: sit close to some managers. I understand your manager is remote. But if there are other senior people, get a space close to them. People are more careful around management and are less likely to be noisy around them. Chances are high that if they are noisy, managers would point it out and get the required silence on the floor.

PeopleAbout people demanding your time right now:

This is totally up to you. You can handle it multiple ways, the trick is to be consistent. One of my peers had a habit of asking people to book a slot into his calendar. He wasntwasn't well liked, but every one knew if you need his time, you need to book his dairydiary. 
Another one would send back the person  , with the comment-" I "I have something urgent going on right now, I will get back to you." He would then go to the person's desk when he was free to help the other person.

Another wouldOther colleagues simply would not pick hisup their phone when he isthey were not free.

The point is, you are not obliged to answer every one when they demand it. Make
Make it a system where you rank the request as per priority and deal with it. Over time, people will get used to your system. ( ps. JustJust dont try it on your boss, he might get annoyed). As long as you are polite and firm, people will get used to your working style and bother you less.

A lot of companies are moving towards open office, and I have faced some of the problems you have mentioned. It is simply too loud for me as well to work effectively. You may talk to someone about your situation, but I doubt it will make the company as a whole go back to the previous settings. Lot of people will lesser work load and different concentration cycles may actually be enjoying it. That being said, there are a few tips and tricks which can be used

Try to find a quite corner. Just mention that your space is too noisy and you would like to move to be able to better focus on the job. Even open office will have corners or last row or a space behind a pillar where you are less visible. If you don't want to be direct, just mention the noise from the freight lift and CNC mill disturbs you and it will be helpful if you are moved around.

Also try to get some good noise cancelling headphones. I have not tried them but heard they are pretty good.

For people listening to music- three things can work here

  1. Tell them politely that it is disturbing and they should use a headphone.
  2. Find their manager and complain that it disturbs you
  3. This one works for me, sit close to some managers. I understand your manager is remote. But if there are other senior people, get a space close to them. People are more careful around management and are less likely to be noisy around them. Chances are high that if they are noisy, managers would point it out and get the required silence on the floor.

People demanding your time right now

This is totally up to you. You can handle it multiple ways, the trick is to be consistent. One of my peers had a habit of asking people to book a slot into his calendar. He wasnt well liked, but every one knew if you need his time, you need to book his dairy. Another one would send back the person  , with the comment-" I have something urgent going on right now, I will get back to you." He would then go to the person's desk when he was free to help the other person.

Another would simply not pick his phone when he is not free.

The point is, you are not obliged to answer every one when they demand it. Make it a system where you rank the request as per priority and deal with it. Over time, people will get used to your system. ( ps. Just dont try it on your boss, he might get annoyed). As long as you are polite and firm, people will get used to your working style and bother you less.

A lot of companies are moving towards an open office, and I have faced some of the problems you have mentioned. It is simply too loud for me as well to work effectively. You may talk to someone about your situation, but I doubt it will make the company as a whole go back to the previous settings. Lots of people will lesser work load and different concentration cycles may actually be enjoying it. That being said, there are a few tips and tricks which can be used

Try to find a quiet corner. Just mention that your space is too noisy and you would like to move to be able to better focus on the job. Even open office plans will have corners or a last row or a space behind a pillar where you are less visible. If you don't want to be direct, just mention that the noise from the freight lift and the CNC mill disturb you and it will be helpful if you are moved around.

Also try to get some good noise cancelling headphones. I have not tried them but heard they are pretty good.

For people listening to music  - three things can work here:

  1. Tell them politely that it is disturbing and they should use a headphone.
  2. Find their manager and complain that it disturbs you.
  3. This one works for me: sit close to some managers. I understand your manager is remote. But if there are other senior people, get a space close to them. People are more careful around management and are less likely to be noisy around them. Chances are high that if they are noisy, managers would point it out and get the required silence on the floor.

About people demanding your time right now:

This is totally up to you. You can handle it multiple ways, the trick is to be consistent. One of my peers had a habit of asking people to book a slot into his calendar. He wasn't well liked, but every one knew if you need his time, you need to book his diary. 
Another one would send back the person, with the comment "I have something urgent going on right now, I will get back to you." He would then go to the person's desk when he was free to help the other person.

Other colleagues simply would not pick up their phone when they were not free.

The point is, you are not obliged to answer every one when they demand it.
Make it a system where you rank the request per priority and deal with it. Over time, people will get used to your system. (Just dont try it on your boss, he might get annoyed). As long as you are polite and firm, people will get used to your working style and bother you less.

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Rishi Goel
Rishi Goel
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A lot of companies are moving towards open office, and I have faced some of the problems you have mentioned. It is simply too loud for me as well to work effectively. You may talk to someone about your situation, but I doubt it will make the company as a whole go back to the previous settings. Lot of people will lesser work load and different concentration cycles may actually be enjoying it. That being said, there are a few tips and tricks which can be used

Try to find a quite corner. Just mention that your space is too noisy and you would like to move to be able to better focus on the job. Even open office will have corners or last row or a space behind a pillar where you are less visible. If you don't want to be direct, just mention the noise from the freight lift and CNC mill disturbs you and it will be helpful if you are moved around.

Also try to get some good noise cancelling headphones. I have not tried them but heard they are pretty good.

For people listening to music- three things can work here

  1. Tell them politely that it is disturbing and they should use a headphone.
  2. Find their manager and complain that it disturbs you
  3. This one works for me, sit close to some managers. I understand your manager is remote. But if there are other senior people, get a space close to them. People are more careful around management and are less likely to be noisy around them. Chances are high that if they are noisy, managers would point it out and get the required silence on the floor.

People demanding your time right now

This is totally up to you. You can handle it multiple ways, the trick is to be consistent. One of my peers had a habit of asking people to book a slot into his calendar. He wasnt well liked, but every one knew if you need his time, you need to book his dairy. Another one would send back the person , with the comment-" I have something urgent going on right now, I will get back to you." He would then go to the person's desk when he was free to help the other person.

Another would simply not pick his phone when he is not free.

The point is, you are not obliged to answer every one when they demand it. Make it a system where you rank the request as per priority and deal with it. Over time, people will get used to your system. ( ps. Just dont try it on your boss, he might get annoyed). As long as you are polite and firm, people will get used to your working style and bother you less.