So, have you ever worked in such an environment? And if so, what are some of the techniques you have used to stay productive/in the zone?
Here are my two ideas:
Even if you've worked in a chin-height, walled cubicle environment like I have, verbal and visitation interruptions frequently tend to disrupt work flow. An open office environment would only be worse, and people generally greatly dislike them for reasons that you've indicated. I think it's a fad of the era we're in, and, hopefully soon, offices will be changing back to what they were...closed and fewer distractions. If I saw that a potential employer had an open office environment, I'd probably look elsewhere.
The only things I can offer is to suggest music through earphones or some other white noise to disconnect from your surroundings. Let's face it, you can't hide under the table. When someone comes to you with a question that doesn't pertain to your zone, you have to extract yourself from your zone in order to give them your full attention. It certainly takes effort to get back into the zone. Maybe try to appear more unapproachable in a sympathetic way. Maybe try to appear as if something is deeply troubling you. Or, when someone asks you a question, don't look at them as you answer. Appear distracted by your own work.
This may not be a good idea for you, but I've actually done this to an exceptionally disruptive person in my office on several occasions. I've told her that I'd get back to her once I've considered her problem more fully. I'd get back to her hours later. You could also try being overly or annoyingly helpful. Answer their question, but in an extremely round-about and time-consuming way. Venture off into only somewhat related anecdotes. In other words, if an animal keeps coming for scraps, sour the scraps.
The open work environment is a horrible environment and, when I first learned of it about 10+ years ago, I knew it was a ridiculous idea/approach.
