ajcjobs > BlogBreak > Archives > 2008 > April > 10 > Entry
Work with monkeys or children instead of adults?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What do you do to stay productive in a disruptive environment? Listen to your iPod, meditate or complain to the boss?
We’ve all been in the situation where you have a deadline to meet or work to finish and your co-workers are playing pranks on other employees, telling jokes or sending non-work related e-mails. Not to mention the employees that are your office friends that want to talk about their weekend, relationship problems, sports or other current events. You find yourself unable to focus on your work with so many distractions. How do you finish your work without being the troll under the bridge at the office?
Communication is key. It would be a good idea to tell your co-worker that now is not a good time, because you have a lot of work to finish and you are behind. Let this co-worker know that you will talk to them after you meet your deadline. This will allow you to work and complete your tasks without being the bad guy.
If the problem continues and you have to take the next step, it is best to talk one-on-one with the problematic co-worker and tell them your situation. Maybe you say, “Could I talk with you?” Then once alone without an audience, explain the problem you are having. Something like this, “Bob, I really like you and you are very funny, but when I am at work, I have a lot of deadlines to meet and things that I need to accomplish. I cannot talk to you during the workday. Maybe we could go to lunch or let each other know if we are in a good spot with our workload to talk.” This technique should let the person know that you cannot play around all day and will allow you to concentrate on your work without distractions.
Listening to your iPod at work can make you anti-social and make people feel like they cannot talk to you. Meditation will only allow you to relax for the moment. Of course, you are only another joke or interruption away from being taken from your relaxing state. Complaining to the boss can make you seem like a tattletale. That usually makes for an uncomfortable solution that gets around the office that you told on Bob for telling you a joke. Now you are the bad guy. So if you communicate with co-workers that want to distract others, you have a good shot of getting a little peace and quiet.
We’ve all had challenges with other employees with differing work habits. How have you handled your office jokester?
Comments
By Betty Smith
April 18, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this
I would love to work with children or monkies