Gaseous co-worker can be distracting

Q: I sit in a cluster of cubicles with four other people. The person beside me belches repeatedly throughout the day. I've tried wearing headphones to drown him out, but it doesn't always work.

My other co-workers say they also hear him and that this has been brought to his attention before. I mentioned it to my manager, but she didn't do anything. I may have to talk to the guy myself, because I can't take it anymore. What should I do?

A: Your burping colleague may have little control over this physiological response. Unlike those who talk loudly or bathe infrequently, people who belch, sniff or cough often have underlying physical problems. He may be able to turn down the volume, though.

If you're willing to risk an indignant reaction, you can make this request directly: "I know this may sound silly, but I get very distracted by noise, and I often hear a lot of belching from your cubicle. If you're able to do that more quietly, I would really appreciate it."

Should this conversation fail to squelch the belch, enlist the support of your fellow cube-dwellers. Go as a group to your manager and ask her to encourage the burper to exert more self-control.

Another alternative is to distance yourself by swapping cubicles with a co-worker who is less disturbed by bodily sounds. Some people are completely oblivious to the background noise that others find maddening.

If all else fails, invest in better headphones, resign yourself to the inevitable and try to muster a little sympathy for someone with such a socially unacceptable problem.

Q: My boss, "Debra," has been a wonderful mentor to me. She has an MBA and is one of the smartest people I have ever known. Because of her mentoring skills, I have been offered a job with another company at a 30 percent pay increase.

Debra has been with this organization for 27 years and manages a department of 125 people with a budget of $3 million. However, the management here does not recognize excellence, and I believe that Debra may be ready to move on.

I would like to repay my mentor by doing some "reverse mentoring." She has asked me questions like "What else do you think I could do?" and "How could I find out what I'm qualified for?" I would like to know how to help her.

A: How ironic that your boss can mentor you toward a better future but is unable to do the same for herself. However, after 27 years in one organization, she may lack confidence in her marketability.

To get an idea of her worth, Debra should contact a few recruiters who specialize in her profession. Most headhunters will be glad to talk with an experienced high-level manager who has an MBA.

Before contacting them, however, Debra needs to update her résumé and highlight the most marketable aspects of her background. Many books and Internet resources offer advice for making a résumé sparkle.

To develop networking contacts, Debra also should get involved with the professional association in her field. Most job opportunities are transmitted by word of mouth, so staying connected will help her identify possible career alternatives.

- Marie G. McIntyre is an Atlanta-based workplace coach. Her weekly column is syndicated by Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service. Send questions at www.yourofficecoach.com.