Oct 21 2008
Home Office: How to successfully share a workspace
Do you share a home office? How is that working for you? There are ways to successfully co-exist even if work habits are not exactly compatible.
You are a neat freak and your office partner is not. Piles of paper and magazines cover every flat surface and you prefer a clear work surface.
· Designate work spaces
· Agree on shared spaces and decide how to set them up to suit both of you
· Each person should have office furniture that is best for their working style
Physical workspaces may not be as important as the time of day. Productive time is not the same for everyone.
· If you are an early riser take advantage of the uninterrupted time you have in the mornings.
· If you are a night owl go ahead and work into the evening hours when you are most productive.
· Be aware that the other has different needs. Schedule using loud office equipment while the other is not trying to sleep.
Noise cannot be avoided all the time. This can be a real deal breaker when one likes to work in silence and the other wants the television or radio playing while they work.
· Headphones work well when listening to music or watching movies on the computer.
· Have an alternate workspace for one if the other has certain times that their work requires total silence – such as when making important phone calls.
Remember that working in a home office is not so different than working in any other office. Stress and deadlines still exist. If things get too heated take it to the other room.
