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Open space in the office:how not to get distracted

Know your own limits

In order not to be distracted in open space, the essential element is above all to know your own limits. Will you inadvertently listen to your neighbor's personal call? Do your eyes tend to tilt to the next screen? All of these situations can be common in an open space, so it's up to you to know which one could take you away from your work. If this is the case, do not hesitate to inform your manager, in order to find you a more suitable place within the open space. In addition, if you often have to answer questions from your colleagues, do not hesitate to give yourself a few hours when you do not want to be disturbed in order to progress on your current missions. All these elements must be taken into account to facilitate open space work.

Be clear and precise with colleagues

In open space, exchange and communication are favored. So, do not hesitate to be clear and precise with your colleagues. If you remain available to help them, know how to impose some limits so as not to be distracted or fall behind on your own work. These limits and small rules of conduct can promote effective and smooth teamwork. In the same vein, favor precise and targeted answers for each question from your colleagues in order to limit the questions.

Do not hesitate to isolate yourself if necessary

The open space is conducive to exchange and openness, but sometimes, as part of their duties or even on a personal basis, the employee may need to isolate themselves. Thus, if you think that a more intimate space is necessary to carry out a task in your work, or simply to answer a personal call, you should not hesitate to isolate yourself so as not to disturb those around you, but also not to not be disturbed. These more isolated spaces also make it possible to have important meetings with several collaborators, without interfering with the work of other employees or being interrupted every 2 minutes.

Advice for employers

Deconcentration in an open space can also be avoided by a few actions by employers and managers. Indeed, before creating the layout of its open space, the choice of premises is an important element:make sure that each employee has at least 12 m2 to avoid noise, or take into account the height under the ceiling according to area. The materials should ideally be non-reverberant to promote optimal acoustics:carpeting, absorbent materials, little tricks that promote an optimal workspace. Finally, the delimitation of spaces and areas for meeting rooms are also necessary elements, in order to properly frame the open space or allow its employees to isolate themselves if necessary.