How to Be a Good Tablemate
Here at Lifehacker headquarters, I sit next to our wonderful video producer Heather.
We are always separated by two legs. As she works, diligently editing the video, I think to myself: is she judging me?
She saw me at my worst. I eat my dinner like a mad animal, no matter how mannered it is. I laugh to myself from time to time, enough to distract her. Sometimes I get a mess – not so much a mess, but as you know, I leave the banana peel and the muesli bar wrapper.
In small office spaces and open floors, it’s easy to look like a complete employee clutter. But usually all it takes is a little effort and self-awareness to pull yourself together. Here are some tips on how to be a polite tablemate so that you are not your least favorite colleague at the table:
Organize your space
“Order is the key to maintaining your sanity and good relationships with your colleagues,” said Lisa Zaslow, founder of Gotham Organizers , in an email:
Clutter distracts and prevents us from focusing on our work: even if you are not consciously aware of it, your eyes perceive every object in your visual field, and your brain must process it all. When you leave the table for a meeting, lunch, or at the end of the day, cleaning up can be surprisingly enjoyable. Your neighbors will appreciate that you don’t need to see your belongings, and when you get back, the free space will help you get back to work.
Zaslow recommends using a loose paper tray or organizer to save desk space and only store the materials you will be using that day.
And, of course, clean if necessary. Stephanie Schalofsky , a professional office organizer, recommends spending no more than five minutes a day cleaning your desk (so you won’t be tempted to skip this procedure altogether).
Scan files instead of keeping them close at hand and not letting them accumulate around you (and in your colleagues’ space).
Don’t distract your office mates
We’ve all met with a chatty colleague who seems to be particularly interested in the details of the intimate, personal details of his life. But there is a time and a place for this, and often this time is not during peak hours.
If you want to chat, but your roommate has headphones and / or seems particularly harsh in his responses, leave him alone and don’t take it personally. Maybe they’re trying to focus, or they’ve met a deadline. Try them during your lunch break or later in the afternoon when they are less prone to difficulties.
Limit volume and odors
It sounds obvious, but it’s still worth saying: When you’re on a call with another coworker or on the phone, limit the volume. It is often difficult for someone to concentrate on work when there is a conversation around. Worse, they can answer with loud music in their headphones. You are now engaged in a full blown audio war with no real winners.
Instead, move any conversations to your meeting or break room. And this also applies to curious smells. While you are free to dine anywhere, anchovy pizza can be a distraction for everyone. What you bring to lunch is up to you, but strong intimate smells are a common problem. Zaslow added that aftershave and floral perfumes can have a similar effect on your neighbors (so please soften them).
If you are sick, leave your desk
If you absolutely don’t want to take sick leave because of a huge job, do not expose your colleagues to colds or flu. Take cough medicine whenever possible and work from any other location in the office if possible.
Get out and follow you. Germs spread easily, so use antibacterial wipes to disinfect your desk area and don’t leave the wipes for someone else to throw them away.
Communicate
When all else fails, just talk to your coworkers before any problems arise. Ask them if your music is too loud or if your desktop is distracting. Will your colleagues be honest? Maybe, maybe not. But it doesn’t hurt to ask them, and they’ll be grateful you asked.
And if you run into a particularly unpleasant neighbor and want to report a problem, position the problem as a reflection of you , as Fast Company writes:
“That is, what he makes you annoyed. So, you are asking him to help clarify your problem, rather than focusing on him as a problem. This way you can enlist his help without embarrassing him. “
Whatever you do, try not to make them uncomfortable with your table manners. In an office where we spend more time with work colleagues than with our family, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.