How to Share an Office With a Coworker

Growth is an exciting thing for companies--but with growth, alas, comes growing pains. Sometimes that means the office you've considered all yours since your promotion from the cubicles ages ago will now partially be home to a new employee. Adjusting to the noise level alone may prove to be challenging, and no matter how much you like your new office mate, he's is bound to have a few habits that get on your nerves. With the right attitude, you can make the transition--and may even end up with a close office ally in the process.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Clean up your office before your coworker moves in. Nothing is less welcoming than piles of someone else's clutter. Designate the area you will be giving up and make sure it is completely free of your belongings.
2. Consider the office decor. If your corporate culture is laid-back and you have comic strips or music or movie posters tacked all over your room, assess whether they might be offensive. Make sure the wall area by your office mate's desk is empty so that she can decorate if desired.
3. Welcome your new office mate with a friendly gesture, like a fresh cup of coffee or a new hook on the door for hanging his coat.
4. Be conscious of the noise level while you are working. If you're used to listening to music, get headphones unless your coworker has identical taste in music or insists she doesn't mind. When talking on the phone, try to keep your voice down. Consider eating especially pungent lunches in the break room rather than at your desk.
5. Deal with conflicts politely but don't let resentment simmer. If your new office mate is loud, interrupts you often or has other disruptive habits, ask him kindly to modify his behavior. If he refuses or becomes hostile, see if human resources can mediate. Sometimes a memo to all employees reminding them to be conscious of their coworkers can make the point effectively.
6. Be receptive to your office mate's requests as well. It is difficult to change months or years of work habits, but keeping the peace can make your office experience more pleasant.

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