Re: Cubicle Noise Canceling (WAS: A PDA in every pocket?)

[Jenn Wilson <jenn -at- mylar -dot- outflux -dot- net>]

Hi there --

Best of luck with this.  Voices can be very difficult to tune out.

I've never worked in an environment where headphones are frowned upon, 
especially for an employee who doesn't spend much time on the phone and 
needs to concentrate.

If you're going to bring this up with your manager, you might consider 
framing it proactively and connecting it to a productivity metric -- 
something like, "In these past few months, the quiet environment helped me 
boost my productivity, and I'd really like to keep this up.  My plan is to 
use headphones while I work.  Do you have any other suggestions?"

I've been fortunate enough to have some very understanding managers.  In 
my company's prior environment, our "cube farm" was horribly noisy, so I 
was able to work out an arrangement where I could work from home three or 
four days per month.  It doesn't sound like much, but it made a nice 
difference for me.  When I did use headphones at the office, I also set up 
a little mirror on my monitor, so I could tell when someone was walking up 
behind me.

If you've got the spare cash, you could invest in a pair of 
noise-cancelling headphones.  I tried some on at a store recently, and oh, 
how I covet them.  I was quite surprised at how well they worked...

If the environment allows, you could also introduce some mild white noise 
at your desk -- say, a desktop fountain.  Of course, your cube neighbors 
might curse you for inspiring extra bathroom breaks.  :)


Jenn


On Wed, 19 Oct 2005, Nuckols, Kenneth M wrote: