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Research proves it - your colleagues are slowing you down

REBECCA DUBE

From Monday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 3:16 AM EDT 18/03/08

Watching someone perform a different task slows our brains, impeding efficiency and possibly leading to more errors ...Read the full article

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  1. Gizella Oehm from Toronto, Canada writes: Solitude for work IS best. I work from home, and do far more work in a day than I ever did when working in an office. The idea of 'open' work spaces, like a Starbuck's coffee shop, would horrify me - not only would it eradicate all privacy, but it would make it impossible to concentrate on the task at hand. Besides the obvious reasoning that having everyone in full view of everyone else means that no one can get up to any shenanigans, the 'open' workspace concept is a natural outcropping of our modern day obsession with group think. This begins now in grade school - with children grouped around tables (instead of having their own desks), an emphasis on team sports, and the battle cry of 'socialization!'. But the truth is - writers write alone, artists draw alone, and scientists have great ideas by themselves, even if supported by a lab team. And in general, the average person when required to do a specific task does it alone.
  2. Life Insurance Bribe from Canada writes: It's cheaper for businesses to house their employees in little cubicles vs. offices with walls & doors to keep out noise & distraction.

    Some people see it as a 'badge of honour' to be able to focus & work hard with a million distractions around them, but obviously productivity won't be maximized until people can actually sit & think in peace & quiet.

    Workplaces could still facilitate socialization with scheduled breaks & common social areas.
  3. Ziad Fazel from Calgary, Canada writes: Absolutely toxic to workplace productivity is reading the Globe online, and leaving comments.
  4. Kay Ay from Canada writes: I liked my "own" cubicle space at my last job. Walls were high enough to lean your elbows on and my monitor faced out so I was not distracted by the constant traffic into our department.

    I miss my walls in the open concept office I now have to endure....not to mention being witness to the endless/pointless arguements day in and day out.
  5. Encyclopedia Brown from Canada writes: God forbid we sacrifice productivity by actually talking to other people.
  6. Sue W from Canada writes: And sitting in a departmental meeting only compounds the problem.
  7. Brian Michaluk from Calgary, Canada writes: Cool to be sourced as a reference for a story!

    As a good example most days I can hear 3 conversations over the walls and see people walking past over and over. Little hard to focus and damn near impossible to focus. And now of course, rather than calling the helpdesk, people come wandering over with every little IT question that comes up and totally stops my work while I explain simple things that the actual help desk should be answering. If I did not get a window with my new seat I would be a very unhappy camper. The view makes it way more tolerable.
  8. can I vote again from around-Kingston, Canada writes: cubes...

    cubicles make it easier to count warm-bodies... how else do you manage?
  9. Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: Cubicles are the death-knell of productivity. They don't keep out the noise. I work in a noisy area, and can't focus on my work. That's why I leave so many comments on these boards. Another productivity killer is the ever-present meeting. Meetings should be banned from the workplace, along with cubicles. Everyone should get their own office. And never attend a meeting again.
  10. Rollo Tomasi from Belgium writes: Ziad Fazel from Calgary, Canada writes: Absolutely toxic to workplace productivity is reading the Globe online, and leaving comments.
    -------------------

    Only if youtube also is on...I have a door that closes, a window that opens, and an old fashioned desk with six drawers. My colleagues could be blonde and better looking, but so could I...
  11. stand up mimi from Canada writes: Alistair - I couldn't agree more. Having to listen to other people's distracting conversations all day is one of the reasons I'm on here, too. I do have an office and could close my door, but around here that's seen as being unavailable (and therefore rude and unhelpful). So I save that for emergencies. And yes, PLEASE get rid of the meetings. Ninety percent of them are unnecessary.
  12. hgirl alen from New York, United States writes: Yes, I think it is right that we sacrifice productivity by actually talking to other people. But we can get more idea from some useful talking. If you want to see more comments on this topic, you can check the blog named" Talking and productivity" on a STD dating site named" PositiveLoving.com". The blog gets more than 20 replies everyday

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