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“As a man is, so he sees.”
—William Blake
hat do we see when we show up at work each
day? A collection of deadlines? A pile of
memos on a desk? A series of commitments in
frantic pursuit of a finite number of hours? Or perhaps—
just perhaps—the opportunity to interact harmoniously with
those people with whom we share the workplace?
In the hectic world in which we live, we must manage
both our relationships with co-workers and our own time if
we are going to keep our interactions harmonious and our
work flowing smoothly. In this chapter, you’ll get some es-
sential advice on co-existing with those people who have
such a huge potential impact on your quality of life, those
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Business Etiquette
people with whom you probably spend half of your waking
hours—your co-workers. You’ll also get some important
pointers on controlling your own schedule, rather than let-
ting it control you.
Tip #54
Tip #54
Tip #54
Tip #54
Tip #54
Obey The 12 Commandments of Cubicle Etiquette.
Obey The 12 Commandments of Cubicle Etiquette.
Obey The 12 Commandments of Cubicle Etiquette.
Obey The 12 Commandments of Cubicle Etiquette.
Obey The 12 Commandments of Cubicle Etiquette.
Working in a cubicle can be a challenge! Aside from
space limitations, the greatest common complaint that cu-
bicle workers have is the invisible sign that hangs over the
area proclaiming, “No Privacy Allowed.” There are distrac-
tions galore in the modern workplace: typewriters, calcula-
tors, computers, and printers clicking, clattering, and
humming away in adjacent cubicles; the personal conver-
sations going on in the next pod that you can’t help but over-
hear; and worst of all, the assumption of other cubicle mates
that they can walk into your workspace whenever they like,
without being invited or welcomed. A protocol can and
should be established to help ease the situation for all those
who must share a common area in the office. The following
list suggests basic cubicle protocol for the modern workplace.
The 12 Commandments of Cubicle Etiquette
1. Thou shalt not enter another person’s cubicle
unless you are invited. (Recognize that an in-
visible door exists.)
2. Thou shalt not interrupt someone who is on
the telephone by using sign language or any
other means of communication.
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Cubicle Protocol and Time Management
3. Thou shalt think twice before interrupting
someone who appears deep in thought. (When
you must interrupt a person who appears to
be deep in thought, say, “Excuse me. Do you
have a minute for me?”)
4. Thou shalt be aware of how your voice projects
(if you laugh loudly, for example, ask yourself
if others can hear you and how it affects their
concentration).
5. Thou shalt realize that speaker phones and cu-
bicles don’t mix.
6. Thou shalt not discuss a confidential matter
in a cubicle setting.
7. Thou shalt realize that everything you say makes
an impression on your “internal customers.”
8. Thou shalt not make or receive personal tele-
phone calls during the workday except during
breaks or lunch.
9. Thou shalt not establish eye contact with some-
one when you would prefer not to be inter-
rupted (when you’re on the phone or meeting
with another person, for example).
10. Thou shalt stand up and walk toward the en-
trance of your cubicle when you would like to
keep an impromptu meeting short.
11. Thou shalt keep snacking to a minimum. (Your
cubicle should not look or smell like a mini-
cafeteria.)
12. Thou shalt recognize that your cubicle is a
reflection of you. Keep it neat and orderly.
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Business Etiquette
Tip #55
Tip #55
Tip #55
Tip #55
Tip #55
Manage your time ef
Manage your time ef
Manage your time ef
Manage your time ef
Manage your time effectively and cour
fectively and cour
fectively and cour
fectively and cour
fectively and courteously
teously
teously
teously
teously.....
Do you plan your work and then work your plan? Do
you act rather than react? Do you manage interruptions
rather than letting them manage you?
Effective time managers create a daily list of what they
want to accomplish. Whether they have a block of 10 min-
utes or an hour, they refer to their to-do list to see what,
exactly, they can accomplish. They also plan their “prime
time”—the time of day that they are most likely to be able
to “act” rather than “react.” For some people, it is the be-
ginning of the day before phones start ringing and people
begin dropping. For others, the end of the work day is
“prime time.” Maybe you have a different nominee for your
own “prime time”—but there is an hour or two of time when
you can train yourself to get your best work done. Make
the most of it!
What about the rest of the day? Remember that good
time managers see interruptions as opportunities. Here are
a couple of the most effective “tricks of the trade” when it
comes to time management:
Answer questions in a succinct manner…and
you’ll subtly encourage others to do the
same.
Stand up when someone unexpectedly enters
you work area…rather than inviting others
to take a seat.
Tip #56
Tip #56
Tip #56
Tip #56
Tip #56
Show up early
Show up early
Show up early
Show up early
Show up early.....
Have you ever had to do business with one of those
people who are notoriously late? You know the kind I
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Cubicle Protocol and Time Management
mean—they act as though they are on Pacific Standard Time
even though they live on the East Coast.
Those who know how to manage their time, however,
typically arrive 15–30 minutes
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