While many people are still working from home after the push for social distancing following the global pandemic, many companies have and will continue to have their employees return to their physical work locations.
In the last few years, many companies have been moving toward having more shared workspaces as opposed to giving people individual offices or cubicles. And while shared workspace can have many benefits, maintaining your privacy isn’t one of them. So if you have a shared workspace but you also need your own private space sometimes, here are three tips for finding privacy in a shared workspace.
Create Physical Boundaries
Although many shared workspaces are just in large open rooms with no walls, you can still find some way to create a physical boundary or barrier between yourself and other people when you need it.
One thing you might want to try is using a partition wall that can easily be setup or taken down as needed. If this isn’t an option, you could also look into getting screens that you can put up around your specific work area so that people can’t easily see you or what you’re working on. While these devices might subvert the purpose of having a shared workspace, if you’re needing to use them occasionally for added privacy, it shouldn’t become an issue.
Reserve Private Workspaces When You Need Them
Even within an office that uses shared workspaces, there likely are rooms or areas that are more private than others.
If this is the case for you and you’ve found that you’re needing to use these private areas on a regular basis, you may want to speak with your boss or supervisor about the possibility of reserving these private workspaces on an as-needed basis. This way, not only will you have access to a private workspace when you need it, but others within your organization can get the privacy they’re needing as well.
Make Use Of Background Noise
For instances when it’s not physical privacy you’re needing but audio privacy, there are some other options that you can look into so you’re not as easily overheard or easily overhearing your co-workers.
To get this privacy, you may want to start having some kind of background noise playing throughout your shared workspace. Depending on what kind of environment you’re working in and what your co-workers prefer, you could use soft music, nature sounds, or even just some white noise to help drown out some of the muffle and conversation.
If you work in a shared workspace but feel as though you need a little more privacy to be an effective employee or to get your work done as you should, consider using the tips mentioned about to either make adjustments to your specific work area or to make bigger changes that will increase privacy for everyone you’re working with.