I went back to work yesterday. The day was relatively quite because I was in meetings most of the day.
Today, on the other hand, the first Actual day of work, was one of those days of starting work and not being able to finish Anything! The bar or menu at the bottom of my monitor kept on expanding.
I’d open up a ppt file (a presentation I’m to give next week) and then a colleague comes in and I open up the paper we are writing together, then a student sends a graphic that has to be corrected, and so on… Just before leaving home I closed down eight programs and fourteen files: none of the changes in the files complete. Insane.
Tomorrow, I am going to have to adopt a better strategy. First, I will complete the two jobs I promised to do right away: before anyone arrives at the office. Then make up a structured to-list. Next prepare for Thursday’s important meeting with the boss. Then check my emails and make any required telephone calls. Then tackle the to-do list. Sounds so easy.
Why do things always unravel so quickly after I hang up my coat? At least I can close my door. What do people do who work in those huge open-offices?
Who was insane enough to come up with the open-office concept? Did he (I can only assume it must have been a He, excuse the sexist slip of I’m wrong) evereverever have to work in close proximity with Mr. Obnoxiously Loud, Ms. Forever Right, Mr. Total Geek, Mr. Slime, Ms. Overcompensating, or Ms. I Run The Ship? I bet he didn’t. There is a lot to say about voluntary socialisation and collaboration.
Based on my work experience the idea for the open-office concept was probably the result of at least a years worthless management meetings.
ReplyDeleteAnd someone with an office probably thought it would be good for the staff..
Of course no staff members were ever consulted before or after the change took place..