By Christine MacLean

In an office where there are few walls... and even fewer secrets... good intentions aren't good enough.

Anyone who sits in a cubicle... and roughly 40 million of us do... knows that being polite in an open office is not easy. In the three decades that cubicles have been around, few universal rules for behavior in the open office have evolved. As a result we improvise. Daily we make decisions about eating at our desk, playing music, interrupting a coworker, using a speakerphone and picking up the newspaper (for a file) from an office mates desk.

The irony of the open office is that it sometimes does its job too well... it facilitates communication to such an extent that those chance meetings and overheard conversations can drive us to distraction. It is inevitable that your co-workers will annoy you and that you will annoy them. And while you may not all love one another, it is possible to get along. How you handle certain situations will depend on whether your group is friendly and relaxed or reserved and rigid. In general, however, good neighbors use the following techniques.

If you see someone working several workstations away, but aren’t sure whether or not she’s available, call her on the phone. If the phone is forwarded, she is probably trying to concentrate.

When tempted to join an informal meeting, ask yourself these questions: Is this any of my business? Can I make a meaningful contribution?

Don't cut through offices. Use corridors or established aisles.

Remember that others can hear your phone conversations. Be considerate and keep your voice down.

When you see something you'd like to look at or use on a coworkers desk, ask yourself, "Would I borrow this without permission if my coworker had an enclosed office?" This answer is also dependent on whether or not you have a friendly relationship with the person. If the answer is yes to both questions, remember to return what you borrow.

If someone has been standing in your office talking to you for more than a few minutes, suggest moving to a meeting room or break room.

Don’t use anything that might be disruptive (e.g., a speaker phone or radio) without asking others if it will bother them. In buildings that are so open that sound travels between departments, this may mean asking people outside your department as well as those you sit next to.

Don’t call out to coworkers who are several workstations away. Instead, walk to the person's office if you want to speak to him. A simple way of fostering cooperation is to get to know those around you. If you understand what coworkers do and who they are, they are much more willing to try to accommodate you than if you are simply a faceless body on the other side of a panel who is bent on interfering with their privacy.

Best tip of all... leave this article on their desk... and pray they read it!
Courtesy of Jugglezine a bi-weekly webzine about balancing work and life.