Amayzine

Help, I can't get to work

This is how you survive the circus chaos at the office

You gotta love coziness and colleagues, but an office job is sometimes just like a circus. You have the loud monkeys, the stomping elephants, the slow snails, and of course the show ponies. Some are more to themselves, while others love the hustle and bustle around them. Some can work hard and chat at the same time, while others need to be in a hermetically sealed bubble to get anything done. The gas givers and the diesels. The extroverts and the introverts.

First of all, it's useful to know that introverts and extroverts both gain energy in different ways. I wrote about this before. Introverts gain energy from being alone, from their own thoughts and ideas. Extroverts gain energy from as many stimuli as possible and their interactions with other people. Particularly the introverted category has a tough time in the office jungle. Sometimes you just don't want to talk, but that immediately earns you the label of ‘unsociable’. How do you get your work done by the end of the day?

4 super simple tips that always work – also for the extroverts by the way

  1. Want to work hard without having to say it? Put on your headphones. Simple, efficient, always works. Not the whole day though, that’s a bit unsociable.
  2. Especially easy if you work with flexible workspaces: briefly escape the chaos if you notice that you can't concentrate because of colleagues.
  3. Announce in advance that you need to concentrate all day because you have a difficult task on your schedule. Or use humor. I often say: “Guys, I'm just in my bubble, woohoo,” after which step 1 follows.
  4. Trouble with a talkative colleague who doesn't seem to understand all your hints even though you've really pointed it out several times? Then bring up the issue with your supervisor. Emphasize that you appreciate your colleague, but that you really need to be able to concentrate on work. Your supervisor can address your colleague. It may feel a bit childish, but this way you will eventually get it done.

Want to understand that one introverted/extroverted colleague just a bit better? Finally, here’s a super handy list I came across at Quest that I don't want to withhold from you:

What you need to know about your introverted colleagues:

  • They love silence to concentrate.
  • They don't share their opinions on their own. Ask them and they will tell you what they think.
  • They find it difficult to delegate (and thus tend to do too much).
  • They hate competition.

What you need to know about your extroverted colleagues:

  • They love to network and enjoy socializing with colleagues, even in their free time.
  • They love to make phone calls and find interruptions a pleasant change.
  • They feel isolated without support from management or someone from ‘above’.
  • They are competitive. Not always to outdo you, but also out of enthusiasm.

P.S.: Deeper struggles with colleagues? This is how you survive the mean girl at the office.