gf-tech.com

I got spoiled while working at VoiceMobility. I had my own office for a very long time. It was great, and I loved having my own office, a space I could call my own. I could close the door when I needed to think or to concentrate on my work. I could play music without using headphones. I had my personal space so I could call my doctor if I needed to, and not have someone else listen in to my conversation. It really was bliss. This setup allowed me to feel extremely comfortable at work, which is something that I feel is crucial to being productive. Allowing me to firewall myself from others was something that I really needed to do once in a while at VMI.

Moving to NewHeights I was placed into a pretty crappy cubicle. The lighting was horrible, the was no A/C in the summer, no heating in the winter, and it was cramped. The working conditions were pretty bad, and I think that my productivity showed this. Still, it was a place I could call my own. Then I got moved to a worse location. I was in a large cube with 3 others, but my desk was right beside the entrance to the cube and this made my back to the entrance. The directors office was right next door, so this lead to an endless stream of people, and an endless stream of interruptions. Again, my productivity took another nosedive.

My final workspace at NewHeights was in the same cubicle, but I had a new spot so I wasn't facing the door. It was a lot better, but the downside to a cubicle is the ambient noise. I had a great view, but I could still hear the conversations of others. It was adequate.

My move to Kodak brought me to another office. I am sharing this one with a long time friend, and so far it has been great. It is a corner office with lots of large windows that let in a lot of light. It is warm and inviting. I love working there. Since I share the office, I still wear headphones, but I have found that it is quite nice to have someone to talk to once in a while, and someone handy to ask questions of.

The point of this is that as an employee I like having a place I can call my own. It is essential that I am comfortable and that helps me to be productive. Minimal distractions and interruptions also boost productivity. Personal space is important to me, so having that back is great.