Cubicle Etiquette 101 - Tips for a Happier Office Environment

Cubicle etiquette is a set of un-written rules that exist in the workplace. Cubicle etiquette guidelines only work if they are adhered to by both workers in the cubicle and people in adjoining work spaces.

If you work in a cube – THERE ARE RULES about things you can continue doing, no matter what, like breathingJ, and things that you need to find another place to do, like any action that causes a noise to emit from your person that can be heard further than the distance from the epicenter to the computer screen in front of you.Proper cubicle etiquette is all about being thoughtful of others and thinking of their needs. When you do this, the people around you will just automatically think more of you.

Cubicle Etiquette 101

Speak Softly - Be aware of your voice .I think we have all had that cubicle neighbor that had no concept of their personal volume level. Talking loudly all the time is one easy way to annoy others. Good cubicle etiquette will help you realize that people can hear you even when you are not thinking about it. 

Respect other's privacy – Don’t eavesdrop. Although it is difficult to not spy over the cubicle wall, or listen in on other's conversations, be respectful of others. It is not good cubicle manners to chime in on other's conversations or to peek over at them. Give them the same respect that you would want. 

Do not sneak up on others. Not everyone has a rear-view mirror mounted on his or her monitor. And unless you can bring someone out of cardiac arrest with CPR follow the practice of knocking on a cube wall or otherwise letting your presence be known before launching a discussion.

If something is private, keep it that way - If you are having a private conversation (either on the phone or with another coworker) do not talk about it in your cubicle. Your cubicle neighbors do not want to hear about these sensitive matters. Go into a conference room or step outside for those conversations. 

Don’t offend other people's Olfactory sense- Scents travel as easily as sounds over cube walls. The sense of smell is one of the most powerful senses we possess. However, what smells good to one person smells like garbage to another. 

Be careful of the smells you bring to the office. I know people that must take a bath in cologne/perfume because that is all you can smell. Avoid eating foods with strong smells in your cubicle as well. 

Decorate with taste - You need to use good judgment when decorating your cubicle. Avoid things that are controversial. That would include things that are political, spiritual, or cultural. There are plenty of things that you can use to decorate that are in good taste without offending others. 

Get some exercise. Resist the urge to ask your cube neighbor a question “over the wall.” Get up and stick your head around the corner, send an email or instant message, or call on the phone to ask if your colleagues are available.

Use the Golden Rule - Act in your cubicle the way you would have others act. So let’s all adopt the mantra “If it bothers you when others do it, avoid doing it yourself”.

 As the saying goes, “It is better to be a part of the solution than a part of the problem.”

Note: These are a compilation from multiple articles online.