Swapping cubicles for an open floor plan doesn’t guarantee more in-person collaboration. Everyone’s different, which is why this first step is essential. Once you understand your work style better, not only can you play to your strengths You can also communicate your needs to your teammates. Take the time to examine your own habits and energy levels, and look for any patterns. Or, you might wear earphones and ask that no one interrupt you. You may not be able to change your office layout, but you might reserve a small conference room during your productive windows. Does being around other people energize you and make you more productive, or does it have the opposite effect? Do you work more effectively in the morning or in the afternoon? Then, you can begin to make adjustments around your unique work style. When your office setting is full of distractions, the first step to being more productive is to understand how you work best.

In this post, you’ll learn actionable tips for how to stay productive in an open office layout. The open office concept promises better collaboration and reduced costs (which is why many startups and millennials embrace it), but fewer walls also means a lack of privacy and more distractions. Most people either love or hate open-plan offices.

Open the office